Chapter 6: Formative Assessment Understanding Mental Illnesses

• 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.

Lesson 6.2 Getting Help for Mental Illnesses

• 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.

Lesson 6.3 Preventing Suicide

Read information below and answer questions 17-25

• 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.