1. Lesson 1 – Mental Disorders
Mental and Emotional Problems
Chapter 9
Lesson 1 – Mental Disorders
Journal: Write as many words as you can think of when you hear the term mental disorder. Categorize the words as positive or negative. What might this indicate about attitude regarding mental disorders?

2. What are Mental Disorders?
An illness of the mind that can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behavior of a person, preventing him or her from leading a happy, healthful, and productive life.
Mental disorders require medical attention; many involve imbalances in brain chemistry

3. Types of Mental Disorders
Two categories
Organic – caused by physical illness or injury that affects the brain
Functional – psychological cause and does not involve brain damage.

4. An anxiety disorder is a condition in which real or imagined fears are difficult to control
A phobia is a strong and irrational fear of something specific, such as high places, dogs, etc
Pickles
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) traps the affected person in a pattern of repeated thoughts or behaviors
Panic disorder involves sudden, unexpected feelings of terror, or panic attacks
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that may develop after exposure to a terrifying event that threatened or caused physical harm

5. Mood Disorders
An illness, often with an organic cause, that involves mood extremes that interfere with everyday life
Clinical depression – feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair that last for more than a few weeks and interfere with person’s ability to concentrate, sleep, perform at school or work, or handle everyday challenges
Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder) – marked by extreme mood changes, energy levels, and behavior

6. Other Mental Disorders
Eating disorders
Conduct disorder – pattern of behavior in which the rights of others or basic social rules are violated
Schizophrenia – severe mental disorder in which person loses contact with reality

7. Other Mental Disorders
Personality disorder – involves thoughts and behaviors that make it difficult to get along with others
Antisocial behavior is marked by irritable, aggressive, impulsive, and violent behavior
Passive-aggressive personality disorder is marked by uncooperative attitude and behavior

8. Lesson 2 – Suicide Prevention
Journal: Write down three danger signs you might detect in someone who is thinking about suicide. Why do you think these are warning signs? What can family and friends do to help a loved one who is exhibiting these signs?

9. Suicide Risk Factors
Suicide is act of intentionally taking one’s own life
More than 90% of people that commit suicide suffer from depression or another mental disorder, or are abusing alcohol or other drugs
Other suicidal risk factors include physical or sexual abuse, history of suicide attempts, or family history of emotional disorders or suicide

10. Strategies to Prevent Suicide
When a teen talks about suicide – where it’s done in a serious, casual, or even humorous manner, he/she must be taken seriously!
Untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide
What to do with person contemplating suicide:
Initiate meaningful conversation
Show support and ask questions
Try to persuade the person to seek help
Cluster suicides – series of suicides occurring within short period of time from same school/community

11. Lesson 3 – Getting help
Journal: Why do you think some people may find it difficult to seek help for mental and emotional problems?

12. Knowing When to Get Help
Seek help if any of these feelings persist over a period of days or weeks and begin to interfere with other aspects of daily living:
You feel trapped with no way out, or worry all the time
Your feelings affect your sleep, eating, school work, job performance, or relationships
Your family or friends express concern about your behavior
You are becoming involved with alcohol or other drugs
You are becoming increasingly aggressive, violent, or reckless

13. Signs that Professional Help is needed
Symptoms that require intervention by a mental health professional include:
Frequent outbursts of anger
Overwhelming fear, anxiety, or anger at the world
Unexplained changes in sleeping or eating habits
Social withdrawal
Mental disorders may get worse if untreated
Things to remember:
Asking for needed help is sign of strength, not weakness
People with mental disorders often can’t get better on own
Sometimes, sharing deepest thoughts with stranger is a relief

14. Lesson 4 – Understanding Death and Grief
Journal: What words come to mind when you imagine dealing with the loss of someone or something of great value?

15. Different Kinds of Loss
Many kinds of losses can result in emotional distress. Some losses result from rejection, the break-up of a relationship, a death, or a move
A strong emotional attachment can make loss deeply painful

16. Expressions of Grief
Coping is dealing successfully with difficult changes in your life.
A grief response is an individual’s total response to a major loss
The grieving process involves these stages of grief:
Denial or numbness
Emotional release
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Remorse
Acceptance
hope

17. Coping with Death
Focus on good things, not bad. Avoid focusing on what you could or should have done
Mourning is the act of showing grief
To help others going through the grieving process, show empathy, take time to listen, share memories and appreciation of person who is gone
A counselor or therapist who specializes in grief can help people through the grieving process

18. Coping with Disaster and Crises
Traumatic or sudden events, such as natural disasters, can leave people feeling a range of emotions
Coping mechanisms can ease process of recovery:
Spend time with other people
Get back to daily routines as soon as possible
Eat nutritious foods, exercise, get enough rest
Do something positive to help your community through the event