Download Mental Health Issues

Disability Services
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Anxiety affects how we feel, behave and can
have physical symptoms.
It can feel like fear, but oftentimes the cause
of the anxiety is unknown.
Severe anxiety can be debilitating.
Symptoms of anxiety include:
◦ Tense muscles, trembling, churning stomach,
nausea, numbness in the body, headache,
backache, heart palpitations and sweating/flushing
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Anxiety becomes a problem when it interferes
with life in the absence of a real threat or
after danger has passed.
Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million
(18%) American adults age 18 years and older
in a given year.
◦ Women are 60% more likely than men to experience
an anxiety disorder over their lifetime.
◦ A large, national survey of adolescent mental health
reported that about 8 percent of teens ages 13–18
have an anxiety disorder (National Institute of
Mental Health).
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Depression interferes with daily life and causes
pain and feelings of sadness.
◦ The duration and depth of despondency as well as
presenting symptoms distinguishes depression from
general unhappiness.
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Severe depression can be life threatening and
lead to thoughts of suicide.
Symptoms of depression: loss of pleasure in
activities once enjoyed, fatigue, tearfulness,
difficulty concentrating, change in sleep patterns,
decreased appetite, feeling worthless, guilty,
hopeless and having thoughts of suicide.
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Each year about 6.7% of U.S adults experience
major depressive disorder. Women are 70 %
more likely than men to experience
depression during their lifetime.
Additionally, 3.3% of 13 to 18 year olds have
experienced a seriously debilitating
depressive disorder (NIMH).
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Suicide is the third leading cause of death among
persons aged 15-24 years and the second
among persons aged 25-34 years.
◦ Each year in the U.S. approximately 5,000 individuals
between the ages of 15-24 take their life.
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An estimated 8.3 million adults (3.7% of the adult
U.S. population) reported having suicidal
thoughts in the past year (Centers for Disease
Control).
When there is a threat or real possibility of
suicide, it is vital to stay close to the individual
until professional help is obtained.
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Warning signs of suicide:
Talking about or thinking about death
Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
Some individuals who are depressed
People who mention “life isn’t worth living”
Anyone who has a history of attempted suicide
Increased alcohol and drug use
Preparations for death (giving away belongings or
acquiring a gun)
◦ Sudden, unexpected switch from being very sad to
being very calm or appearing to be happy
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Anorexia: People with anorexia see themselves as
overweight, even when they are underweight.
◦ Eating, food, and weight control become obsessions.
People with anorexia typically weigh themselves repeatedly,
portion food carefully, and eat very small quantities of
foods.
◦ Prevalence: 0.5- 3.7 percent (wide variation)
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Bulimia: People with bulimia have recurrent and
frequent episodes of eating large amounts of food
and feel a lack of control over these episodes.
◦ This binge eating is followed by behavior that compensates
for the overeating such as vomiting, use of laxatives or
diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of
the aforementioned.
◦ Prevalence: 1.1-4.2 percent (wide variation)
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Alcohol and other substance use is the
leading cause of death in college students,
followed by suicide.
◦ 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and
24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional
injuries (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism).
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UTPA Counseling and Psychological Services:
◦ University Center 109
◦ (956) 665-2574/Email: [email protected]
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UTPA Disability Services:
◦ University Center 108
◦ (956) 665-7005/ Email: [email protected]
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800273-TALK (8255) (English and Spanish)
Tropical Texas Behavioral Health Crisis Line
1-877-289-7199