Understanding the Mental-Health Notes(MH)

The Basics of Mental Health Notes

1. Understanding
Mental Health

2. Question 1:
“Mental health” refers to:
A. Achieving a period of 12-18 months
without a psychotic episode.
B. Striking a balance in all aspects of your
life—social, physical, spiritual, economic,
mental.
C. A constant feeling of contentment.
Mental Health Awareness Quiz

3. “Mental health” refers to:
B. Striking a balance in all aspects of your
life—social, physical, spiritual, economic,
mental.
Generally speaking, good mental health
means achieving a balance between all
aspects of life -social, physical, spiritual
and psychological.

4. Mental Health Awareness Quiz
Question 2:
“Stigma” refers to:
A. A plan of treatment agreed to by patient
and doctor.
B. Lack of knowledge about mental health.
C. Societal prejudice that can prevent
people in need from speaking up or
seeking help.

5. Stigma refers to
C. Societal prejudice that can prevent
people in need from speaking up or
seeking help.
There continues to be a stigma
associated with mental illness that
contributes to feelings of shame and guilt
and thereby prevents people from asking
for help.

6. Question 3:
Who is most likely to get a mental illness?
A. Poor, uneducated people.
B. Mental illness can affect anyone,
regardless of intelligence, social class,
or income level.
C. People with stressful jobs.

7. Who is most likely to get a mental illness?
B. Mental illness can affect anyone,
regardless of intelligence, social class or
income level.
No one, regardless of intelligence, social
status, economic condition or educational
level is immune from suffering from mental
illness. Mental illness can affect anyone.

8. Question 4:
Clinical depression is:
A. Severe feelings of worthlessness,
sadness and emptiness that last for
several weeks and begin to interfere
with a person's work and social life.
B. Sadness or disappointment.
C. Depression brought on by frequent
trips to a hospital or dental clinic.

9. Question 4:
Clinical depression is:
A. Severe feelings of worthlessness, sadness
and emptiness that last for several weeks
and begin to interfere with a person's work
and social life.
Clinical depression is severe feelings of
worthlessness, sadness and emptiness that
last for several weeks and begin to interfere
with a person's work and social life.

10. Question 5:
Asking someone directly about suicidal
intent increases his/her risk of suicide.
A. True
B. False

11. Asking someone directly about suicidal
intent increases his/her risk of suicide.
B. False
Asking someone directly about suicidal
intent actually lowers anxiety, opens up
communication and lowers the risk of an
impulsive act.

12. Question 6:
Women attempt suicide more often than
men.
A. True
B. False

13. Women attempt suicide more often than
men.
A. True
While women attempt suicide more often
than men, men are more likely than
women to die by suicide.

14. Question 7:
Cross cultural studies of suicide suggest:
A. It is totally absent in many cultures
B. It is found in all cultures and ethnic
groups
C. It is more prevalent in low socio-
economic groups

15. Cross cultural studies of suicide
suggest:
B. It is found in all cultures and ethnic
groups
Suicide is found in every society,
culture, and ethnic group. It is not more
prevalent in low socioeconomic groups.

16. Question 8:
When there is a threat of suicide, friends
and family members are most likely to:
A. Ridicule the person.
B. Encourage them to seek help.
C. Offer compassion and support.
D. Have no response.

17. When there is a threat of suicide, friends
and family members are most likely to:
D. Have no response.
The topic of suicide is not only avoided
in such situations, but research indicates
that most common response of friends
and family members to a threat of
suicide is no response.

18. Question 9:
If a person is having a panic attack, the best
response is to:
A. Firmly hold and restrain them.
B. Stay with them and encourage them to be
calm and breathe deeply.
C. Try to dismiss their fears by telling them
that it is all in their mind.
D. Use it as a time to help the individual
confront the fear head-on and find its cause.

19. If a person is having a panic attack, the best
response is to:
B. Stay with them and encourage them to be
calm and breathe deeply.
The most effective ways of helping a
person through a panic attack are to speak
slowly and help the person remain calm and
take deep breaths. Do not try to grab or hold
them, do not dismiss their fears as irrational
or force them to confront it immediately.

20. Question 10:
Agoraphobia is:
A. A fear of being in places or situations
which would be difficult to escape from.
B. A fear of the outdoors.
C. A fear of supermarkets.

21. Agoraphobia is:
A. A fear of being in places or situations
which would be difficult to escape from.
Agoraphobia is the fear of having panic
attacks on places or situations which
would be difficult to escape from. It is
not a fear of going out into public
places.

22. Mental Health
A state that is not merely the absence of
mental illness (Keyes, 2002; Ryff & Singer,
1998).
Mentally healthy adults have successful
mental functions, fulfilling relationships,
productive activities, and a capacity of
adaptation (US Department of Health and
Human Services, 1999).

