Download Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid
What are Mental Health Problems?
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There are a number of terms used to describe Mental Health
problems:
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mental disorder
mental ill-health
mental illness
nervous exhaustion
mental breakdown
nervous breakdown
Burnout
cracked up
stressed out
psycho
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What is a Mental Disorder?
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Mental Disorder is a diagnosable
illness which causes major changes in a
person’s thinking, emotional state and
behaviour.
It also disrupts the person’s ability to study
or work and carry out their usual personal
relationships.
How common are Mental Health
problems?
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In any one year, one in five Australian adults
have enough symptoms to be diagnosable with a
mental disorder
The following table shows the percentage of Australians who suffer
from a common mental disorder in any one year
Type of Disorder
Men
Women
Adults
Anxiety Disorder
11.0%
18.0%
14.4%
Depressive Disorder
5.3%
7.1%
6.2%
Substance use Disorder
7.0%
3.3%
5.1%
Psychotic Disorder
-
-
1%
Any Disorder
18.0%
22.0%
20.0%
How common are Mental Health
problems?
 The
common mental disorders often occur
in combination
 For example, it is not unusual for a person
with an anxiety disorder to also develop
depression, or for a person who is
depressed to misuse alcohol or other
drugs
Reasons for not seeking
Professional help for Mental Illness
 38%
would prefer to manage the problem
themselves
 18% don’t believe anything could help
 17% didn’t know where to get help
 14% were worried what others would think
of them
Leading causes of disease burden in Australians aged 15-24 years
Rank
Males
Females
1
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and Depression
2
Road Traffic Accidents
Asthma
3
Schizophrenia
Migraine
4
Suicide and self-inflicted injuries
Other genitourinary
conditions
5
Heroin or polydrug dependence and harmful
use
Schizophrenia
6
Alcohol dependence and harmful use
Road Traffic Accidents
7
Migrane
Personality disorders
8
Cannabis dependence and harmful use
Bulimia nervosa
9
Personality disorders
Bipolar disorder
10
Bipolar disorder
Anorexia nervosa
ALGEE
When working with people with any type of
mental illness, the following procedure
should be followed:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Assess risk of suicide or harm
Listen non-judgementally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage the young person to get
appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help strategies
Depression
Depression
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Depression (more commonly referred to as Clinical
Depression) usually lasts for at least two weeks and
affects the person’s ability to carry out their work or to
have satisfying personal relationships
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Clinical depression is a common but serious illness that
is often recurrent
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Clinical depression affects around 5% of Australian
adolescents aged 13-17 years
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1 in 4 young people will have had clinical depression by
the end of adolescence
What causes Depression?
 Depression
has no single cause and often
involves the interaction of many diverse
biological, psychological and social factors
Depression
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People may develop depression as a result of
significant trauma or distress
 These may include:
Exposure to family of community violence
Death of someone close
Long-term poverty
Divorce or separation of parents
Physical, sexual or emotional abuse (this includes
bullying or victimisation)
Poor achievement at school
The side-effects of certain medications or drugs
The stress of having another mental disorder, such as
schizophrenia, severe anxiety, alcohol abuse or drug
abuse
Pre-menstrual changes in hormone levels
Lack of exposure to bright light in the winter months
Who is most likely to develop
Depression?
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Some people will develop depression in a distressing situation,
whereas others in the same situation may not
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Those most prone to developing depression are:
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Adolescent girls and women
Those with low self esteem
Those who have a parent who has suffered from depression
Those who are unpopular with their peers and have poor social
skills
Those who tend to enterpret things that happen in a pessimistic way
Those who have had a difficult childhood (eg. Physical abuse,
sexual abuse, neglect, over-strictness)
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The Depression Checklist
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If a person is clinically depressed they would have, for at least two weeks,
five or more of the following symptoms, including at least on of the first two
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An unusually sad or irritable mood that does not go away
Loss of enjoyment and interest in activities that used to be enjoyable
Lack of energy and tiredness
Feeling worthless or feeling guilty when they are not really at fault
Thinking about death a lot or wishing they were dead
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
Moving more slowly or, sometimes, becoming agitated and unable to settle
Having sleeping difficulties or, sometimes, sleeping too much
Loss of interest in food or, sometimes, eating too much; changes in eating
habits may lead to either weight loss or weight gain
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Depression Action Plan
(ALGEE)
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Early intervention for depression is very important
Once a person has had an episode of depression they become
more prone to subsequent episodes
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The following steps should be followed when dealing with
someone with depression
1.
