Mental Health and Well-being in Adolescence PDF

Mental Health and well-being middle and late adolescence Mental Health According to the US National Institutes of Health, “mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determi...

Mental Health and well-being middle and late adolescence Mental Health According to the US National Institutes of Health, “mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood” (Mental Health, n.d.). According to the US National Institutes of Health, “mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood” (Mental Health, n.d.). The World Health organization (WHO) World Health Report released in 2001 (World Health Organization, n.d) stated that “mental health is defined differently by different experts from different cultures. Concepts of Mental Health ❖ Subjective well-being One’s personal thoughts and feelings about one’s overall state of being. A person with a healthy self-concept or self-identity exudes charm and confidence, is usually sociable, and productive, and can maintain healthy relationships. A negative self-concept will hurt one’s mental health and well-being. ❖ Perceive self efficacy One’s perception of one’s value and worth, effectiveness, and ability in performing a task or activity. A person with a healthy self-concept will move toward self-fulfillment and self- actualization, have healthy relationships, and live happier and more fulfilling lives, ❖ Autonomy Lack of autonomy, on the other hand, can lead to co-dependence among those who cannot define themselves as separate entities from people they depend on either emotionally, physically, socially, spiritually, or even financially. “I can’t live without you” “ My world is empty without you.”  “Without you I am nothing.”, and “I am me because of you.” ❖ Competence Related to self-esteem and self-identity. Competence is the perception of one’s capacity to perform effectively a function or activity using specific skills and knowledge and achieving the desired results at a given time. ❖ Intergenerational dependence The relationship between individuals who belong to different generations and these individuals may or may not live together under one roof. This may continue even if the members of the family are already living separately. When the children have all grown up, are pursuing their own dreams, and are forming their own “nest”, their parents, who may already be retired by then, are usually left at home. This phenomenon is referred “empty nest’. Self – Actualization of one’s intellectual and emotional potential Self-actualization is about fulfilling one’s perceived potentials and becoming the person that one has always aspired for. Mental Health and Well-being The Wheel of Wellness model includes what is referred to as the five life tasks developed in 1991 by Witmer and Sweeney. 1. Essence of spirituality- know and celebrate the core of your person. 2. Work and Leisure- find meaning in what you do and enjoy it. 3. Friendship- we grow and develop based on our relationships 4. Love- glow in the warmth of loving yourself and others. 5. Self-Direction- be guided by our values and principles 12 Subtasks as major components of wellness or well-being that comprise the wheel of wellness ❖ Sense of worth ❖ Sense of control ❖ Realistic beliefs ❖ Emotional awareness and coping ❖ Problem-solving and creativity ❖ Sense of humor ❖ Nutrition ❖ Physical exercise ❖ Self-care Stress Management Gender Identity Cultural identity (Note: This may or may not apply to every Filipino, but we have cultural and regional differences that need to be understood and accepted.) In addition to the components, maintaining good mental health and well-being requires resiliency and adaptability, two important skills that need to be developed in every person, particularly the adolescent. Resiliency the capacity to establish and maintain one’s balance and well-being in the face of adversity. It is the ability to get back one’s feet after a disaster or a crisis. Adaptability the capacity to adjust to changes necessary for one’s survival and balance. Mental Health Problems short-term and temporary changes in a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behavior that upset one’s well-being, interpersonal relationships, and productivity. Mental Illness refers to diagnosable mental disorders that may require medical attention.  It is characterized by changes in one’s thinking, feeling, and behavior, as well as in one’s relationships and productivity. There is usually distress or impaired functioning during mental illness (Knopf, Park, & Muyle, 2008). Possible Mental Health Challenges Faced By Adolescents Depression a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living. Anxiety Disorder what we feel when we are worried, tense, or afraid- particularly about things that are about to happen, or which we think could happen in the future. Bipolar disorder a mental health condition that causes intense shifts in mood, energy levels, thinking patterns, and behavior. These shifts can last for hours, days, weeks, or months and interrupt your ability to carry out day-to-day tasks Eating Disorder Involve focusing too much on weight, body shape, and food. This can lead to dangerous eating behaviors. The most common eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder. Schizophrenia a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It may result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behavior. Hallucinations involve seeing things or hearing voices that aren't observed by others. Delusions involve firm beliefs about things that are not true. People with schizophrenia can seem to lose touch with reality, which can make daily living very hard. Addictive Behavior May include substance misuse (alcohol, other drugs, or nicotine), a combination of misused substances, or behavioral addictions (including but not limited to): gambling, gaming, internet use, sexual activity, exercise, and food. Steps