Understanding Mental Illness for Teens

1. Understanding Mental Illness for Teens Getting Rid of the Stigma Created by Portage County NAMI(National Alliance of Mental Illness) Family to Family Class ofSpring 2012

2. Understanding Mental Illness Mental illness is like any other kind of illness - something in our body or brain isn’t working correctly.

3. One in five people worldwide have a mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lives.

4. 450 million people currently suffer from mental illness placing mental illness among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide.

5. Treatment works, but nearly two-thirds of people with a known mental illness never seek help from a health professional.

6. “Stigma assumes many forms, both subtle and overt. It appears as prejudice and discrimination, fear, distrust, and stereotyping. It prompts many people to avoid working, socializing, and living with people who have a mental disorder.

7. Stigma impedes people from seeking help for fear the confidentiality of their diagnosis or treatment will be breached.

8. For our Nation to reduce the burden of mental illness, to improve access to care, and to achieve urgently needed knowledge about the brain, mind and behavior, STIGMA must no longer be tolerated" (U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, 1999).

9. Human Diseases Diseases of the Brain Diseases of the Body Allergies Arthritis Asthma Cancer Diabetes Heart Disease High Blood Pressure Kidney Disease (nephritis) Malaria Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Pneumonia • Alzheimer's Disease • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), "Lou Gehrig's Disease • Bipolar disorder • Cancer • Cerebral Palsy • Depression • Epilepsy • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder • Panic Attacks • Parkinson’s Disease • Schizophrenia

10. Diabetes • Diabetes, a common disease suffered by millions of people, reveals itself by changes in bodily functions or senses. • Diabetes creates changes in the body acting as indications of the disease. • Thirsty • Frequent Urination • Blurred Vision • Tingling or numbness in hands or feet • Cuts or bruises that are slow to heal • Light headed or tired

11. Chicken Pox • Chicken Pox, a common disease suffered by millions of people, reveals itself by visible changes on the surface of the skin. • Bruising of skin without injury • Skin infection • Itchy rash • Red spots and blisters on skin

12. Cancer • Cancer, a common disease suffered by millions of people, reveals itself by both physical and sensual indicators. • A sore that won’t heal • Unusual bleeding or discharge anywhere • Obvious change in a mole or wart • Indigestion or trouble swallowing • Nagging cough persisting for six weeks

13. Mental Illness • Mental illness , a common disease suffered by millions of people, reveals itself by changes in behavior. • Panic or fear • Extremely happy or depressed • Irritability • Exhausted • Paranoid • Seeking seclusion • Frequent Mood Swings • Confused thinking

14. Sometimes Teenagers and Adults Ridicule Others for Being Different • If you’re overweight, then you’re a lard-o • If you’re too thin, then you’re a bean pole. • If you’re an athlete, then you’re also stupid and get poor grades • If you’re super intelligent, then you’re a geek and will never be popular • If you have a mental illness, then you’re crazy or a space cadet

15. The stigma of mental illness affects children and adults at work, at school, in families, and with peer interactions. Mental illness – be proud – tear down the stigma

16. Over 50% of people with lifetime mental illness discover they have the disease by or shortly after age 14. Hospitals are currently increasing with bipolar patients between the ages of 15 and 24 years. You may have a mental illness. It just hasn’t hit you yet! It’s time to learn, understand and develop a compassion for those with mental illness.

17. Over 20% of the population will experience mental illness in their lifetime. In the United States, that’s over 63 million people!

18. In the United States, the leading cause of death for college students is traffic accidents. The second leading cause of death for college students is…

19. …SUICIDE!

20. In the United States, twice as many people die from suicide as from murder. Source: cdc.gov

21. In the Vietnam War, about 55,000 American soldiers lost their lives in battle. Another 55,000 committed suicide after they returned home. Their average age was 19!

22. People with mental illness are usually intelligent, talented, and inspiring people. They are actors, artists, business managers, musicians, astronauts, pilots, scientists, teachers, athletes, government leaders, doctors, authors, composers, and anything you might want to be!

23. Having a mental illness is no different than having another type of illness. There are millions of people with mental illness all around us. They are family members, friends, teachers, employers – anyone! Many of them are your heroes and mentors. Mental Illness in Schools

24. A True Genius in Our Century Was Albert Einstein He suffered from dyslexia and OCD

25. Albert Einstein His teachers described him as: In today’s Culture: Einstein might have been labeled “Learning Disabled.” Teachers and guidance counselors might have called him disruptive and “unable to stay on task.” He might have been prescribed the drug Ritalin so he could become “a better citizen and student.” • Mentally slow, unsociable and adrift in foolish dreams • He failed mathematics in the 6th grade.

26. Let’s take a closer look at some types of mental illness so we understand them better.

27. I am now going to introduce you to some of your heroes, some of the people you greatly admire, some of the people you might want to be like, some of your mentors. In case you are interested, they are all mentally ill!

28. Famous People with Mental Illness

29. Depression

30. Depression • Constant sad or irritable mood • Major changes in sleep, appetite, or energy • Difficulty concentrating, thinking, and remembering • Feelings of guilt, emptiness, unimportance, and hopelessness. • Lack of interest in activities that were once enjoyed • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide Source: NAMI.org

31. Drew Carrey Actor Depression, Attempted Suicide

32. Abraham Lincoln President United States Severe and Debilitating Depressions

33. Ernest Hemingway Pulitzer-Prize winning novelists Depression Committed suicide at 61

34. Janet Jackson Singer Depression

35. Hugh Laurie(Dr House) Actor Depression

36. Ray Charles R&B Musician Depression

37. Sheryl Crow Musician Depression

38. Buzz AldrinAstronaut2nd man to walk on the moonDepressionAlcoholism

39. Drew Barrymore Actor / Producer Depression Attempted suicide at age 14

40. Halle Berry Actor Depression Attempted suicide at age 40

41. Anxiety Disorders

42. Anxiety Disorders • Anxiety disorders cause people to feel excessively frightened, distressed and uneasy during situations in which most others would not experience these symptoms.

43. Anxiety Disorders Include… • Panic attacks • Phobias • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Source: NAMI.org

44. Terry Bradshaw Quarterback Won 4 Super Bowls Anxiety AttacksAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

45. He was once so depressed that he would go to bed crying • He was calm on the football field, but after the game he would sweat heavily and dissolve into tears • He used football games as an escape, but ,,,”after the game I went to hell in a hand basket!” Source: Lisa Allison Active Minds www.activeminds.org

46. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

47. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) • Repeatedly bathing, showering, or washing hands • Refusing to shake hands or touch doorknobs • Repeatedly checking things such as locks or stoves • Constant counting while performing routine tasks • Constantly arranging things in a routine way • Eating food in a specific order • Hoarding items with no apparent value • Repeating specific words, phrases, or prayers • Being stuck on disturbing words, images, or thoughts that won’t go away. Source: webmd.com

48. Jennifer Love Hewitt Actor Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(OCD)

49. Jennifer cannot go to bed at night unless all the cupboard and closet doors are closed in her house. http://creaturafanzine.blogspot.com/2012/02/imperfecto.html

50. Donald Trump Business ManReal-estate Tycoon Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)