Assess risk of suicide or harm
Listen non-judgementally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage the young person to get appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help strategies
2.
3.
4.
5.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
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Anxiety is something that everyone experiences. It can
be quite useful in helping a person to avoid a dangerous
situation or to help motivate them to solve every day
problems.
An Anxiety Disorder will impair an individual rather than
assist them
Anxiety Disorders differ from normal anxiety in the
following ways:
It is longer lasting than normal anxiety
It is more extreme
It interferes with the person’s work or relationships
Types of Anxiety Disorders
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are a number of different types of
Anxiety Disorders. These include:
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Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorder
Phobic Disorders (Agoraphobia and Social Phobia)
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
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People with GAD worry excessively about school,
money, health, appearance, sports and other regular
activities, even when there are no signs of trouble
Physical Symptoms include fast or pounding heart,
headaches, stomach pains, tremors, muscle tension,
dizziness, sweating and dry mouth
Psychological Symptoms include excessive worry,
irritability, restlessness, feeling on edge and difficulty
concentrating
Panic Disorder
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A person with a panic disorder suffers from panic attacks and is afraid that a panic
attack might occur
A panic attack is a sudden onset of intense apprehension, fear or terror
These attacks can begin suddenly and develop rapidly
This intense fear is inappropriate for the circumstances in which it is occurring
Symptoms of a panic attack include:
 Increased heartbeat
 Sweating
 Trembling or shaking
 Feeling of choking, shortness or breath or smothering
 Chest pain or discomfort
 Nausea or abdominal distress
 Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light headed or faint
 Numbness, tingling or pins and needles
 Chills or hot flushes
Phobic Disorders
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A young person with a phobia avoids or restricts
activities because of fear
 This fear appears persistent, excessive and
unreasonable
 They may have an unreasonably strong fear of
specific places or events and often avoid them
completely
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Agoraphobia involves avoidance of situations because
of fear of a panic attack occurring. They may avoid
leaving home or certain situations
Social Phobia is the fear of any situation where public
scrutiny may be possible, usually with the fear of
behaving in a way that is embarrassing or humiliating
Specific Phobias involve a fear of something specific
such as spiders or snakes.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
A
person with separation anxiety disorder
shows excessive anxiety about being
separated from home or from a parent or
caregiver
 The person will worry about losing the
loved one or about harm happening to
them
Acute Stress Disorder and Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Acute stress disorder and post traumatic stress disorder
occur after a distressing or catastrophic event
This event may involve actual or threatened death, or
serious injury
Alternatively, it may involve witnessing such an event or
learning about such an experience of a family member or
close friend
In Acute Stress Disorder the person gets over the event
within a month
In Post Traumatic Stress Disorder the distress lasts
longer
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
(OCD)
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form of Anxiety disorder is the least
common but is a very disabling condition
 Obsessive thoughts and behaviours
accompany the feelings of anxiety
 Obsessive thoughts are usually about fear
of contamination or harm
 Common compulsions include the need to
wash, check things over and over and
counting
What causes anxiety disorders?
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People more at risk of developing Anxiety Disorders include:
Those who had a very anxious parent
Those with amore sensitive emotional nature who tend to see the
world as threatening
Girls and women
Other causes include:
People who had a difficult childhood (ie. abuse)
Family is poor and lacks job skills
Alcohol problems in the parents
Certain prescription drugs
Other non prescription drugs such as caffeine, cocaine, ecstasy and
speed
Action plan for Anxiety Disorders
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Assess risk of suicide or harm
People with Anxiety Disorders have a higher
risk of suicide, especially if depression is
present also.
