Chapter 8: Mental health & Well-being IN MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE

MRS. JULIENNE ROSE PENARADA-SABALLA, MAED., RGC

CONCEPTS ON MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING

US National Institutes of Health – Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

1999 US Surgeon General’s Report – Mental Health defined as “successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to change and to cope with adversity” (Knopf, Park, and Muyle 2008)

World Health Organization (WHO) report defined MENTAL HEALTH

subjective Well- being.perceived self-efficacy

autonomycompetence

intergenerational dependence; andself-actualization of one’s intellectual and emotional

potential, among others

Subjective Well-being

One’s personal thoughts and feelings about one’s overall state of being.

Mental health denotes positive and healthy interpretations of a person’s self-concept, and how a person feels about himself.

A person with a healthy self-concept or self-identity exudes charm and confidence, is usually sociable, productive, and can maintain healthy relationships. A positive warm regard for oneself serves as a foundation of mental health.

A negative self-concept will have a negative effect on one’s mental health and well-being. These types of thinking, feelings, and behavior can trigger mental disorders if not properly addressed immediately.

Perceived Self- Efficacy

Self-efficacy is one’s perception of one’s value and worth, effectiveness, and ability in performing a task or activity.

Mental health and well-being is also anchored on one’s self worth and value or self-esteem.

A person with a low self-esteem may exhibit types of behavior that are self-destructive or self-sabotaging.

This thought then produces emotions such as anger or hopelessness, pushing the addiction, sexual promiscuity, social isolation, extreme emotional swings, unhealthy dependency on others, and mental disorders.

A person with a healthy self-concept will move toward self-fulfillment, and self-actualization, have healthy relationships, and live happier and fulfilling lives.

Autonomy

Autonomy deals with one’s capacity to separate one’s identity from other significant persons like parents, lovers, and special friends.

It is the capacity for self-direction and having a clearly defined role identity.

Lack of autonomy, on the other hand, can lead to co-dependence among those who cannot define themselves as separate entities from people they depend on either emotionally, physically, socially, spiritually, or even financially.

This can lead to relational conflicts as some people stay away from overly dependent or “clingy”, needy individuals.

Competence

Competence is related to self-esteem and self-identity.

It is the perception of one’s capacity to effectively perform a function or activity using specifics skills and knowledge, and achieving the desired results at a given time.

Responsibility is a major underlying factor for competence.

An individual who is competent will always assume full responsibility for the actions and results of his behavior. It also produces trust among other people. The ability to accept changes and being resilient is also part of being competent.

Intergenerational Independence

Intergenerational independence refers to the relationships between individuals who belong to different generations but may be living separately as independent, autonomous persons during a specific period of time.

Empty nest phenomena – “When the children have all grown up, are pursuing their own dreams, and are forming their own “nests” their parents, who may already be retired then, are usually left at home.”

Taking care of our parents and grandparents vs. sending old parents to retirement homes

Todays technology has helped intergenerational independence thrive as it closes the gap of time and space so that even physically separated family members can still be in touch easily.

Self-Actualization of One’s Intellectual and Emotional Potential

Maslow’s pyramid of human hierarchy of needs places self-actualization at the peak.

The fulfillment of these needs does not have to be in sequence or progression.

Self-actualization is about fulfilling one’s perceived potentials, becoming the person that one has always aspired for. Self-actualized individuals: they have acceptance of their reality, and have compassion to help solve problems of other people and the society in general. They are spontaneous with their thoughts and behavior, and are open to change. They have a strong need for privacy and solitude as they continue to strive in fulfilling their potentials. They are highly appreciative of events and people and maintain their awe and wonder if the things around them.

Individuals who are self-actualizing nurture good mental health and well-being.

1991 by Witmer and Sweeney Model

FIVE LIFE TASKS:

1. essence or spirituality

2. work and leisure 3. friendship 4. love 5. self-direction

Maintaining good mental health and well-being requires resiliency and adaptability, two important skills that need to be developed in every person particularly the adolescent.

Resiliency – is the capacity to establish and maintain one’s balance and well-being in the face of adversity.

