Mental Health

What is Depression?

A common mental disorder that presents with: • Prolonged sadness that persists • Depressed mood • Loss of interest or pleasure • Feelings of guilt • Low self-worth • Disturbed sleep or appetite • Low energy • Poor concentration

Types of Depression

Major Depressive Episode (MDE) • Deep despair, extremely depressed mood,

hopelessness, guilt, suicidal thoughts

Dysthymia (mild depression) • Manage to go to school/work, depressed mood,

low energy, low self-concept

Types of Depression (cont’d)…

Bipolar Disorder • Two extremes: low lows (depression) and high

highs (mania)

Psychosis • Person’s perception of reality has been

disturbed, cannot tell what is real/what is not real

• Psychological “break” with reality

Teens and Depression

• In early teens, 6% of teens are depressed (higher in girls)

• In late teens: o Males – 12% o Females – 21- 24%

How long does it last? o Major Depressive Episode = 8 – 13 months o Dysthymia = 3 years o Relapse is common (32-70%) within 5 years of

an episode

Myth busters…

“It’s all in their head.” • YES, IT IS! It’s in the brain, and the brain is

sick.

Mental Health Pyramid

Mental illness

Mental health problem

Mental health distress

No distress, problem or disorder

Intentional acts to hurt self, including:

• cutting

• scratching

• burning

• picking scabs

• pulling hair

What is self-harm?

Is it a mental illness?

Not a diagnosable mental illness

Likely a sign of underlying issues

Must be addressed by a trained mental health professional

experiencing intense emotional pain

unsure how to cope, they look for a way to release that pain

physical pain temporarily overpowers their emotional pain

it can become habit-forming

can be “contagious”

Why do they do it?

•14% to 39%

How prevalent is this issue?

• Behaviour Therapy (CBT & DBT)

✴can help patients re-route their patterns of thought

✴ focus on what brings them to self harm

• General self care practices can help

• Teaching of healthier coping strategies

How is it treated?

Eating Disorders

What is an eating disorder?Less deliberate form of self harm, including:

Anorexia•extreme food restriction

Binge Eating•secretive, compulsive overeating for comfort

Bulimia•uncontrollable binge eating, followed by purging

body image issues

response to sexual victimization

search for control

it can become habit-forming

can be “contagious”

Why do they do it?