MENTAL

HEALTH &
MENTAL
ILLNESS
 Parents, practitioners, and policymakers are recognizing the importance of young
people’s mental health. Youth with better mental health are physically healthier,
demonstrate more socially positive behaviors and engage in fewer risky behaviors.
Conversely, youth with mental health problems, such as depression, are more likely to
engage in health risk behaviors. Furthermore, youths’ mental health problems pose a
significant financial and social burden on families and society in terms of distress, cost of
treatment, and disability.
Most mental health problems diagnosed in adulthood begin in adolescence. Half of
lifetime diagnosable mental health disorders start by age 14; this number increases to three
fourths by age 24. The ability to manage mental health problems, including substance use
issues and learning disorders, can affect adult functioning in areas such as social
relationships and participation in the workforce
Two topics we Will encounter
 One in five adolescents experience significant symptoms of
emotional distress and nearly one in ten are emotionally
impaired;

 The most common disorders among adolescents include

depression, anxiety disorders and attention-deficit/
hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorder
What is mental health and mental illness?
Mental Health defined mental health as “successful performance of mental function, resulting in
productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to change and to cope
with adversity

Mental illness refers to diagnosable mental disorders that are characterized by alterations in
thinking, mood, or behavior (or a combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired
functioning.”

Common disorders include mood disorders such as depression; anxiety disorders; behavioral
problems such as oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder; eating disorders such as
anorexia nervosa and bulimia; addictive disorders; and other disorders commonly seen in childhood
and adolescence such as autism, learning disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(AD/HD).
Specific Disorders
Depression - feelings of severe despondency and dejection

Depression is one of the most widely studied mental health conditions because
of its large burden on individuals, families, and society and its links to suicide.
Depression is the most widely reported disorder, with over a quarter of adolescents
affected A Mental Health Profile of Adolescents Page 5 by at least mild depressive
symptoms.
10 common symptoms of depression:

1. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness

2. Loss of interest in daily activities
3. Appetite or weight changes
4. Sleep changes
5. Anger or irritability
6. Loss of energy
7. Self-loathing
8. Reckless behavior
9. Concentration problems
10.Unexplained aches and pains
 Anxiety Disorders - are a group of mental disorders characterized by significant feelings
of anxiety and fear. Anxiety is a worry about future events and fear is a reaction to current events.
These feelings may cause physical symptoms, such as a fast heart rate and shakiness.

National prevalence data on specific anxiety disorders in

adolescents are limited, although regional studies suggest
that the combined prevalence of anxiety disorders is among
the highest in childhood and adolescence.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorder is an umbrella term that includes different conditions:
1. Panic disorder. You feel terror that strikes at random. During a panic attack, you may also sweat,
have chest pain, and feel palpitations(unusually strong or irregular heartbeats). Sometimes you
may feel like you’re choking or having a heart attack.
2. Social anxiety disorder. Also called social phobia, this is when you feel overwhelming worry and
self-consciousness about everyday social situations. You fixate about others judging you or on
being embarrassed or ridiculed.
3. Specific phobias. You feel intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights or flying.
The fear goes beyond what’s appropriate and may cause you to avoid ordinary situations.
4. Generalized anxiety disorder. You feel excessive, unrealistic worry and tension with little or no
reason.
 Substance Abuse Disorders - A substance use disorder (SUD),
also known as a drug use disorder, is a condition in which the use of one
or more substances leads to a clinically significant impairment or
distress. In the DSM-5 substance use disorder replaced substance
abuse and substance dependence. it has been implicated in addictions
to alcohol, cannabinoids, cocaine, nicotine, phenylcyclidine,
and substituted amphetamines as well as addictions to natural rewards
such as sex, exercise, and food.
 Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder – a range of
antisocial types of behavior displayed in childhood or adolescence. is a childhood
disorder that is defined by a pattern of hostile, disobedient, and defiant behaviors
directed at adults or other authority figures. ODD is also characterized by children
displaying angry and irritable moods, as well as argumentative and vindictive
behaviors.

Although complete evaluation of all DSM criteria for

conduct disorder could not be located, the 1995
AddHealth study reported “proxy variables,” including
stealing, damaging property, and threatening others
which were associated with conduct disorder diagnosis
Behavioral symptoms: Cognitive symptoms:
 Easily losing one’s temper / throwing repeated temper tantrums  Frequent frustration
 Arguing  Difficulty concentrating
 Fighting  Failure to “think before speaking”
 Refusing to follow rules Psychosocial symptoms:

 Deliberately acting in a way that will annoy others  Difficulty making friends

 Blaming others  Loss of self-esteem

 Blatant hostility towards others  Persistent negativity

 Being unwilling to compromise or negotiate  Consistent feelings of annoyance

 Willingly destroying friendships

 Being spiteful and seeking revenge
 Blatant and repeated disobedience
 Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD) - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects
children and teens and can continue into adulthood. ADHD is the most commonly
diagnosed mental disorder of children. Children with ADHD may be hyperactive and
unable control their impulses. Or they may have trouble paying attention.

ADHD/Inattentive Type
ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive Type
ADHD/Inattentive Type
1. Does not pay close attention to details, makes careless
mistakes
2. Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks
3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
4. Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to
finish work or chores (because of failure to understand,
not defiance)
5. Often has trouble organizing activities
6. Often avoids or dislikes things that take a lot of mental
effort for a long period of time.
7. Often loses things needed for tasks and activities
8. Is often easily distracted
9. Is often forgetful in daily activities
ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive Type
1. Often fidgets with hands and feet or squirms in seat
2. Often gets up from seat
3. Often excessively runs about our climbs when not
appropriate
4. Often has trouble playing or doing leisure activities
quietly
5. Is on the go as if driven by a motor
6. Often talks excessively
7. Often blurts out answers before questions have
been finished
8. Often has trouble waiting his turn
9. Often interrupts or intrudes on others
Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
(ADHD)

 Causes
o Heredity
o Smoking, drinking and drug use
during pregnancy
o Prematurity
o Exposed to Lead
o Nutritional Triggers
  Eating Disorders - any of a range of psychological disorders characterized by
abnormal or disturbed eating habits (such as anorexia nervosa).

Type of Eating Disorders –

Anorexia (or anorexia nervosa) is a serious mental illness where people are of low weight due to limiting
their energy intake. It can affect anyone of any age, gender, or background. As well as restricting the amount
of food eaten, they may do lots of exercise to get rid of food eaten. Some people with anorexia may
experience cycles of bingeing (eating large amounts of food at once) and then purging.
Bulimia (or bulimia nervosa) is a serious mental illness. It can affect anyone of any age, gender, or
background. People with bulimia are caught in a cycle of eating large quantities of food (called bingeing), and
then trying to compensate for that overeating by vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or exercising
excessively (called purging). Early intervention offers the best chance for a rapid and sustained recovery from
bulimia.
Binge eating disorder (BED) is a serious mental illness where people experience a loss of control and eat large
quantities of food on a regular basis. It can affect anyone of any age, gender, or background.
 Suicide - Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death.
While not a mental health disorder, suicide is more common among
adolescents with certain mental health problems. In addition to
depression, the presence of other mental health problems, such as
conduct disorders, eating disorders, and anxiety disorders, also
increase the risk of suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of
adolescent mortality.