Adaptability – is the capacity to adjust to changes necessary for one’s survival and balance.

HEALTHY SELF-CONCEPT AT THE CORE OF MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING

Having a positive regard for oneself means looking at oneself as someone who is worth loving and worth caring for, regardless of physical flaws, and defects, regardless of what other people perceive him to be and in spite of the thoughts, feelings, and behavior one experiences.

It is about understanding, and accepting one’s personality, uniqueness, and individuality.

Having a positive warm regard for oneself is also about seeing one’s strengths, challenges and successes, as well as the stumbling blocks that come along the way in one’s search for meaning and happiness.

Having a wonderful self-concept is about having a spirituality that provides philosophical and existential meaning to one’s life and about one’s relationship with his perceived Supreme Being.

Embracing meaningful universal human values that define who you are, and how these values form your set of healthy attitudes about other people, situations, and things.

Good Physical Health is Good for Mental Health

Poor mental health plays a significant role in diminished immune functioning, and the development of certain illnesses, and eventually premature death.

Sleep and nutrition.

Healthy Self-Concept + Healthy Mind and Body = Good Mental Health and Well Being When all of these elements are in balance, then general well-being is experienced.

Well-being is a state of wellness where every aspect of a person is in balance.

Developing one’s good mental health and well-being is very important to the adolescent because this serves as a strong foundation toward a happy and healthy adulthood.

CHALLENGES TO MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING

Mental health problem – is a short term and temporary change in a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behavior that upsets one’s well-being, interpersonal relationships, and productivity.

Mental illness – refers to diagnosable mental disorders characterized by changes in one’s thinking, feeling and behavior as well as in one’s relationships and productivity. There is usually distress or impaired functioning during mental illness (Knopf, Park and Muyle 2008)

WHO possible mental health challenges faced by adolescents worldwide:

1. conduct or behavior disorders 2. anxiety 3. depression 4. eating disorders 5. risks behaviors including that relates to sexual

behavior 6. substance abuse 7. violent behavior

SUPPORT FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

It is very important for an adolescent who may be facing serious difficulties at home or in school to have a reliable adult to talk to.

The home is an ideal place for solace and comfort. Parents and siblings can offer guidance as well as love, and care to adolescent who may need it.

Schools also provide such services through the Guidance Counselor. Peer group can also provide the support needed by an adolescent in distress.

FIVE POPULAR STEPS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING

1.CONNECT 2.BE ACTIVE3.KEEP LEARNING4.GIVE TO OTHERS5.TAKE NOTICE

Quiz

1. In 1999 the US Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health defined _______________ as a successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to change and to cope with adversity.

2. The _____________________ Health report released in 2001 stated that mental health is defined differently by different experts from different cultures.

3. This organization identifies (how many) concepts of mental health.

4. _______________ is one’s perception of one’s value and worth, effectiveness, and ability in performing a task or activity.

5. This may be defined as one’s personal thoughts, and feelings, about one’s overall state of being. What is this?

6. _________________ is the capacity to separate one’s identity from other significant persons like parents, lovers, or special friends.

7. Competence is related to ____________________ and self-identity.

8. The phenomenon when children are all grown up and pursuing their dreams, they leave the house and parents are already retired by them, and are usually left at home. What phenomenon is this?

9. What is the peak in Abrahams’ Hierarchy of needs?

10 – 15. Give five key characteristics given by Maslow in describing people who have achieved this peak need?

16. Whose model which uses the five life tasks?

17 – 21. Name these five life tasks mentioned by this author/s

22. - 23 Good _____________________ is Good for ____________________

24. A __________________ is a short tem and temporary change in a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behavior that upsets one’s well-being, interpersonal relationships, and productivity.

25. ___________________ on the other hand is diagnosable mental disorders characterized by changes in one’s thinking, feeling, and behavior, as well as in one’s relationships and productivity which usually has distress or impaired functioning.

26. Schools support mental health and well-being which also provide such services through the _____________________.

27 – 30. Give 4 (not in order) popular steps to improve mental health and well-being.

Thank you ! That In All Things God May be

Glorified!