Mental Health 101 The National Alumnae Association of SpelmanCollege (NAASC) – Boston Chapter 6th Annual Blueprint Conference for Middle and High School Girls Presented by: Farrah A. Belizaire, BS Clinical Research Recruitment Specialist at Boston University Medical Center
Mental Health 101Workshop Agenda Introduction / Icebreakers What is mental health? - Types of Disorders - What does mental health look like? It happens to “us” too Myth vs. Fact Group Activity Improving your mental health
Mental Health 101Introductions The Candy Game: Grab a treat, introduce yourself & answer 1 question Snickers = Who is your favorite super hero and why? Milky Way = If you were an animal, what would you be and why? 3 Musketeers = Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours Reese’s = What’s the ideal dream job for you?
Mental Health 101What is yourdefinition of mentalhealth?
Mental Health 101What is mental health?“Mental health is a state of well-being inwhich an individual realizes his or her ownabilities, can cope with the normal stresses oflife, can work productively and is able tomake a contribution to his or her community”– World Health Organization (WHO)
Mental Health 101What are sometypes of mentalhealth disordersyou’ve heardabout?
Mental Health 101What are some types of mentalhealth disorders? Depression Anxiety Disorder Schizophrenia Bipolar Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder* Mental breakdown
Mental Health 101Depression Depression is a medical illness that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. It can get in the way of carrying out your normal daily activities. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
Mental Health 101Depression: Symptoms Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings Irritability, restlessness Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable Fatigue and decreased energy Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping Overeating, or appetite loss
Mental Health 101Anxiety Disorder Anxiety Disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given year,1 causing them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty.
Mental Health 101Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms Constantly tense, worried, or on edge Anxiety interfere with your work, school, or family responsibilities Plagued by fears that you know are irrational, but can’t shake Believe that something bad will happen if certain things aren’t done a certain way Experience sudden, unexpected attacks of heart- pounding panic Feel like danger and catastrophe are around every corner
Mental Health 101Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a characterized by a breakdown of thought processes and by poor emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking
Mental Health 101Schizophrenia: Symptoms Social withdrawal Depersonalization (intense anxiety and a feeling of being unreal) Loss of appetite Loss of hygiene Delusions Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that arent there) The sense of being controlled by outside forces
Mental Health 101Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder, also called manic- depressive illness, is characterized by cycling mood changes—from extreme highs (mania) to extreme lows (depression).
Mental Health 101Bipolar Disorder: SymptomsSymptoms of mania Symptoms of depression• A long period of feeling "high," • Loss of interest in activities onceor overly happy/outgoing enjoyed• Agitation, feeling "jumpy" or • A long period of feeling worried or"wired”. empty• Having racing thoughts • Feeling tired or "slowed down“• Being easily distracted • Having problems concentrating, remembering, and making•Having an unrealistic belief in decisionsones abilities • Changing eating, sleeping, or•Behaving impulsively and with other habitshigh-risk behaviors, such asspending sprees and other • Thinking of death or suicide, orimpulsive decisions attempting suicide
Mental Health 101PTSD PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to ones own or someone elses physical, sexual, or psychological integrity, overwhelming the individuals ability to cope
Mental Health 101PTSD: Symptoms Re-experiencing the original trauma(s) through flashbacks or nightmares Avoidance of things associated with the trauma Difficulty falling or staying asleep Being unable to remember important aspects of the trauma Having a lack of interest in normal activities Difficulty concentrating Having an exaggerated response to things that startle you
Mental Health 101Mental Breakdown Nervous or mental breakdowns aren’t medical term, however, nor does it indicate a specific mental illness. But that doesnt mean its a normal or a healthy response to stress. A nervous breakdown may indicate an underlying mental health problem that needs attention, such as depression or anxiety.
Mental Health 101Mental Breakdown: Symptoms Loss of confidence and self-esteem Inability to stop crying Feelings of guilt, poor judgment Disinterest in social life and work or alienation from previously close friends and family Hearing voices Paranoid thoughts, such as the thought people are trying to harm you Having flashbacks to a prior traumatic event
Mental Health 101What do peoplewith mental healthissues look like?Activity: What are some words that come to mind whenyou think of “mental health”?
Mental Health 101One of the most famous breakdown may be what occurred withMariah Carey, who was convinced that she was invisible, took abath with her clothes on and was thrown into the psychiatric wardagainst her will after a mental meltdown. Her behavior also includedscreaming in an airport that her plane was going to crash and thatMarilyn Monroe was speaking to her from her grave.
Mental Health 101On May 7, 1996, comedian Martin Lawrence suffered a nervousbreakdown. Lawrence was picked up by police for standing in themiddle of a busy, mid-day Los Angeles intersection and screaming atcars. Although he said it was due to exhaustion and dehydration, hisbehavior was symptomatic of a mental breakdown
Mental Health 101Rapper DMX is said to suffer from bipolar disorder and manicdepression, induced by an abusive mother, placement in fosterhomes and drug/alcohol issues. He was placed in mental healthfacilities during his time in an Arizona jail.
Mental Health 101According to fformer Celtics player Delonte West, Bipolar is like, whenthings are bad to you, they seem worse and when things are good,they seem great. When youre a professional athlete, youve got to bea robot sometimes. Youve got to check your emotions at the door
Mental Health 101Halle Berry publicly admitted attempting suicide after divorcing frombaseball superstar David Justice, but stopped when she “had an imageof her mother finding her.” Berry says her sense of self-worth was so low,she tried to suffocate herself with carbon monoxide in the garage ofher house.
Mental Health 101It Happens to “Us” too…African Americans are more likely toexperience social circumstances thatincrease their chances of developing amental illness
Mental Health 101 It Happens to “Us” too… 45% of children in foster care are Black ~33% of Black working adults are without health insurance 40% of the U.S. homeless population is Black > 25% of African American children are exposed to violence
Mental Health 101It Happens to “Us” too… Black women seek mental health care less than White women; and, when they do seek it, do so later in life and at later stages of their illness - Lack of trust in the medical community - Not knowing the symptoms of mental health problems - Not knowing how/when to get help
Mental Health 101It Happens to “Us” too…“Often, African Americans turn to family,church and community to cope”Question:Who do you talk to when you’re stressed?
Mental Health 101Myth vs. Fact Seeking help is a sign of weakness You will embarrass your family Rates of mental illnesses in African American communities are similar to those of the general population Diverse groups are more likely to stop treatment early or are less likely to receive follow-up care
Mental Health 101Group ActivityGet together in groups of 3 and 4 andact a scenario in which a person youknow may be suffering from a mentalhealth disorder. Describe what actionsyou would take to help them get theproper assistance.
Mental Health 101Improving your mentalhealth Know Yourself & Build Self Confidence A healthy identity is critical for overall good mental health. What are you good at? What makes you unique? What is your ethnic background? What are your personal goals/ambitions. Use Social Supports. Using social networks found in the family, neighborhood, church, mosque, temple and community is how Black women seek healing through others with similar experiences. Who do you talk to when you have a serious concern? Name them. Recognize Symptoms. No two people experience mental disorders the same. Have you ever experienced any of the symptoms we’ve talked about today? Develop an Attitude of Optimism. Those who think positively are more likely to practice positive coping strategies for stress and feelings of depression.
Mental Health 101Thank you & don’t forget to grab a worksheet!