Lesson 6.1 Recognizing Mental Illnesses
Read information below and answer questions 1-8
A mental illness is a mental or emotional condition that interferes with daily functioning.
Family history, brain chemistry, life experiences, substance use, brain injuries, environment during pregnancy, and unhealthy patterns of thinking contribute to mental illnesses.
Anxiety disorders cause extreme or unrealistic fear or dread in response to situations, experiences, or objects.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) makes it difficult to pay attention or control behavior. Those with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) experience constant and obsessive thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
People with mood disorders such as major depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and bipolar disorder experience extreme changes in the way they feel.
People with behavioral disorders like oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) or conduct disorder show patterns of inappropriate behavior.
Which of the following is not a contributing factor to mental illnesses?
Which mental illness is characterized by extreme or unrealistic fear?
Which mental illness involves constant obsessive thoughts or behaviors?
Which mental illness shows patterns of inappropriate behavior?
A mental illness is a condition that interferes with ______ functioning.
Which contributes to mental illnesses?
What do anxiety disorders cause in response to situations?
What is a characteristic of mood disorders?
Read information below and answer questions 9-16
Treatment for mental illnesses include therapy, medication, or inpatient treatment. Therapists treat people with mental illnesses through individual therapy, family therapy, or support groups.
Medications, in addition to therapy, can help treat specific mental illnesses. Medication is prescribed by healthcare professionals. Some medications have side effects, so doctors regularly monitor patients on medications.
People may choose not to seek help due to stigmas of the illness or cost of treatment.
If you are concerned that someone you care about has a mental illness, share your honest concerns with that person and offer to help the person find treatment.
What are the treatment options for mental illnesses?
Who can prescribe medication for mental illnesses?
Why might some people choose not to seek help for mental illnesses?
What should you do if you think someone has a mental illness?
Which of the following is a treatment option for mental illnesses?
Who can prescribe medication for mental illnesses?
Why might some people choose not to seek help for mental illnesses?
What can you do if someone you care about has a mental illness?
Suicide describes when a person takes one’s own life. Sometimes, a mental illness can lead to suicidal thoughts. Individual and environmental factors such as financial hardship, abuse, or bullying may also lead a person to consider suicide.
Suicide contagion describes how exposure to a suicide or suicide attempt may influence others to attempt suicide. A suicide cluster describes a series of suicides or suicide attempts that occur in a community in a relatively short time.
Most people who attempt suicide show warning signs about their intentions. If you or someone you know experiences thoughts about suicide, talk to a trusted adult immediately.
Building a support system, having healthy self-esteem, having a positive mind-set, and managing stress can help reduce the risk of suicide. Improving your environment can also decrease the risk of suicide.
Support groups can be helpful for survivors who often feel anger, guilt, or sadness over the loss of a loved one from suicide. It is important to let survivors grieve.
What is suicide contagion?
What can help reduce the risk of suicide?
What should survivors of suicide do?
What are warning signs of suicide?
What is suicide contagion?
What is a suicide cluster?
What can help reduce the risk of suicide?
Why is it important to let survivors grieve?
Which action can help reduce the risk of suicide?