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Warm-Up
Write down as many words that you can
think of that you associate with the term
“mental disorder.”
 Next to these terms write down whether
that word is positive or negative.
 What might this indicate in terms of
attitudes towards mental disorders?

Mental and Emotional
Problems
Lesson 9
Objectives
Identify and describe characteristics of a
variety of mental disorders
 Identify the signs of depression and
warning signs of suicide
 Identify strategies for coping with
depression and preventing suicide
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Mental Disorders
An illness of the mind that can affect the
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of a
person, preventing him or her from leading
a happy, healthful, productive life
 Each year about 20% of the US population
are affected by some form of mental
disorder.
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Even though professional help is necessary,
less than 7% actually receive help.
Types of Mental Disorders
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Anxiety Disorder: Condition in which real or
imagined fears are difficult to control
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Chronic fear
People with this disorder arrange lives to avoid the
situations that make them feel anxious
4 main types
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Phobias
obsessive-compulsive disorders
panic disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorders
Phobia
Strong and irrational fear of something
specific
 Impairs a person from living a normal life
 Some phobias can make people prisoners
in their own homes (agoraphobia- fear of
public places, mysophobia- fear of dirt)
 Some mental health professionals believe
that certain phobias are caused by
childhood experiences
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
‘OCD’
Trapped inside a pattern of repeated
thoughts and behaviors
 “obsessive” persistent, recurrent
 “compulsive” repeated, irresistible
behaviors
 A person with OCD often goes through
repeated rituals throughout the day in
order to suppress their anxiety

Panic Disorder
Condition in which fear and anxiety get in
the way of a person’s ability to function
and enjoy life
 Sudden, unexplained feelings of terror
 Panic attacks accompanied by trembling,
pounding heart, shortness of breath,
dizziness
 Attacks can occur at any time, but are
most often triggered by a specific stimulus
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Condition that may develop after exposure to a
terrifying even that threatened or caused
physical harm
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Could arise weeks or even months after the event
Common after personal assaults, natural
disasters, human-made disasters or military
combat
Symptoms may include: flashbacks, nightmares,
emotional numbness, sleeplessness, guilt and
problems concentrating
Mood Disorders

Illness, often associated with and organic cause,
that involves mood extremes that interfere with
everyday living
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NOT the highs and lows that everyone experiences
NOT mood swings of adolescence
Emotional swings are extreme in both intensity and
duration
2 types of mood disorders are clinical
depression and bipolar disorder
Clinical Depression
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Feelings of sadness that interfere with
daily living and endure for an extended
period of time
Bipolar Disorder
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Marked by extreme mood changes, energy
levels and behavior
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Manic “highs” and depressive “lows”
Also referred to as manic-depressive disorder
Figure 9.1 pg 227
Although adults with this disorder may behave
normally between episodes, teens with the
disorder tend to alternate rapidly between the
two extremes with few clear periods
Eating Disorders
Life threatening disturbances in eating
behavior
 Most common include:

Anorexia nervosa: no eating or very minimal
eating
 Bulimia: characterized by binging and then
purging
 Pica: eating of non-food materials
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Wide range of physical complications
including heart conditions and kidney
failure
Conduct Disorders
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A pattern of behaviors in which the rights of
others or basic social rules are violated
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Lying, theft, vandalism, aggression, violence, arson
More common among males than females
Usually appear ‘tough’ but actually have very
low self esteem
If not treated, many teens with this disorder will
not be able to adapt to the demands of
adulthood
Schizophrenia
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Severe mental disorder in which a person loses
contact with reality
Symptoms:
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Delusions
Hallucinations
Causes may be a combination of genetic factors
and chemical or structural changes in the brain
Those who suffer have difficulty distinguishing
between real and imaginary events
Not usually a threat to others
Professional help and medication are necessary
Personality Disorders
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Inability to get along with others because of the
way one things or behaves
Affects approximately 10% of the population
Counseling and sometimes medication are
recommended treatments
3 common personality disorders are:
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Antisocial personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Passive-aggressive personality disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Tend to be irritable, aggressive, impulsive
and violent
 Unable to show remorse for behavior
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Borderline Personality Disorder
Frequently experience a series of troubled
relationships
 Engagement in high risk activities
 Poor self-esteem
 Fear abandonment, but often lash out at
the people they need the most
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Passive-Aggressive Personality
Disorder
Often uncooperative
 Resent being told what to do, but yet rely
on other’s direction
 Get angry over issues of control but will
only show their anger indirectly
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Suicide: Warning Signs and
Prevention
Terms:
Alienation: feeling isolated and separated
from everyone else
 Suicide: act of intentionally taking one’s
own life
 Cluster suicides: series of suicides
occurring within a short period of time and
involving several people in the same
school or community
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Risk Factors
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DEPRESSION
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over 90% of those who commit suicide suffer from
depression or another mental disorder, or are abusing
drugs
History of physical abuse
History of sexual abuse
Previous suicide attempts
Family history of emotional disorders or suicides
Figure 9.2 pg 231
Strategies to Prevent Suicide
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Anyone who talks about suicide must be taken
seriously
Encourage someone who is depressed or
mentally ill to seek help
Show concern and empathy to the person so
that they know their life matters!
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Initiate a meaningful conversation
Show support and ask questions about problems
Try to persuade the person to seek help
Getting Help
When Should You Seek Help?
If you feel trapped with no way out
 You constantly worry
 Your feelings affect sleep, eating, school
work, job performance or relationships
 Family and friends express concern over
your behavior
 You are using alcohol or other drugs
 You are becoming increasingly
aggressive, violent or reckless
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Afraid to Seek Help?
Remember:
 Asking for help does not mean that you
are weak. It is a sign of strength and
show’s responsibility for your well-being
 People with mental disorders can’t get
better on their own
 Sharing your deepest thoughts with a
‘stranger’ is not embarrassing. In fact,
most people find it gives them great relief.
Understanding Death and
Grief
Terms:
Coping: dealing successfully with difficult
changes in your life
 Grief response: an individual’s total
response to a major loss
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Grieving Process
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Denial or Numbness:
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Emotional Releases:
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Person becomes occupied with thoughts about what he or she could have done
to prevent the loss or make things better
Acceptance:
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Promise to change if what was lost can be returned
Depression
Remorse:
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Feeling powerless and deprived unfairly
Lashing out at whatever you perceive to be responsible
Bargaining:
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Recognition of the loss
Often involves periods of crying
Anger:
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Disbelief that the loss has occurred
Prevents person from being overwhelmed by emotions
Sense of power
Ability to face reality in constructive ways
Meaningful gestures surrounding the idea of loss
Hope:
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The point where remembering becomes less painful and the person can begin to
look ahead to the future
Coping with Death or Crises
Give yourself time to reflect
 Remember the good times
 Seek support from friends and family. You
don’t have to do it alone.
 Grief counseling
 Get back to daily routines as soon as
possible
 Eat nutritious foods and exercise regularly
 Do something positive to help out others
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