1. Chapter 4: Mental Disorders and Suicide
What Are Mental Disorders?
Kinds of Mental Disorders
Suicide
Treating Mental Disorders

2. What Are Mental Disorders? Recognizing Mental Disorders
MENTAL DISORDER: an illness that affects the mind and prevents a person from being productive, adjusting to life situations, or getting along with others.
Characterized by abnormal:
Thoughts
Feelings
or behaviors that make people uncomfortable with themselves or at odds with others.

3. Disorders we will cover
Anxiety Disorders
Affective Disorders
Eating Disorders
STIGMA

4. Statistics
An estimated 26.2 percent of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year = 57.7 million people
About 20 percent of children are estimated to have mental disorders

5. What Are Mental Disorders? Recognizing Mental Disorders
Signs of a mental disorder usually occur frequently and over a long period of time
Signs are not always easy to identify
What is normal behavior in one culture may not be in another
There are more than 230 types of mental disorders which are recognized
1 in 10 children in the US suffer from a mental disorder severe enough to cause some level of impairment
Children are defined as those under the age of 18

6. Kinds of Mental Disorders Anxiety Disorders
ANXIETY is a feeling of fear that is not directed toward any definite threat.
Generalized ANXIETY DISODER
is a diagnosis given to people
whose worries have taken
on a life of their own.
-The topics of worrying
are ordinary concerns:
will I be able to pass the exam next week?,
Is my boyfriend/girlfriend really interested in me?

7. ANXIETY DISODERS
is a condition in which real or imagined fears are difficult to control.
Characterized by chronic fear…
People with this disorder often arrange their lives to avoid situations that make them feel anxious or fearful.
There are four main types of anxiety disorders:
1. Phobic Disorder
2. Panic Disorder
3. Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder
4. Post – Traumatic stress disorder

8. Kinds of Mental Disorders Anxiety Disorders
1. Phobic Disorder
PHOBIA: Anxiety related to a specific situation or object – heights, social, spiders, etc.
How might fears affect normal living?
2. Panic Disorder
Has an unexplained feeling of terror – feelings accompanied by symptoms such as trembling, pounding heart, shortness of breath, dizziness.
This fear gets in the way of a person’s ability to enjoy life
Could lead to a person becoming housebound – agoraphobia – a fear of being alone away from help and avoidance of many different places and situations.

12. COMMON PHOBIAS Heights Acrohobia Open or public places Agoraphobia
Pain
Stars/Space
Small Spaces
Dogs
Water
Being Alone
Dark/Night
Snakes
Death and dying
Strangers
Animals
Needles
Acrohobia
Agoraphobia
Algophobia
Astrophobia
Claustrophobia
Cynophobia
Hydrophobia
Monophobia
Nyctophobia
Ophidophobia
Thanatophobia
Xenophobia
Zoophobia
Belonephobia

14. Anxiety Disorders 3. Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder
OBSESSION: an idea or thought that takes over the mind and cannot be forgotten
COMPULSION: repeated, irresistible behaviors
Repetitive behaviors such as
Hand washing, counting, cleaning

15. Types of Anxiety Disorders
4. Post – Traumatic stress disorder -
a condition that may result after exposure to a terrifying event that threatened or caused physical harm.
The disorder is common after a personal assault –rape, bombings, earthquakes, plane crashes, military combat.
Symptoms: flashbacks, nightmares, emotional numbness, guilt, sleeplessness

16. Lifetime Prevelance of Selected Psychological Disorders Among Americans
Men (%)
Women (%)
Anxiety Disorders
Simple Phobia
6.7
15.7
Social Phobia
11.1
15.5
Panic Disorder
2.0
5.0
GAD
3.6
6.6
OCD
1.7
2.8
PTSD
10.4

17. Kinds of Mental Disorders Affective Disorders
A mental disorder in which a person’s moods or emotions become extreme and interfere with daily life.
It is normal to feel depressed if you experience an important loss or failure
The feeling usually lifts after a couple of days or weeks and you can get on with your life

18. Kinds of Mental Disorders Affective Disorders
CLINICAL DEPRESSION: A mental disorder in which a person is overwhelmed by sad feelings for months and stops being able to carry out everyday activities
Can be caused by stressors
Negative attitudes learned early in life may also contribute
Anyone who shows signs of clinical depression should seek help from a parent, teacher, guidance counselor, physician, or mental health professional.
Signs of Clinical Depression
Change in appetite
With weight loss or gain
Change in sleep patterns
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
Change in activity level
Increased or slowed- down
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
Loss of energy, feeling tired all the time
Difficulty thinking or concentrating
Recurrent thought of death and suicide

