Mental Health 1

ROGERS CORPORATE HEALTH CENTRE PRESENTS

Mental Health Mental Health AwarenessAwareness

February 2009February 2009

ROGERS CORPORATE HEALTH CENTRE

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

What is Normal Mental Health?Researchers, mental health experts along with scientists have wrestled with this issue for hundreds of years, and even today the line between normal and abnormal is often blurred.

What makes it difficult to distinguish between normal and abnormal mental health is that there is no easy test that may be performed to show if something is wrong.



Mental health experts define mental illnesses based on signs, symptoms as well as functional impairments.

Signs are objective such as agitation or rapid breathing

Symptoms are subjective and include such feelings as sadness

Functional Impairment is the inability to perform routine tasks such as brushing your teeth or going to work

What is Mental Illness?



What is Mental Illness?Signs and symptoms of mental illnesses that

commonly come up include:

• Behaviours, such as repeated hand washing• Feelings like sadness• Thoughts such as delusions that the radio is controlling your mind• Physiological responses, such as sweating



• Anxiety Disorders

• Personality Disorders

• Psychotic Disorders

• Impulse Control Disorders

Types of Mental Illnesses



In this type of disorder, people respond to certain objects and/or situations with fear and dread. They often shown

physical signs of nervousness, rapid heartbeat, and sweating.

Anxiety disorders are diagnosed if the person’s response is not appropriate for the situation, if the person can not control the response, or if the anxiety interferes with normal functioning.

Anxiety Disorders



The various types of anxiety disorders include: panic disorder, social phobias (social and specific), post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive

disorder,and generalized anxiety disorder

Anxiety Disorders



Personality DisordersWhen a person’s way of thinking, perceiving situations, and

relating to others becomes dysfunctional.

Someone with a personality disorder has a rigidand potentially self-destructive or self- denigrating

pattern of thinking and behaving. This leads to distress inlife or impairment of the ability to complete routine tasks.



Personality Disorders

General signs and symptoms that may indicate a personality

disorder include:

• Frequent mood swings • Stormy relationships • Social isolation • Angry outbursts • Suspicion and mistrust of others • Difficulty making friends • A need for instant gratification • Poor impulse control • Alcohol or substance abuse • Specific types of personality disorders



Personality Disorders Personality disorders are categorized into three clusters: A,B, & C.

Cluster A: These are personality disorders characterized by odd, eccentric thinking or behavior and include: paranoid personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder and schizotypal personality disorder.

Cluster B: These are personality disorders characterized by dramatic, overly emotional thinking or behaviour and include: antisocial (formerly, sociopathic) personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, fear of being alone, histrionic personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder.

Cluster C: These are personality disorders characterized by anxious, fearful thinking or behaviour and include: avoidant personality disorder dependent personality disorder, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.


Psychological

Cognitive behaviour therapy – examines how a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour can get stuck in unhelpful patterns.

Interpersonal psychotherapy – examines how a person’s relationships and interactions with others affect their own thoughts and behaviours.

Treatment for Mental Illness




Treatment for Mental IllnessAntidepressant medications – help treat depression and more recently,

used to treat phobias, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder & eating disorders.

Antipsychotic medications – help treat psychotic illnesses. Newer medications have now been developed that have fewer side effects than the traditional medications.

Mood stabilizing medications – helpful for people who have bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression).


Treatment for Mental Illness

Community support –information, accommodation, help with finding suitable work, training and education, psychosocial rehabilitation and mutual support groups. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) – this treatment is still used, but less frequent. After the person is given a general anaesthetic and muscle relaxant, an electrical current is passed through their brain.

Hospitalization – this occurs when a person is acutely ill and needs intensive treatment for a short time.

Involuntary treatment – this can occur when the psychiatrist recommends someone needs treatment but the person doesn’t agree.



Coping and support for living with a mental illness

Simplify your life. Cut back on obligations when possible, and set reasonable schedules for goals.

Write in a journal to express pain, anger, fear or other emotions.

Read reputable self-help books and consider talking about them to your doctor or therapist.

Don't become isolated. Try to participate in normal activities and get together with family or friends regularly.

Take care of yourself by eating a healthy diet and getting sufficient sleep.



Stay focused on your goals. Recovery from a personality disorder is an ongoing process. Stay motivated by keeping your recovery goals in mind. Remind yourself that you're responsible for managing your illness and working toward your goals.

Learn relaxation and stress management. Try such stress-reduction techniques as meditation, yoga or tai chi.

Structure your time. Plan your day and activities. Try to stay organized. You may find it helpful to make a list of daily tasks.

Time your big decisions. Don't make important decisions when you're in the depths of a personality disorder since you may not be thinking clearly.



For more information on Mental Health is available in front of the Corporate Health

Centre



Onsite doctor Blood work Chiropractic services Physiotherapist Much more!

Visit the Rogers Corporate Health CentreMain Street and the Interchange, Rogers Park for details.

Services available for all Rogers employees include:

Mental Health 1

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