1. Mental Disorders and Suicide
Unit 2
Spring 2016

2. Warm-Up
Write one thing about a person in our class that you think is great/unique/special.

3. Objectives I can explain how mental disorders are recognized
Describe five types of anxiety disorders and four types of other disorders
Identify the health risks of eating disorders
Describe one major risk factor for suicide

4. Mental Disorders
A Mental Disorder is an illness that affects the mind and reduces a person’s ability to function, to adjust, or to get along with others.
For example, if can alter a person’s ability to keep a job, study, or make friends.

5. Recognizing Mental Disorders
Some behaviors fall outside of the broad range of normal behaviors
For example – it is normal to wash your hands before you eat, but it is not normal to continue to wash your hands when they are already clean.
Mental health experts see abnormal thoughts, feelings, or behaviors as signs or symptoms of a mental disorder.
The distress that people who have mental disorders experience, affects their ability to function.

6. Signs Signs of Attention Deficit Signs of Hyperactivity
Does not pay attention to details
Makes careless mistakes
Does not seem to listen
Disorganized
Forgets daily activities
Easily distracted
Has difficulty following directions
Fidgets or squirms while seated
Has trouble staying in seat
Frequently runs around or climbs
Talks excessively
Interrupts others
Has trouble waiting or taking turns
Keep in mind, just because you have some of these symptoms, does not mean you have a mental disorder.

7. Warm-Up Write a letter to yourself…
Suggested topics to discuss in your letter -
What was great about 2016 so far? What was bad?
Do you think you changed over the last year? How?
Who are your friends and why?
What are your favorite and least favorite things? Think food, colors, clothes, hobbies, sports, music, classes, etc.
Do you think you will change over the next year? How and in what ways?
Do you have any predictions about the next year? - If you could give your future self one piece of advice, what would it be?

8. Causes of Mental Disorders
Though researchers have made gains on what causes mental disorders, there is still a lot to learn
Sometimes it has a single cause, other times it is a combination of things
There are four main factors
Physical Factors – Damage to the brain at any age; caused by a tumor, an injury, or illness. Also, exposure to lead, other poisons, or the prolonged use of alcohol or other drugs.

9. Causes of Mental Disorders
Heredity – A person may inherit a tendency toward a mental disorder. This does not necessarily mean that a person will have the disorder, however, they have a greater risk.
Early Experiences – Extremely negative experiences that occur early in life can lead to mental illness.
For example, if a child is neglected or abused.
Recent Experiences – Negative experiences that occur recently are actually more likely to cause mental illness.
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

10. Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety – Fear caused by a source you cannot identify or a source that does not pose as much of a threat as you think.
Have you every been afraid in a situation even though you knew the actual threat?
Anxiety Disorder – When anxiety persists for a long time and interferes with daily living.
About 13% of teen are affected by this
Examples include, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, and PTSD

11. Phobias
Phobia – Anxiety that is related to a specific situation or object
Arachnophobia – fear of spiders
Agoraphobia – fear of open or public places
Claustrophobia – fear of small, closed spaces

12. Anxiety Disorders Panic Attacks Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Fast heart rate
Rapid breathing
Sweating
Chest Discomfort
Fear of losing control
Obsession – an unwanted thought of image that takes control of the mind.
Compulsion – an unreasonable need to behave in a certain way to prevent a feared outcome.
Repeatedly checking if the door is locked; constantly washing your hands.

13. Mood Disorder
Mood Disorder – people who experience extreme emotions that make it difficult to function well in their daily lives.
Bipolar disorder – a person that shift from one emotional extreme disorder to another.
Depression – an emotional state in which a person feels extremely sad and hopeless.
Schizophrenia – extreme – “split-mind”

14. Eating Disorders
Eating Disorder – An abnormal behavior related to more than just food.
Anorexia Nervosa – a person does not eat enough food to maintain a healthy body weight.
Main symptom is extreme weight loss
Even when thin, these people still see themselves as fat.
Bulimia – A person goes on uncontrolled eating binges followed by purging. (vomiting or laxatives)
Can cause irritation to the throat and erodes the enamel of the teeth.

15. Depression
People with clinical depression may feel sad and hopeless for months at a time.
As the depression deepens, people often are unable to accomplish their daily tasks.
Can lead to problems at school, relationships, alcohol and drug use, and sometimes even suicide.
Recognizing Depression – A person with depression with experience four or more of the symptoms nearly every day for at least two weeks.

16. Symptoms of Depression
Change in appetite; significant weight loss or gain
Change in sleep patterns; difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much.
Change in activity level; sluggish or frantic
Loss of interest in usual activities
Loss of energy; always tired
Hopelessness
Unexplained crying
Repeated thoughts of death and suicide

17. Self-Injury
Cutting – The use of sharp object to intentionally cut or scratch one’s body deep enough to bleed.
Self injury is in unhealthy way to cope with emotions, stress, or traumatic events

18. Suicide Suicide is the international killing of oneself.
Suicide affects all kinds of people: young, old, rich, poor…
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages
There is now legitimate sign that someone is going to commit suicide, only risk factors.

19. Risk Factors A previous suicide attempt or a family history
Having both a mental disorder and a substance abuse disorder
Feelings of hopelessness or isolation
Lack of access to mental health treatment
Being influenced by the suicide of family members, peers, or celebrities.

20. When a Friend is Thinking about Suicide
Do…
Don’t…
Trust your feelings
Take the threat seriously
Say how concerned you are
Listen carefully
Talk calmly
Involve a trusted adult
Stay until help arrives
Dare the person to go ahead with the attempt
Judge the person
Analyze the person’s motives
Argue or offer reasons not to attempt suicide
Leave the person alone

21. Consider… On a separate sheet of paper
What actions would you take and how would you approach a friend that you feel is having issues with:
An eating disorder
Depression
Considering Suicide