Understanding Mental Illness

Information for consumers and supporters at NSCC

Why we need to understand

NSCC employees have traditionally provided excellent service to all students who have come to us pursuing their dreams through education. Over the years the needs of these learners have changed. As our post secondary environment continues to strive towards education without boundaries, and, mental health consumers become more comfortable with accessing our services, we need to learn as a group so that we can provide better service to this growing educational community.

What is Mental Illness?

• Mental illness is like any other illness. It can manifest itself in many forms, it is commonly misunderstood and it can be treated.

It’s:

• Biological – linked to disturbances in the brain chemistry

• Psychological – affects thoughts and emotions

• Social – affects stress levels and life events

Mental Health is :

• Striking a balance in all aspects of your life- social, physical, spiritual, economic and mental.

Mental illness is:

• A health condition characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behaviour (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and or impaired functioning. (Canadian Mental Health Association)

Statistics

• 1 in 5 Canadians (close to 6 million) will be affected by mental illness at some time in their lives. Mental health problems often emerge between the ages of 16 and 24.

• Schizophrenia affects 1% of Canadians• Mood disorders affect 10% of Canadians• Anxiety disorders affect 12% of Canadians

Some myths!

• People with mental illness are violent and dangerous.

• People with mental illness are more likely to be the victims, rather than the perpetrators of violence

• People with mental illness are poor and less intelligent.

• Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of intelligence, social class or income.

• Mental illness is caused by personal weakness.

• Mental illness is an illness (just like diabetes is an illness), and it has nothing to do with weakness or lack of will power.

• All mental illness is the same and its rare.

• MI is a broad classification of disorders and includes: anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, eating disorders and organic brain disorders.

Common Diseases

• Schizophrenia• Often starts slowly. When

symptoms appear (usually in adolescence or early adulthood) they appear more confusing than serious. We often say, oh they’re just going through a phase! They include:

• Delusions and hallucinations• Lack of motivation• Social withdrawal• Thought disorders

• Depression• Depression becomes an illness

when the following feelings are severe, last for several weeks and begin to interfere with daily living. They include:

• Worthlessness/hopelessness• Sleeping more or less than

usual• Eating more or less than usual• Difficulty concentrating• Decreased sex drive• Avoiding other people• Overwhelming sadness or grief• Feeling unreasonably guilty

• Manic depression (bipolar disorder)

• These folks experience alternating mood swings from high (mania) to low (depression).

• Mania feelings include: euphoria, extreme optimism, exaggerated self esteem.

• Behaviours include: rapid speech, racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, extreme irritability, impulsivity and recklessness

• In the depressive phase they demonstrate all of the symptoms in classic depression

• Seasonal Affective Disorder

• It is thought to be related to seasonal variations in light that affects our circadian rhythm

• Symptoms include: change in appetite – craving sweet or starchy foods, weight gain, decreased energy, fatigue, oversleeping, difficulty concentrating, irritability, anxiety, despair, avoiding social activities

• Often difficulty to distinguish from depression and bipolar disease

• Anxiety disorders• A group of illnesses which affect

behaviour, thoughts, emotions and physical health.

• It is not uncommon to be affected by more than one anxiety disorder simultaneously

• Anxiety disorders can be accompanied by depression, eating disorders, substance abuse and physical disorders

Panic disorder

• Attacks occur without warning and are accompanied by sudden feelings of terror. May cause chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal pain, feelings of unreality and fear of dying.

Common signs of MI

• Marked changes in personality• Confused thinking• Inability to cope with problems and ADL’s• Strange ideas or delusions• Excessive fears or anxiety• Prolonged feelings of sadness• Extreme highs and lows in mood• Social withdrawal

Manifested in the classroom

• Consistently late or frequent absenteeism• Low moral• Disorganized study habits or submission of

assignments• Lack of cooperation• Inability to communicate with others or

monopolizing the conversations in the learning environment

• Increased accidents• Missed deadlines, poor grades, excessive excuses• Evidence or complaints of excessive fatigue• Decreased interest in the classroom

When is it an issue?

• Having a mental illness is challenging. It becomes a disability when the symptoms of the condition overwhelm the individual and inhibit the person from successfully achieving their goals.

How to help

• Get informed • Speak with the learner directly about the changes

you have seen or if a student discloses actively listen and ask how you can help

• Talk to other campus staff who have contact with the learner to share observations and experiences

• Confer with faculty, the campus DRF and CSS counselors maintaining learner confidentiality

How to help yourself

If you have a diagnosed MI, consider disclosing to the people who will be your academic supports (faculty and CSS staff) so that together you can have the opportunity to create a plan of action. Proactive planning will reduce stress for you and your faculty coach in the event that your disease causes frequent, erratic or extended absences from the program you are in.

In the classroom

• Do the simple stuff:• Look at the

environment (lighting, noise, space, ventilation)

• Look at the learner needs (equipment, support, information, time, clarity)

Support Strategies

• Learn the techniques associated with universal instructional design

• Accomodations• Available through Disability Services upon

registration (documentation required) • Notetaking or taping of instruction • Tutoring – academic or organizational • Preferential seating • Testing accommodations (quiet room, schedule

changes, supervised breaks)

• Listen to the learners needs

• Time (extra time to complete assignments, tests and to clarify instructions)

• Negotiate and communicate

Available Supports

CSS - services differ at each campus( includes: counseling and referral processes) check yours out

In a crisis the emergency ward of your local hospital can deal with the immediate medical crisis

The learners family physician SSP (student support program) 1-800-268-5211Mental Health Services for adults – Halifax- information services 902-

424-4232Local hospital mental health clinic/services – see your local phone

directoryCanadian Mental Health Association – www.cmha.caLocal support groups

Want more information?

• Do some research- contact CMHA

• Ask the CSS staff, Res Voc and Human Services Faculty on your campus for input

• Hit the internet• Ask a self declared

person with MI how you can help

• Introduction

Ruth Fraser – Educational Resource Facilitator, Disability Services

• Presentation

Scott MacGillivray – ALP Counselor, NSCC Pictou

and

Lynn Morris Jamieson - Team Lead/Academic Chair H&HS, NSCC Cumberland