Understanding Mental Health and Well-being

Mental Health and Well-being

• Mental health encompasses psychological, emotional, and social well-being.
• It influences thoughts, feelings, behavior, and how one manages life situations.
• Self-diagnosis of mental disorders is discouraged; diagnosis by a medical expert is recommended.

Factors Affecting Mental Health

• Biological factors, like brain chemistry and genes, play a role such as low GABA levels linked to anxiety, and high dopamine levels linked to psychosis and schizophrenia.
• Life experiences, including trauma from war or emotional abuse, can affect mental health.
• Family history can predispose individuals to hereditary mental disorders across generations.

Early Signs of Mental Illness (The Four D's)

• Distress is behavior causing stress to oneself and others.
• Danger is behavior posing a threat to oneself or others.
• Deviance is behavior differing from societal norms.
• Dysfunction is difficulty performing daily tasks.

Common Mental Illnesses in Adolescents

• Depression involves persistent sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, and suicidal thoughts.
• Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety, panic disorder and social anxiety.
• Eating disorders involve unhealthy relationships with food, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
• Conduct disorders manifest as aggressive, destructive, or antisocial behavior.

Mental Health Law (Republic Act 11036)

• The Philippine Mental Health Law (RA 11036), enacted on June 21, 2018, ensures Filipinos' access to mental health care and protects the rights of those with mental illnesses.
• The law aims to provide comprehensive mental health services, promote awareness, reduce stigma, and protect patient rights to treatment and confidentiality.

Dimensions of Well-being

• Autonomy involves being independent and self-motivated.
• Environmental mastery is the ability to manage life effectively and seize opportunities.
• Personal growth involves seeing oneself evolve.
• Purpose in life entails having clear goals and direction.
• Self-acceptance is recognizing both strengths and weaknesses.
• Positive relationships involve creating supportive relationships.

Misconceptions About Mental Health

• Seeking mental health assistance signifies failure.
• People with mental illness are just weak or lazy.
• Individuals with mental illness tend to be violent.
• People with mental illness cannot hold jobs or care for families.
• Medication for mental health changes one's personality.
• Mental health problems do not affect everyone.
• There's nothing one can do to help someone.

Staying Healthy in Senior High

• Eating right nourishes the body and brain, supporting mental health.
• Staying active improves mood, self-esteem, self-confidence, and control.
• Sleeping well requires at least 9 hours of sleep each night.
• Talking to someone can ease mental health problems through listening.

Defining Love

• Biblical definition: Love is defined as selfless in the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (13:4-8).
• Scientific perspective: Love involves neurotransmitter release, creating a neurological condition.
• Philosophical foundations:
  • Aristotle: Love consists of a single soul in two bodies.
  • Plato: Love turns everyone into a poet.

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

• Intimacy: feelings of closeness and connection.
• Passion: drive leading to romance, physical attraction, and sexual consummation;
• Commitment: decision that one cares for another and to maintain that relationship.
• Liking/Friendship: Characterized by intimacy only.
• Infatuation: Defined by passion alone.
• Empty Love: Involves commitment only.
• Romantic Love: Characterized by intimacy and passion.
• Companionate Love: Involves intimacy and commitment seen in close friendships and family.
• Fatuous Love: Characterized by passion and commitment are present.
• Consummate Love: The ideal, with intimacy, passion, and commitment.
• Nonlove: Lacking intimacy, passion, and commitment.

Different Love Styles

• Eros is passionate and drawn to their "type."
• Storge is centered in friendship.
• Ludus views relationships casually.
• Mania involves jealousy, dishonesty, obsession, and low self-esteem.
• Pragma has a practical view and seeks secure, fitting relationships.
• Agape is selfless and unconditional.

Elements of a Romantic Relationship

• Maturity is the ability to handle situations constructively.
• Time and readiness involve dedicating energy to the relationship.
• Communication skills facilitate mutual understanding.
• Acceptance, respect, support, and understanding promote individuality.

Relationship Red Flags

• Limitations on personal growth
• Any form of abuse
• Conditional love
• Forcing sexual acts that violate values

Family

• Family is crucial for companionship, security, and protection.

Functions of The Family

• Procreation: Families procreate and raise children lovingly.
• Socialization: Families instill proper behavior and character.
• Sense of Security: Family is a secure base for support during challenges.
• Economic Provision: Families provide for basic needs and education.
• Love: Love holds significant importance.

Family Structures

• Nuclear: Parents and children.
• Extended: Nuclear family plus aunts, cousins, etc.
• Dual-income: Both parents work for financial security.
• Childless: Couples without children, by choice or circumstance.
• Domestic Partnership: Unmarried cohabitating couples.
• Adoptive: Includes adopted children.
• Single-parent: One parent raising children.
• Grandparent: Grandparents raising grandchildren.
• Same-Sex Parented: At least one parent identifies as same-sex attracted.

Parenting Styles (Baumrind's Model)

• Authoritarian parents are strict and controlling.
• Permissive parents are lenient and allow freedom.
• Authoritative parents give guidance but are not strict.
• Neglecting parents disregard their children's needs.

Improving Family Relationships

• Commitment: Family is a priority, with shared responsibilities.
• Appreciation: Focusing on the positive and showing affection.
• Communication: Openly expressing opinions respectfully.
• Time Together: Strengthening bonds through shared activities.

Career Pathways

• A career allows use of knowledge and skills from formal training.
• Career growth is the formation of specific work characteristics.

Personal Factors Influencing Career Choices

• Personality: Affects work approach; some careers need specific traits.
• Values: Guide choices, influenced by personal acceptability.
• Interests: Enjoyable and motivating activities.
• Skills: Abilities from training/education:
  • Technical: Performing specific job tasks.
  • Soft/Functional: Stand-out proficiencies (communication, problem-solving).
• Attitudes: Predispositions with components:
  • Cognition: Beliefs or perceptions.
  • Affects: Feelings towards situations.
  • Behavior: Actions based on thoughts and feelings.

External Factors Influencing Career Choices

• Family: Parental influence or pressure.
• Peer Group Influence: Enrolling in courses with friends for belonging.
• Financial Condition: Limited options due to financial constraints.
• Mass Media: Influence from celebrities or media figures.