Listen non-judgementally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage the young person to get
appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help strategies
Psychosis
Psychosis
 Psychosis
is a general term used to
describe a mental health problem in which
a person has lost some contact with reality
 There are severe disturbances in thinking,
emotion and behaviour
 Psychosis severely disrupts a person’s life
 Relationships, work and self-care are
difficult to initiate and/or maintain
Psychosis
 The
main types of Psychotic illnesses
include:
 Schizophrenia
 Bipolar Disorder
 Psychotic Depression
 Schizoaffective Disorder
 Drug-induced Psychosis
Schizophrenia
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The term Schizophrenia means ‘fractured mind’ and refers to
changes in mental function where thoughts and perceptions become
disordered
The major symptoms of Schizophrenia include:
Delusions: These are false beliefs of persecution, guilt, special
mission or being under outside control
Hallucinations: These are false perceptions that often involve
hearing voices but can also involve seeing, feeling, tasting or
smelling things
Thinking Difficulties
Loss of Drive
Blunted emotions
Social withdrawl
Bipolar Disorder
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People suffering from Bipolar Disorder (manic depressive illness)
have extreme mood swings, fluctuating between periods of
depression, mania and normal mood
Common symptoms of mania include:
 Increased energy or overactivity
 Elated mood
 Needing less sleep than normal
 Irritability
 Rapid thinking and speech
 Lack of inhibitions
 Grandiose Delusions (very inflated self esteem, belief they are
superhuman, especially talented, etc)
 Lack of insight
Psychotic Depression
 Sometimes
depression can be so intense
it causes psychotic symptoms
 For example, the person may have
delusions involving guilt, severe physical
illness or hopelessness
Schizoaffective Disorder
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is where the person displays
symptoms associated with both
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Drug-induced Psychosis
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This is a psychosis brought on by the use of
drugs
 The symptoms usually appear quickly and last a
short time (from a few hours to days) until the
effects of the drug wears off
 The most common symptoms are visual
hallucinations, disorientation and memory
problems
 Drugs that cause psychosis are Cannais,
Cocaine, Ecstasy, Amphetamines (speed) and
Magic Mushrooms
What causes Psychosis?
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is believed psychosis is caused by a
combination of factors including genetics,
biochemistry, stress and unknown factors
Importance of early intervention for
Psychosis
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Unfortunately, diagnosis of Psychosis is often difficult and takes a
long time
The consequences of delayed treatment include:
Slower and less complete recovery
Poorer long term functioning
Increased risk of depression and suicide
Slower maturing psychologically
Strain on relationships with friends and family and subsequent loss
of social support
Disruption of study and employment
Increased use of alcohol and drugs
Loss of self esteem and confidence
Greater change of problems with the law
Action plan for Psychosis
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Assess risk of suicide or harm
Listen non-judgementally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage the young person to get
appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help strategies
Substance Use Disorder
Substance use Disorder
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Using Alcohol or Drugs does not in itself qualify
a person for a substance use disorder
Substance use disorders include any of the
following:
Dependence on alcohol or a drug
Use of alcohol or a drug which leads to
problems at work, school or home or to legal
problems
Use of alcohol or a drug at a level which is
causing damage to health
Symptoms of Substance use
Disorder
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Symptoms include:
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Tolerance for the substance (person needs increased amounts over
time or gets less effect with repeated use)
Problems in withdrawal (person experiences withdrawal symptoms
or uses the substance to relieve withdrawal symptoms)
Use of larger amounts or over longer periods than intended
Problems in cutting down or controlling use
A lot of tie is spent getting the substance, using it or recovering from
its effects
The person gives up or reduces social, occupational or recreational
activities because of substance use
The person continues using the substance despite suffering from its
ill effects
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Substance use Disorder Statistics
Type of Disorder
Males
Females All Persons
Alcohol
9.4%
3.7%
6.5%
Cannabis
2.7%
0.8%
1.7%
Stimulants
0.3%
0.1%
0.3%
Sedatives
0.4%
0.4%
0.4%
Opioids
0.2%
0.2%
0.2%
Any substance
use disorder
11.1%
4.5%
7.7%
Percentage of Australian adults who suffer from a substance use disorder in any year
What causes substance use
disorders?
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Different substances affect the brain in different
ways
 People use substances because of these
effects, which include increasing feelings of
pleasure or decreasing feelings of distress
 Substance use typically starts in adolescence or
young adulthood
 If a person has not started using a substance by
age 30, then it is unlikely that they will develop a
substance use disorder
Causes of alcohol use disorders
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There is no single cause for alcohol use disorders rather,
there are many factors that contribute to a person’s
chance of developing alcohol use disorders
These include:
Availability and tolerance of alcohol in society
Social factors (work environments/occupation, friendship
group)
Genetic predisposition (those with a biological parent
who has an alcohol use disorder are more predisposed)
Alcohol sensitivity (some people do not feel the effects of
alcohol as much so consume larger amounts)
Action plan for substance use
disorder
1.
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3.
4.
5.
