MENTAL HEALTH Understanding Mental Illness

Defining Mental Illness Clinical definition Clinically significant behavioral problems Clinically significant behavioral problems Associated with distress (painful symptoms) Associated with distress (painful symptoms) Causes disability (impairment in functioning) Causes disability (impairment in functioning) A biological illness that responds to treatment A biological illness that responds to treatment Not to be confused with weakness of character Not to be confused with weakness of character

Facts about Mental Illness Has nothing to do with intelligence Has nothing to do with intelligence Can happen to anyone Can happen to anyone Chronic but not contagious Chronic but not contagious Difficult to diagnose and to treat Difficult to diagnose and to treat Treated but not cured Treated but not cured Mentally ill are not all dangerous Mentally ill are not all dangerous Should not be confused with terms psychopath or sociopath Should not be confused with terms psychopath or sociopath

General Signs of Mental Illness Observable Observable Confusion Confusion Disoriented Disoriented Darting looks Darting looks Talking to self Talking to self Poverty of Speech Poverty of Speech Pressured speech Pressured speech Poor hygiene Poor hygiene Inappropriate attire Inappropriate attire Behavior Changes Behavior Changes Flat Affect Flat Affect Withdrawn Withdrawn Sad or anxious mood Sad or anxious mood Panic Panic Psycho somatic complaints Psycho somatic complaints

Schizophrenia Symptoms Brain disease Brain disease Includes psychosis Includes psychosis Impacts 1 out of every 100 people. Impacts 1 out of every 100 people. Does not differentiate across SES Does not differentiate across SES Onset is late teens, early adulthood. Onset is late teens, early adulthood. May appear non compliant May appear non compliant Agitated by voices and delusions - may look and act dangerous Agitated by voices and delusions - may look and act dangerous Command hallucinations may actually be dangerous Command hallucinations may actually be dangerous More likely to respond to clear directions, and reassurance in a kind tone of voice More likely to respond to clear directions, and reassurance in a kind tone of voice Poor hygiene - Not aware of their surroundings enough to know that they are not clean Poor hygiene - Not aware of their surroundings enough to know that they are not clean Positive Symptoms include : Positive Symptoms include : – hallucinations – delusional thinking Negative symptoms include Negative symptoms include – apathy – withdrawal.

Depression Symptoms Affects 5 percent of the general population Affects 5 percent of the general population Sad mood that lasts 2 weeks Sad mood that lasts 2 weeks Loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities Loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities Changes in sleep, appetite, decreased energy Changes in sleep, appetite, decreased energy Thought problems affect concentration, memory, decisions, feelings of guilt, worthlessness Thought problems affect concentration, memory, decisions, feelings of guilt, worthlessness Risk of suicide is high Risk of suicide is high Important to differentiate mental health from physical problems Important to differentiate mental health from physical problems Responds well to treatment Responds well to treatment Loss of interest in food and self care Loss of interest in food and self care Risk of suicide may increase after medication Risk of suicide may increase after medication

Mania/Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Euphoric mood (elevated, high or happy) Euphoric mood (elevated, high or happy) Irritable mood (touchy) Irritable mood (touchy) Three Stages of Mania Three Stages of Mania Hypomania, Acute Mania, Psychosis Hypomania, Acute Mania, Psychosis Mood swings from depression to mania Mood swings from depression to mania Can be Rapid Cycling Can be Rapid Cycling Mood can swing from entertaining to hostile Mood can swing from entertaining to hostile Talkativeness can be irritating Talkativeness can be irritating If depressed, often cry, feel hopeless, become suicidal If depressed, often cry, feel hopeless, become suicidal Can be restless, pacing, demanding and destructive Can be restless, pacing, demanding and destructive12 Often non-compliant Often non-compliant Can be professional and well- educated Can be professional and well- educated

Panic Disorders Symptoms Prevalence is 1 to 2 percent of the population; Women twice as high as men. Prevalence is 1 to 2 percent of the population; Women twice as high as men. Panic attacks occur without warning Panic attacks occur without warning Symptoms include intense fear, heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness Symptoms include intense fear, heart palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness Person is concerned that the attacks will strike again Person is concerned that the attacks will strike again

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms Obsessions are recurrent thoughts, images, impulses that cause anxiety. They are illogical, at times repulsive and/or center on violence or harm. Obsessions are recurrent thoughts, images, impulses that cause anxiety. They are illogical, at times repulsive and/or center on violence or harm. Compulsions are behaviors that are repetitive - attempts at reducing the anxiety created by the obsessions. Compulsions are behaviors that are repetitive - attempts at reducing the anxiety created by the obsessions.

Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms Exposure to an extremely stressful event. Exposure to an extremely stressful event. Painful memories, nightmares,, suspicion, anxiety, depression, feelings of guilt and sleep difficulties Painful memories, nightmares,, suspicion, anxiety, depression, feelings of guilt and sleep difficulties Symptoms worsen with exposure to similar events Symptoms worsen with exposure to similar events Substance abuse is a common method to cope Substance abuse is a common method to cope

Personality Disorders Inflexible, maladaptive, ways of coping and relating Inflexible, maladaptive, ways of coping and relating Difficulty in holding steady work and relationships Difficulty in holding steady work and relationships Difficult to change Difficult to change Can co -exist with other mental illnesses Can co -exist with other mental illnesses

Types of Personality Disorders Antisocial Antisocial Narcissistic Narcissistic Borderline Borderline Avoidant Avoidant Paranoid Paranoid Dependent Dependent Schizotypal Schizotypal Schizoid Schizoid

Co-occurring Disorders Presence of both a mental illness and substance abuse disorder Presence of both a mental illness and substance abuse disorder High prevalence rates High prevalence rates 60% of persons with a mood disorder also have a substance abuse disorder 60% of persons with a mood disorder also have a substance abuse disorder 50% of persons with schizophrenia also have a substance abuse disorder 50% of persons with schizophrenia also have a substance abuse disorder

Common Factors of Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Brain disorders Brain disorders Lack of Insight Lack of Insight Chronic Chronic Impacts Family Impacts Family Shame and guilt Shame and guilt Needs Treatment Needs Treatment

Dementia and other Cognitive Disorders Symptoms Memory problems Memory problems Confabulations Confabulations Impaired thinking Impaired thinking Impaired Judgment Impaired Judgment Poor memory and may not follow directions Poor memory and may not follow directions Treat individual as you would any with a disability Treat individual as you would any with a disability