23. What is Mental Health? (A
definition)
“a state of well-being in which the
individual realizes his or her own
abilities, can cope with the normal
stresses of life, can work
productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to his
or her community” (WHO, 2004)

24. What is Mental Health? (A
definition)
“a state of well-being in which the
individual realizes his or her own
abilities and potentials, copes
adequately with the normal
stresses of life, displays resilience
in the face of extreme life events,
works productively and fruitfully,
and is able to make a positive
contribution to the community”
(Republic Act 11036)

25. Understanding
Depression &
Suicide

26. Depression is an emotional state marked
by
Sadness or loss of pleasure
Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
Withdrawal from others
Reduced sleep, appetite, sexual desire
Definition

27. Symptoms of Depression
Vary from person to
person
2 key signs are loss of
interest in things you
like to do, and pervasive
sadness or irritability

28. SIG(M)ECAPS
Sleep disturbance: decreased or increased
Interest or pleasure*: decreased
Guilt or feeling worthless
Mood* : sustained low or depressed
Energy loss or fatigue
Concentration problems or problems with
memory
Appetite disturbance, weight loss or gain
Psychomotor agitation or retardation
Suicidal ideation, thoughts of death

29. What triggers Depression?
Family History
Having family members who have depression may increase a
person’s risk
Deficiencies of certain chemicals in the brain may lead to
depression
Major Life Changes
Negative or particularly stressful events can trigger depression.
Examples include the death of a loved one or a job change.
Major Illnesses such as heart attack, stroke or cancer may
trigger depression.
Certain medications used alone or in combination can cause side
effects much like the symptoms of depression
Use of Alcohol or other Drugs can lead to or worsen depression.
Depression can also occur for no apparent reason at all!

30. Professional treatment is
helpful for people who
experience these.

31. If you or someone you know
has the symptoms.
Take Action!

32. Dealing with a depressed friend
Be empathic and understanding
Don’t simply try to “cheer up” a depressed
person—it can feel minimizing. Simply ask if
there is anything you can do to help—the
answer will often be “no,” but the support will be
felt.
Avoid critical or shaming statements
Challenge expressions of hopelessness
Empathize with feelings of sadness, grief, anger
and frustration (other feelings will come in time)

33. Don’t argue about how bad things are or
are not
Don’t insist that depression or sadness
is not warranted for their situation
Don’t react with anger even though your
efforts to help may be resisted or
rejected
Helping a depressed friend…

34. Helping a depressed
friend…
Advocate for their recovery—
convey hope
Emphasize that depression is very treatable
Seek consultation (professional counselors
from the counseling center are always glad to
consult—by phone or in person).
Encourage your friend to seek help; offer to
go with them to the counseling center
Be supportive of counselor or other
professionals’ suggestions

35. SUPPORTIVE
COMMUNICATIO
N

36. LISTENING AND RESPONDING
WITH EMPATHY
EMPATHY
•means seeing the other person's world
from his perspective
•to put ourselves into the "shoes" of the
other and be able to feel and describe
what it is to be in his place.

37. DOs &
DON’Ts IN
LISTENING

38. DON’TS
Verbal
Parallel Talks
Subtractive Responses / Discounting
Universalization / Generalization
Spiritualization
Counter – feedback
Counter – disclosure
Advice giving
Sermonizing / Preaching/ Moralizing
Pacifying
Placating

39. Non-verbal
Sharp body shifts
Yawning
Looking at the watch or
cellphone

40. DOs
Verbal
Paraphrasing / Summarizing
Clarity by asking CARE questions
not curiosity questions
Additive Responses
Positive Stroking

41. Non-verbal
Smile
Open Posture
Forward Lean
Touch
Eye Contact
Nod

42. Guidelines in Empathic Listening
Be attentive. Be interested.
Be a sounding board.
Don’t ask a lot of questions.
Act like a mirror.
Don’t discount the speaker’s feelings
Don’t let the speaker “hook” you
Indicate you are listening by
Providing brief responses “Uh-uh”, “I see”
Giving nonverbal acknowledgements-nodding
Invitations to say more – “Can you tell me more about it”

43. Follow good listening “ground rules”
Don’t interrupt
Don’t change the subject or move in a new direction
Don’t rehearse in your own head
Don’t interrogate
Don’t teach
Don’t give advice
Do reflect back to the speaker what you understand

44. L – lean forward
O - open position
V – voice modulation
E – eye contact
R – rapport and relax

45. Maintain confidentiality
Recognize your limitations
Avoid asking irrelevant questions
Don’t use the person-in-need (PIN) to satisfy
your own needs
Do not force or pressure to continue
sharing
Private and quiet venue (if possible)
Touch (timely & appropriately)
Treat them as you would be treated
Do not judge
Include them in you daily prayer
ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN
LISTENING

46. Factors for living a Flourishing Life:
PERMAV Model

47. 1. What makes you feel silly, happy, joyful?
2. What activities do you enjoy?
3. Who are the people that you love?
4. What makes life meaningful to you?
5. What achievements have you
accomplished so far?
6. How do you ensure vitality in your life?
6. How do you ensure vitality in your life?
3. Who are the people that you love or
care and loves or cares you back?
5. What achievements have you
accomplished so far?
1. What makes you feel silly, happy,
joyful?
4. What makes life meaningful to you?
2. What activities do you enjoy?

48. A flourishing person is someone who
experiences positive emotions, excels in daily
life, and is a contributing and productive
member of society.
In other words, they consistently FEEL
good (happy) and consistently DO good.
Flourishers…

49. Diagnosing Mental Health
A syndrome of symptoms:
Emotional
Wellbeing
Psychological Wellbeing Social Wellbeing
Positive Affect Self-acceptance Social Acceptance
Happiness Personal Growth Social Actualization
Life SatisfactionPurpose In Life Social Contribution
Environmental Mastery Social Coherence
Autonomy Social Integration
Positive Relations With Others