19. Kinds of Mental Disorders Affective Disorders
Bi - Polar
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have it experience dramatic mood swings. They may go from overly energetic, "high" and/or irritable, to sad and hopeless, and then back again. They often have normal moods in between. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression.
During a manic episode
Overly excited
Restless
Rapid talking which is impossible to follow
Difficulty concentrating
Show poor judgment
May over spend on a shopping spree
May drive recklessly
Manic episodes alternate with periods of deep depression
May behave normally between periods of extreme moods

20. Schizophrenia is a severe, lifelong brain disorder
Schizophrenia is a severe, lifelong brain disorder. People who have it may hear voices, see things that aren't there or believe that others are reading or controlling their minds. In men, symptoms usually start in the late teens and early 20s. They include hallucinations, or seeing things, and delusions such as hearing voices. For women, they start in the mid-20s to early 30s. Other symptoms include:
Unusual thoughts or perceptions
Disorders of movement
Difficulty speaking and expressing emotion
Problems with attention, memory and organization

21. Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are present when a person experiences severe disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme reduction of food intake or extreme overeating, feelings of extreme distress, or concern about body weight or shape.
Psychological pressures, possible genetic factors, and an obsession with body image and thinness can lead to an eating disorder.

22. Eating Disorders The main types of eating disorders are :
Anorexia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa
Binge-eating disorder

23. http://www.facetheissue.com/anorexia.html ANOREXIA NERVOSA
A serious eating disorder in which a person refuses to eat enough food to maintain a minimum normal body weight
Some people with anorexia lose weight by dieting and exercising excessively; others lose weight by misusing laxatives

24. ANOREXIA NERVOSA Symptoms: Extreme loss of body weight
Intense fear of gaining weight (even when underweight)
Denial of the seriousness of low body weight
Infrequent or absent menstrual periods (women)
Avoiding meals
Intense or excessive exercise as another means of controlling weight
Slowed heart and breathing rates
Lowered body temperature
Dry skin
Brittle hair and nails
In some cases, a lack of essential minerals may cause the heart to stop suddenly, leading to death

34. Most models are thinner than 98% of American women

35. Anorexia Nervosa Statistics
An estimated .5% to 3.7% of females suffer from anorexia in their lifetime
An estimated 5-15% of people with anorexia are males

36. TREATING ANOREXIA Involves three components:
restoring the person to a healthy weight
treating the psychological issues related to the eating disorder
reducing or eliminating behaviors or thoughts that lead to disordered eating, and preventing relapse.

37. Eating Disorders- Bulimia
BULIMIA: A serious eating disorder in which alternates eating binges with purging
Bulimia is MORE prevalent than Anorexia
Difficult to diagnose
Public behavior appears normal
Bulimic behavior occurs in private
Most Bulimics do not become dangerously underweight

38. Eating Disorders- Bulimia
Serious health effects
Dehydration and kidney failure
chronically inflamed and sore throat
Enamel on teeth erodes
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse
Symptoms
Eating uncontrollably
Using the bathroom frequently after meals
Bloodshot eyes
Sore throat
Weakness/ exhaustion
Vomiting blood
Depression/ Mood swings
Heartburn, bloating, indigestion, constipation

39. Eating Disorders- Bulimia
Enamel erosion of all teeth
Increased occurrence of cavities
Braces and restorations may not stay on teeth
Teeth become discolored
Bleeding of the gums
Physical changes in the mouth are often the 1st signs of an eating disorder

40. Statistics on Eating Disorders
The Desire to be Thin
42% of 1st grade girls want to be thinner
81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat
The avg. American woman is 5’4” and 140lbs.
The avg. American model is 5’11” and 117 lbs.
Dieting
51% of 9 and 10 year old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet
95% of all dieters regain the lost weight in 1-5 years
Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet products every year

41. Warning Signs to look for
If you notice a family member or friend with the following symptoms consider talking to him or her about these issues with compassion:
low self-esteem
severe dieting
frequent overeating
hoarding of food
dissatisfaction with appearance

42. What to do about a friend that has an Eating Disorder
If You Have An Eating Disorder
Tell someone you trust
You will need support
It is an addiction
If You Do Not Get Help
Death from malnutrition
Dangerous heart rhythms
Dental Problems
Liver failure
Hair loss
Worried about a Friend?
Express your concern in a loving and supportive way
Tell someone
Avoid giving simple solutions
Express your CONTINUED support

43. Body dysmorphic disorder
A type of chronic mental illness in which you can't stop thinking about a flaw with your appearance — a flaw either that is minor or that you imagine.
When you have body dysmorphic disorder, you intensely obsess over your appearance and body image, often for many hours a day. You may seek out numerous cosmetic procedures to try to "fix" your perceived flaws but never are satisfied.