to improve Mental Health and Well-being (National Health Service of the United Kingdom) Connect With the people around you: your family, friends, classmates, schoolmates, and neighbors. Spend time developing these relationships Be Active  Engage in some sports or physical activity like playing basketball, badminton, bowling, or swimming. Take a walk, jog, or run if you do not have enough time for some sports. Keep Learning Learning new skills or obtaining new knowledge can give you a sense of achievement and new confidence. One to others Giving to others is not limited to money or other material things. Social involvement such as volunteering during disasters or helping out in your communities is also good for developing mental health Take Notice Be in the here and now, be in the present moment, and be aware of what is happening around you, your thoughts and feelings, and the physical sensations that you experience. This awareness is also referred to as “mindfulness,” and being mindful can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges. (NHS Choices, nd.). Emotional Intelligence What Is Emotion? The English word “emotion” is derived from the Latin word ‘Emovere” meaning to “to move”. Emotions are our inner feelings. They can feel good or they can feel upsetting and uncomfortable. Feelings Feelings are like the weather. They can change at anytime. The neurological basis of emotions All emotions are, in essence, impulse to act, the instant plan for handling life that evolutions have instilled in us. ~Daniel Goleman Neurological Basis of emotions The Amygdala had been the center of action, the emotional sentinel that can take control of our actions even before the neocortex could assess what to do. Emotional Intelligence The ability of an individual to manage and control his or her emotions. It possesses the ability to control the emotions of others thus influencing other people’s feelings. The components of emotional intelligence Knowing one’s emotions or self-awareness This is the ability of a person to tune in to his or her own feelings. A person can recognize his or her own emotions and its effects on other, and is able to verbalize it, by saying, “I am experiencing anger’ or “I am angry”. Managing Emotions This is the ability to control disruptive impulses and caused by negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, or depression. Motivating oneself An emotionally competent person can be motivated to work because that person has a positive attitude in life and knows how to set clear goals. Recognizing Emotions in others The capacity to recognize the emotions in other people is called empathy. If we recognize our own emotions, and how these affects us, then it will be easier to recognize other people’s emotion as well. Social Skills Social skills are usually referred to as “people skills” because social skills can help individuals influence, communicate, and lead. People with social skills have good interpersonal skills that can help them build success in life and career. Robert Plutchik  A psychologist who developed one of the most popular emotion wheels, known as the Plutchik Wheel of Emotions. He theorized that emotions are multi-dimensional or having various intensities, identified these as: Sadness and Joy, Anger and Fear, Anticipation and Surprise, Trust and Disgust. Each of these eight basic emotions have varying intensities, starting with the most intense at the center of the circle with the most intense colors, to the least intense emotions within the category. Plutchik wheel of emotions Intensity of emotions The strength of emotions varies from very mild to intense. Forms: Basic, Mild, and Extreme Primary Bipolar emotions Joy vs. Sadness Anger vs. Fear Trust vs. Distrust Suprise vs. Anticipation 8 basic type of emotions Joy The feeling of happiness. It is synonymous to gladness, delight, and bliss. And to its extreme forms of ecstasy, elation and euphoria, mania. Sadness  The feeling of being unhappy, gloomy, lonely, grief, sorrow, dejection, despair; and in extreme depression. Fear The feeling of being scared, frightened, or anxious. Related words are dread, distress, horror, fright and terror, and in extreme, phobia and panic. Anger The feeling of being mad, irritate, or annoyed. A stronger version is rage fury, and to its extremes, hatred and violence. Trust This is a positive emotion which also means confidence and belief. Admiration is a stronger form; acceptance is a weaker kind. Anticipation It constitutes looking forward to something good or positive that one’s believe will happen. Related words are hope and expectation. Disgust This is what we feel when something is wrong, erroneous, or dirty. Its synonyms are revulsion, antipathy and aversion. Stronger forms are abhorrence and hatred. Surprise This is what we feel when something we do not expect happens. It may also mean amazement, disbelief, or shock. Our emotions are categorized into two these are the positive and negative emotions. Positive Emotions These are feelings where there is an absence of negativity—no pain, stress, or discomfort is present. Negative Emotions These can be described as any feeling which causes you to be miserable and sad. Ways of hiding your emotions Regulations of emotion Process through which people modify their emotional reactions. Suppression or denying By not believing that one is actually feeling the emotion. Avoiding Doing activities unrelated to emotion. Masking Done by replacing negative emotions with positive or more favorable emotions. Ways to manage emotions Understand and identify the emotion, know the source, stop, and contemplate. Figure out the best way to proceed in solving problems related to the emotion. Evaluate the situation. Put positive spin on things. Think before you act. (Just like what they say on social media, you have to “think before you click”. Practice controlling your emotions and expressing emotional reactions in constructive ways.