Interwork Limited

presents

Practical Training for Carers Mental Health Awareness

Group Rules

Respect opinions Let people have their say Respect confidentiality, anything personal discussed must stay within the group.

Mental Health Awareness

AIM To give a basic understanding of Mental Health and Mental Illness.

Activity 1

Celebrities Leaders Scientists

Jim Carrey Winston Churchill John Nash Bruno Alexander The Great Stephen Hawking Ellen DeGeneres Buzz Aldrin Napoleon Bonaparte Oliver Cromwell Richard Nixon Isaac Newton Sir Charles Darwin Carl Paul Link

Authors

Graeme Green Samuel Becket Ernest Hemingway Victor Hugo Henry James

Artists

Vincent Van Gogh Jackson Pollack Edward Lear

Introduction

INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH

Activity 2 MYTH OR FACT

Complete the Fact or Myth Quiz

What is Mental Health?

What keeps us Mentally Healthy?

Who is Affected by Mental Health?

Mental health affects us all and it is important that we recognise our own vulnerabilities.

Definition

Mental illness    Diagnosable Identifiable group of symptoms/behaviours Significant interference

Activity 3

Statistically how many people will have a mental health problem in the course of a year?

Statistics



One in five

Australians

will

suffer a mental health condition in any given year 

14.4%

of Australians

will

suffer from an anxiety disorder in any given year 

6.2%

of Australians

will

suffer from a mood or affective disorder in any given year  Annual cost of mental illness in Australia was estimated to be $20 billion in 2007 (ABS Australian Social Trends, 2008 – Mental Health)

What causes Mental Illness?

Research Combination of factors  Genetics   Brain chemistry Environmental factors Physical and mental health linked Substance abuse

Causes of Mental Illness Biological Factors: Chemical imbalance in brain, Genetics, Brain injury, Chronic illness, Medication Events in Childhood: Violence and abuse Emotional neglect Death of parent

Mental Illness Social factors: Family conflict Poverty Unemployment Poor housing Having a baby Infertility

Psychological Factors: Poor Self-esteem Negative thinking

ATTITUDES TOWARD MENTAL ILLNESS

Activity 4 Stigma and Mental Illness

Attitudes

It is easy to understand why many people with a history of mental health problems keep quiet about it.

Workplace and stigma

Attitudes Continued…… In a Survey by The Mental Health Foundation in 2000

 42% of people with mental health problems didn’t tell members of their family  22% didn’t tell their partners  74% didn’t mention it on forms  19% didn’t even tell their General Practitioner (GP)

SELF AND PERCEIVED STIGMA

Involves negative attitudes about yourself and what others think about you Barriers to seeking help

Food for Thought!

If we don’t change the way we think, someday one of us may be on the receiving end of this stigma.

Signs and symptoms

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF COMMON MENTAL ILLNESS

Mental illnesses

    Anxiety Disorders Depression Bipolar Schizophrenia.

Anxiety

Anxiety - Facts

25% of the population experience anxiety disorders and will require treatment 25% more will experience less severe anxieties 2007 – Anxiety Disorders most common mental health issue for those aged between 16 to 85 (ABS, 2009-2010 Year Book)

Stress and anxiety

Is Stress the same as Anxiety?

Stress

 Stress is necessary part of life  May manifest in physical, mental and/or emotional responses  Perception is usually negative

Stress and Anxiety Correlation

     Inability to fight or flee from perceived danger Inability to return to previous non-aroused physiological state Stored stress hormones Reduced ability to think clearly and concentrate Excessive stress levels lead to Anxiety

Common Anxiety Disorders Disorder Males Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Panic Disorder Agoraphobia Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD) Social Phobia Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

2% 2% 2% 2% 4% 5% Source: ABS, 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing

Females

4% 3% 4% 2% 6% 8%

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Approximately 5% Australians will experience Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Most common Disproportionate excessive and uncontrollable worry Brains do not switch off

DEPRESSION

Depressed Mood or Depression?

      4.1% of Australians will experience major depressive disorder in any given year Age of onset generally 25 years Around 160,000 Australian youth live with depression Most common mental illness for young people Not a sad or low mood Comorbid with anxiety and/or substance abuse disorders

Causes

        Family history Stressful event/s Giving birth Abuse or bullying Low confidence at school/work Family Poor self esteem Not getting on with friends or family       Stress Inability to cope Lack of support Debt Putting yourself down Loneliness

Words to Avoid!

      “ Snap out of it”.

“She is putting it on”.

“Pull yourself together”.

“Cheer up”.

“You’re bringing everyone down”.

“Don’t be so soft”.

Bipolar

BIPOLAR DISORDER

Bipolar Disorder

         Once called Manic Depression 2% Australians will experience Bipolar Disorder Typified by extreme mood swings At least one episode of mania Episodes of depression which may become Major Major episodes leave person feeling great despair, in some cases suicidal Periods of ‘normal’ mood between episodes Two polarities/poles Bipolar I or II

Mania

         Elevated mood Inhibitions Energy Racing thoughts Many ideas Little need for sleep Rapid speech Difficulty focussing Frustration and irritability

Bipolar I and II

    Bipolar I  One or more manic episodes; often one or more major depressive episodes May last several weeks to several months Alternates with intense manic symptoms ‘Normal’ health in-between Season affects Bipolar II   Same symptomology as Bipolar I Manic Episodes not as extreme

Causes

Multiple factors  Hereditary  Environmental  Job changes  Living arrangement  Family/relationship problems  Abuse  Trauma  Grief  Major life transitions  Physical

SCHIZOPHRENIA

Activity 5

What does the term Schizophrenia mean to you?

Schizophrenia Firstly and most importantly Schizophrenia is not a split personality.

This idea the behavior and personality of people with Schizophrenia swing dramatically between normal and dangerously disturbed, is not true. An experience

Schizophrenia

It is a complex mental disorder thought to be caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.

May result in distorted thinking and behaviour  Hallucinations   Delusions Social withdrawal.

Schizophrenia

How many people are affected?

 One in a 100 people develops schizophrenia at some time in their life.  However with support and treatment many people recover and lead normal everyday lives.

Support

POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND SUPPORT

10 TIPS TO POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH 1. Connect with others 2. Take time to enjoy 3. Participate and share interests 4. Contribute to your community 5.

Take care of yourself………

10 TIPS TO POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH continued…

6. Challenge yourself 7. Deal with stress 8. Rest and refresh 9. Notice the here and now 10. Ask for help.

WHERE TO GET HELP?

General Practitioner (GP) - Family Doctor Mental Health Services Mental Health Professionals Telephone Help Lines Websites

Activity 6

Group work- case studies

Activity 7

What am I going to do now to improve my mental health and the mental health of others?

Final Thought!

For centuries people with mental health illness were kept away from the rest of society, sometimes locked up, often in poor conditions, with little or no say in running their lives.

Today, negative attitudes lock them out of society more subtly but just as effectively.

RECAP

Evaluate the information you have received in Mental Health Awareness.