44. For Additional Information
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
American Dietetic Association (ADA)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Teen Health

45. Suicide Myths and Facts
People who talk about suicide rarely attempt it
(False!)
The tendency toward suicide is inherited and passed from generation to generation.
(False)
The suicidal person wants to die and feels that there is no turning back.

46. There is no correlation between alcoholism and suicide
All suicidal people are deeply depressed.
(False)
There is no correlation between alcoholism and suicide
(FALSE!!!)
Suicidal people are mentally ill.
Once someone attempts suicide, that person will always entertain thoughts of suicide.
(FALSE)

47. Suicide Myths and Facts
If you ask someone about their suicidal intentions, you will only encourage them to kill themselves.
(False)
Suicide is quite common among the lower class.
Suicidal people rarely seek medical attention.
Suicide is limited to young people.
(False)
Professional people do not kill themselves.
When a depression lifts, there is no longer any danger of suicide.
Suicide is a spontaneous activity that occurs without warning.
Because it includes the Christmas season, December has a high suicide rate.

48. Suicide The Warning Signs
Same signs as depression
Loss of energy
Change in sleep patterns
Withdrawal from usual activities
Radical changes in personality
Outgoing becomes withdrawn
Shy person becomes aggressive
Severe depression
Actions
Stops doing things he/ she enjoys
Gives away belongings
Decline in school performance
Things a person says
“I don’t want to live anymore.”
“They’ll be sorry when I’m gone.”
Suffered a major trauma
Moving to a new place
Losing boyfriend/ girlfriend
Friend/ family member dies
Going through family divorce
Signs can be deceptive
Someone who has been severely depressed suddenly becomes happy and carefree
May think person is better and over the depression
Why might they really be happy?

49. Suicide Statistics
In 2006, U.S.A. suicides accounted for 33,000 deaths
Who dies from suicide more often, men or women?
More men than women die from suicide
Gender ratio is 4:1 (4 times more men than women die from suicide)
73% of all suicides are white males
80% of all firearm suicides are white males
What is the 3rd leading cause of death among people aged
Suicide

50. Suicide How to Help a Suicidal PersonDO
Trust your feelings if you believe the person is suicidal
Take seriously a suicidal person’s threats
Tell the suicidal person how concerned you are and how much you care about him/ her
Talk calmly with the suicidal person – show interest and compassion
Find professional help for the suicidal person
Stay with the suicidal person until help arrives
DO NOT
Dare the suicidal person to go ahead and make the attempt
Judge the suicidal person
Analyze the suicidal person’s motives
Argue or try to convince the suicidal person of reasons why he/ she should not attempt suicide
Keep the suicidal person’s self- destructive thoughts or actions a secret
Leave a suicidal person alone

51. Suicide Helping Yourself
If you have been feeling depressed, remember that no matter how overwhelming the problems in life may seem, SUICIDE IS NEVER A SOLUTION.
Knowing some specific symptoms of mental disorders can help a person determine if he or she should seek help
- you feel trapped with no way out –you worry all of the time
- your feelings affect your sleep, eating habits, school work, or relationships
- Your family and friends express concern about your behavior – aggressive, violent, reckless
- you are becoming involved with alcohol/drugs

52. Treating Mental Disorders
Most people wait too long to seek help
Where to find help
Often, a parent, relative, teacher, school counselor, physician, or religious leader can tell you about mental health professionals` and services in your community.
There are different type of mental health professionals that are capable of different treatment methods. They may include counseling as well as a drug treatment plan.
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness – it is a sign of strength as it shows responsibility for one’s own wellness.

53. Suicide Fact or Myth
People who really intend to commit suicide do not let anyone know about it. ________
Suicide is proof of mental illness.____________
People who really want to commit suicide will do it regardless of any attempts to prevent them.__________
People who made a suicide attempt but survived did not really intend to die.__________________