Assess risk of suicide or harm
Listen non-judgementally
Give reassurance and information
Encourage the young person to get
appropriate professional help
Encourage self-help strategies
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders
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Eating disorders involve a disturbance of eating
habits or weight control behaviour which results
in impairments to physical health or which affect
the person’s psychological and social
functioning
 Eating disorders occur in people who over
evaluate their body shape and weight
 The three main types of eating disorders are
Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Atypical
eating disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
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Anorexia Nervosa is characterised by extreme dieting
and weight control to the point of starvation
 Although extremely underweight, people with Anorexia
Nervosa perceive themselves to be overweight or not
thin enough
 They see the extreme weight loss as success not as a
problem so they are not motivated to change their
behaviour
 About 90% of people who suffer from Anorexia Nervosa
are female
 Anorexia is not common, affecting less than 1% of
teenage girls
Characteristics of Anorexia
Nervosa
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Over evaluation of body shape or weight, so that self worth is largely
judged in these terms
Maintaining a very low body weight (ie. BMI ≤ 17.5)
Loss of menstrual periods in females who have reached puberty
Obsessive concern about body weight, shape or dieting
Unrealistic beliefs about being fat or extreme fear of gaining weight
Cutting out foods that were once enjoyed
Excessively exercising
Inducing vomiting or using laxatives
Avoiding meal times with others
Excessively analysing food labels, or counting kilojoules from food
and exercise
Bulimia Nervosa
 Bulimia
Nervosa is characterised by
periods of extreme dieting and weight
control followed by periods of uncontrolled
overeating or binge eating
 Bulimia Nervosa mostly affects females
 It is more common than Anorexia Nervosa,
affecting 1-2% of young women
Characteristics of Bulimia Nervosa
 Over-evaluation
of body shape or weight
 Repeated episodes of uncontrolled over
eating
 Extreme weight control behaviour, e.g.
extreme dieting, frequent use of vomiting
or laxatives to control weight or excessive
use of exercise
 Do not meet the characteristics of
Anorexia
Atypical Eating Disorders
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Atypical eating disorders involve over evaluation of body
shape or weight but do not fit the full pattern of either
Anorexia or Bulimia
People can move between showing the patterns of
Anorexia, Bulimia and Atypical eating disorders
The Atypical pattern is actually more common than either
anorexia or bulimia
A common atypical eating disorder is Binge eating
disorder
This is characterised by compulsive overeating similar to
Bulimia
However, does not involve purging and is often
associated with overweight and obesity
What causes Eating Disorders?
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As for other mental disorders, there is no single cause
A range of biological, psychological and social factors contribute
The following will increase the likelihood of a person developing an eating
disorder:
Family members with an eating disorder or other mental disorder such as
depression or alcohol misuse
Conflict at home
Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
Family dieting
Critical comments from others about weight or appearance
Pressure to be slim because of occupation or recreation
Low self esteem
Perfectionism
Anxiety
Obesity
Early start of periods
Non-Suicidal Self Injury
Non-Suicidal Self Injury
(NSSI)
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Self injury (NSSI) is a behaviour and not an
illness
 People self injure to cope with distress or to
communicate that they are distressed
 Types of self injury include self poisoning or
overdosing, minor injury and more potentially
dangerous and life threatening forms of injury
 If a person self injures, this does not mean that
they want to end their life however, the person
may be suicidal in some cases
Causes of NSSI
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There are a wide range of reasons why people
self harm. These include:
To escape from unbearable distress
To change other people’s behaviour
To escape from a difficult situation
To show their distress to others
To get back at other people and make them feel
guilty
To get relief of tension
To get help from others
Risk Factors
People with the following Personal
Characteristics may be at risk of developing
NSSI:
 Social Disadvantage: Low income, low
socioeconomic status and living in poverty
 Gay, lesbian or bisexual: Same sex
attraction increases risk, particularly
around the time that they realise that they
are not heterosexual
Risk Factors
 Social
and family environment:
 Adverse childhood experiences: Risk is
greater in children of separated or
divorced parents or where there is conflict
at home
 Social Isolation: Having good social
support and people to confide in reduce
risk
Risk Factors
 Psychological
Characteristics
 Impulsive: A tendency to act without
reflecting fully on the consequences
increases risk
 Poor problem solving skills
 Prone to emotional distress
Risk Factors
 Biological
Characteristics:
 Genetic Vulnerability: Mental disorders
in parents increase risk
 Brain Functioning: Chemical changes in
the brain can increase risk for NSSI
Risk Factors
 Situational
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Factors:
Adverse life events: Bad things happening in a
person’s life can trigger NSSI
 Media Influence: If suicide or self injury is
publicised in the media
 Self injury in peers: Incidents of self injury can
occur in a cluster of people around the same
time as they are influenced by each other
 Alcohol Intoxication: Alcohol increases the risk
by making people more impulsive and
exacerbating anxiety and depression
More Pictures Drawn by People
with Mental Illness
Halloween Behind the Mind
Macabre Madonna
Pain and Agony
Vanessa R