Questions and Answers
Can teens in some states consent to receive mental health services without a parent or guardian?
Yes, in some states.
What is one key difference between individual and family therapy?
Individual therapy focuses on one person, while family therapy involves multiple family members.
How do mental health medications help treat mental illnesses?
They balance chemicals in the brain.
What is one way to help someone with a mental illness who does not want to seek help?
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What is one reason people might engage in self-harming behaviors to handle negative feelings?
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What is an example of a healthier strategy people could use instead of self-harming?
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Which of the following is an example of an app designed to support therapy and promote mental health?
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What is a step that someone can take to combat the stigma attached to mental health?
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What is a good approach to encourage a friend to get help for a mental illness?
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Which of the following is an important factor to research when seeking mental health resources in your community?
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Study Notes
Identifying Mental Illnesses
- Mental illnesses are health conditions that require professional treatment.
- Untreated mental illnesses can worsen and lead to larger difficulties.
- Signs that indicate a person needs help:
- Feeling sad, angry, or not like themselves.
- Eating or sleeping more or less than usual.
- Withdrawing from friends and family.
- Having frequent conflict with family members or teachers.
- Feeling "off" in some way.
- Feeling constantly tense, worried, or on edge.
- Self-harm.
Seeking Treatment
- Treatment options:
- Therapy.
- Mental health medications.
- Inpatient mental health treatment (for severe cases).
- Steps to get help or help a friend:
- Identify the problem.
- Find mental health services.
- Seek professional help.
- Encourage the person to seek help.
Mental Health Medications
- Types of mental health medications:
- Antidepressants.
- Anti-anxiety medications.
- Stimulants.
- Antipsychotics.
- Mood stabilizers.
- How medications work:
- Make certain brain chemicals more available.
- Slow down the central nervous system.
- Increase levels of norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain.
- Decrease symptoms of psychosis.
- Control extreme high and low moods.
Overcoming Barriers
- Barriers to treatment:
- Stigma attached to mental illnesses.
- Cost of mental health treatment.
- Strategies to overcome barriers:
- Educate yourself and others about mental illnesses.
- Recognize that mental illnesses are treatable conditions.
- Support people with mental illnesses.
Helping Someone with a Mental Illness
- Strategies to help someone:
- Share concerns in an open and honest way.
- Offer to find a mental health professional and accompany them.
- Remember that you cannot cure a mental illness.
- Separate feelings about the mental illness from feelings towards the person.
- Take care of your own needs.
- Seek support through therapy or support groups.
Additional Resources
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
- Local mental health organizations.
- Mental health apps that supplement therapy.
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