Understanding Mental Health and Illness

Mental Health for Medical Office Administrators

• The presentation covers mental health, stigma surrounding it, and mental illness.
• It includes common misconceptions and facts concerning mental illness.
• Announcements include suggestions for a positive Blue Monday and resources for further learning.
• An agenda itemized mental health, stigma, mental illnesses, attitudes, values and beliefs, and facts vs. fiction.
• The presentation is intended to address and dispel unhelpful beliefs about mental illness.

What Do I Believe About Mental Illness?

• The slides illustrate that many beliefs about mental illness may be incorrect.

Announcements

• Suggestions are given to improve one's Monday, refocusing on self-care.
• Resources are offered for support if needed.

Agenda

• Key topics discussed include mental health, stigma, mental illness, attitudes/values, and facts/fiction.
• A comprehensive overview concerning the topic of mental health.

True or False: Working Together to Address Unhelpful Beliefs

• The presentation challenges common beliefs about mental illness.

True or False: Mental Illness is Contagious

• The presentation directly states that mental illness is not contagious.

True or False: Mental Illness Can Be Cured with Willpower

• The presentation highlights that mental illness is not easily resolved with willpower alone.

True or False: People with Mental Illness Tend to Be Violent

• The presentation states that people with mental illness do not tend to be violent.

True or False: Everyone Has Mental Health

• The presentation confirms that everyone possesses mental health.

Mental Health

• Mental health is described as the capacity to feel, think, and act positively; a sense of well-being.
• It emphasizes the importance of personal dignity, culture, equity, and social justice.

Mental Illness

• Mental illness is described as a disturbance in thoughts and emotions impacting daily life.
• The condition decreases a person's ability to cope with daily challenges.

Commonality of Mental Health Problems

• One in five Canadians experience mental illness sometime in their life.
• Half of all mental health disorders start by age 14.

More Facts About Mental Health

• 75% of mental disorders begin by age 24.
• Women are 1.5 times more likely to have mood or anxiety disorders than men, while men have higher rates of addictions.
• Mental illness can reduce a person's life expectancy by 10-20 years.
• Only one-third of those needing mental health services use them.

Disease Burden of Mental Illness and Addiction

• Mental illness and addiction in Ontario create a considerable disease burden, higher than the combined burden of all cancers and infectious diseases.
• Tobacco is a significant cause of premature death in Canada, accounting for roughly 17% of all deaths.
• Among Ontario residents ages 25-34, opioid-related deaths represent about one death in every eight.

Stigma

• Stigma includes negative attitudes and behaviours related to mental health issues.
• A significant form of stigma is self-stigma, which internalizes societal prejudices.
• Self-stigma and external stigma can both lead to issues in daily life.

Mental Health Stigma Video

• A video is referenced to supplement learning.

But Did You Know?

• Statistically, people with severe mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than the average person.

Misconceptions

• Public perceptions of mental illness often include misconceptions.
• Examples include beliefs about it being an excuse for poor behavior or a belief that illness can immediately be resolved by personal will.

How Disabling Can Mental Illnesses Be?

• The effect of mental illness on daily life is highlighted.
• Comparing the level of disability caused by severe mental illness to physical conditions like paraplegia and chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis provides a better picture of the impact of mental illness on a person's ability to navigate life.

Mood Disorders

• Mood disorders are characterized by persistent mood changes due to biochemical imbalances.
• This section summarizes different types of mood disorders.

Major Depressive Disorder

• Major depressive disorder is characterized by feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns.
• It also includes potential feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and thoughts of suicide.

Bipolar Disorder

• Bipolar disorder is a cyclical mood disorder involving both periods of depression and periods of elevated mood (mania).
• Mania often involves inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, increased energy, risky behavior, and impulsive decision-making.

SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder

• SAD is a type of depression that occurs during the winter months.
• Symptoms often include chronic fatigue, excessive sleep, overeating, and weight gain.
• Treatment commonly involves medication and/or light therapy.

Psychosis

• Psychosis is characterized by experiencing hallucinations or delusions, and it can be organic (related to mental illness) or induced by drugs.

Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia involves a combination of symptoms, including delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech and behavior, and social withdrawal.
• Auditory hallucinations are common.

Stress

• The presentation asks questions to start a discussion around symptoms and management of stress.

Anxiety

• Anxiety is a condition that involves feelings of anxiousness.
• It often involves physiological symptoms that interfere with daily activities.

GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)

• GAD is marked by excessive worry that isn't tied to a specific event.
• Physical symptoms include digestive discomfort, and muscle tension.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

• OCD features obsessions (disturbing thoughts) and compulsions (repetitive behaviors) to decrease anxiety or distress.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• PTSD involves recurring trauma-related experiences of extreme anxiety, increased excitability, and avoidance of related stimuli.
• The presentation lists common causes of trauma.

Phobias

• Phobias are characterized by significant, persistent fears of objects or situations.
• Exposure to the feared stimulus can cause extreme anxiety interfering with daily and social activities.

Personality Disorders

• Personality disorders involve patterns of behavior and experience that differ from the individual's cultural norms and cause distress or impairment.
• They are chronic and long-lived.

Eating Disorders

• Eating disorders involve an obsession with food, weight, or appearance.
• Contributing factors include stressful situations, poor coping mechanisms, and socio-cultural factors.
• These conditions can negatively impact daily life and well-being.

Self-Injury

• Self-injury is a complex behavior motivated by a desire to address feelings like anxiety, depression, emptiness, numbness, anger, emotional pain, and a desire to regain body control.

What are Your Attitudes, Values, and Beliefs?

• The presentation prompts reflection on personal attitudes, values, and beliefs pertaining to mental health.

Resources

• Website/organization URLs offering self-assessment tools and resources for support are provided.
• Names of organizations and websites offering support and resources are listed.

Fact or Fiction

• The presentation includes a section dedicated to assessing statements concerning mental health as fact or fiction.

One Percent of General Population Develops Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia is found in a small percentage of the general population.

A Person with One or Both Parents with Mental Illness Is More Likely to Develop Mental Illness

• There is a higher chance of developing mental illness if one or both parents have a mental health history.

Mental Illness Tends to Begin During Adolescence

• Mental illness often starts during adolescence.

Poor Parenting Causes Schizophrenia

• The presentation disproves that poor parenting causes Schizophrenia.

Drug Use Causes Mental Illness

• The presentation disproves that drug use causes mental illness.

People With Mental Illness Never Get Better

• This statement is a misconception, and the presentation refutes it, highlighting the possibility of recovery.

All Homeless People Are Mentally Ill

• The presentation refutes the misconception that homelessness and mental illness are always connected.

Developmental Disabilities Are a Form of Mental Illness

• This statement accurately reflects the link between developmental disabilities and mental health.

People Who Are Poor Are More Likely to Have Mental Illness Than People Who Are Not

• This statement is a misconception, and the presentation refutes it.

Self-Reflect- What Did I Learn to Apply to My Practice?

• The presentation prompts learners to consider if their perceptions of those with mental illness have changed.