Mental HealthMental Health

Essential to Overall HealthEssential to Overall Health

What is mental health?What is mental health?

- How you think, feel, and act in order to face lifeHow you think, feel, and act in order to face life ’’s s situations…situations…- For example, how you handle stress.For example, how you handle stress.

- How you look at yourself, your life and the people in How you look at yourself, your life and the people in your life…your life…- For example, how you relate to others.For example, how you relate to others.

- How you evaluate your options and make choices…How you evaluate your options and make choices…- For example: how you make decisions.For example: how you make decisions.

Key component of mental Key component of mental health: what you think.health: what you think.

• Thinking is the cognitive component of mental health. Thinking is the cognitive component of mental health. • ItIt’’s important to recognize your thoughts and to determine if they are s important to recognize your thoughts and to determine if they are

reasonable for the situation.reasonable for the situation.– For example, a friend invites another friend to go to a movie. Do you For example, a friend invites another friend to go to a movie. Do you

think think ““ThatThat’’s OK. She can do that. I know wes OK. She can do that. I know we’’ll get together another ll get together another time.time.”” Or, do you think Or, do you think ““SheShe’’s not my friend anymore. A real friend s not my friend anymore. A real friend would always invite only me…would always invite only me…””

• ItIt’’s important how you respond to your thoughts.s important how you respond to your thoughts.– Do you let negative, damaging thoughts continue or do you stop them? Do you let negative, damaging thoughts continue or do you stop them?

For example, if you think youFor example, if you think you’’ve been slighted by a friend, do you go ve been slighted by a friend, do you go over and over in your mind that the friend is hurtful, disloyal, uncaring… over and over in your mind that the friend is hurtful, disloyal, uncaring…

• Thoughts produce feelings in us.Thoughts produce feelings in us.

Key component of mental Key component of mental health: what you feel.health: what you feel.• Feeling is the emotional / sensory component of mental health. Feeling is the emotional / sensory component of mental health. • Thoughts produce feelings.Thoughts produce feelings.

– Thinking the same thoughts over and over in your mind will create Thinking the same thoughts over and over in your mind will create feelings – negative thoughts will create more negative feelings and feelings – negative thoughts will create more negative feelings and positive thoughts will create more positive feelings.positive thoughts will create more positive feelings.

• ItIt’’s important to recognize your feelings. s important to recognize your feelings. – For example, For example, ““I am angry and upset!I am angry and upset!””

• ItIt’’s important to understand where these feelings are coming from.s important to understand where these feelings are coming from.– Ie: your thought processes and how you interpret whatIe: your thought processes and how you interpret what’’s happened.s happened.

• ItIt’’s important how you respond to your feelings. s important how you respond to your feelings. – ““I feel this way so itI feel this way so it’’s right to feel this way.s right to feel this way.”” – Ask yourself questions such as: Ask yourself questions such as: ““Is this a legitimate feeling that is Is this a legitimate feeling that is

appropriate for the situation?appropriate for the situation?””

Key component of mental Key component of mental health: how you act.health: how you act.• Action is the behavioral component of mental health. Action is the behavioral component of mental health. • Thoughts and feelings result in actions.Thoughts and feelings result in actions.

– For example, you dwell in your mind about how your friend has For example, you dwell in your mind about how your friend has slighted you until you feel really angry and then you take an slighted you until you feel really angry and then you take an action as a result of your thoughts and feelings.action as a result of your thoughts and feelings.

• Actions can be unhealthy. Actions can be unhealthy. – For example, you could pick up the phone and yell at your friend For example, you could pick up the phone and yell at your friend

and damage the relationship.and damage the relationship.– For example, you could go out for a smoke or take a drink and For example, you could go out for a smoke or take a drink and

hide away in your room.hide away in your room.• Actions can be healthy.Actions can be healthy.

– For example, you could talk over your thoughts and feelings with For example, you could talk over your thoughts and feelings with your friend or with someone else who could help.your friend or with someone else who could help.

Thoughts, feelings, and Thoughts, feelings, and actions have impact.actions have impact.

• Since you were a young child, you Since you were a young child, you realized that your behavior had realized that your behavior had consequences.consequences.– You touched a hot stove and were burned.You touched a hot stove and were burned.– You disobeyed a rule and were disciplined.You disobeyed a rule and were disciplined.

• ItIt’’s important to also realize that there are s important to also realize that there are consequences to the way we think and consequences to the way we think and feel. feel.

Why is mental health so Why is mental health so important?important?

Here are just a few reasons…Here are just a few reasons…

Mental health is important Mental health is important because:because:• It affects your relationships with others:It affects your relationships with others:

– Mental health problems lead to new problems with friends, Mental health problems lead to new problems with friends, family, law enforcement or school officials( National Mental family, law enforcement or school officials( National Mental Health Association, 1997)Health Association, 1997)

• It affects how you learn: It affects how you learn: – Your attentiveness,Your attentiveness,– Your concentration,Your concentration,– Your classroom conduct,Your classroom conduct,– Your ability to organize,Your ability to organize,– Your ability to communicate.Your ability to communicate.

• Source: SAMHSA. Source: SAMHSA. http://allmentalhealth.samhsa.gov/school_modules.html#mod2http://allmentalhealth.samhsa.gov/school_modules.html#mod2

Mental health is important Mental health is important because:because:

• Mental health problems can lead to other problems Mental health problems can lead to other problems such as:such as:

– Experimenting with drugs or alcohol, Experimenting with drugs or alcohol, – Being sexually promiscuous, Being sexually promiscuous, – Being hostile and aggressive, Being hostile and aggressive, – Taking risks in behavior.Taking risks in behavior.

What can I do to help protect What can I do to help protect my mental health?my mental health?

– Eat healthfully.Eat healthfully.– Exercise adequately.Exercise adequately.– Care for your health daily.Care for your health daily.– Take time for yourself regularly.Take time for yourself regularly.– Sleep bountifully.Sleep bountifully.– Manage stress diligently.Manage stress diligently.

What can I do to help protect What can I do to help protect my mental health?my mental health?

– PlayPlay• Learn to do something new and fun Learn to do something new and fun

– Know yourselfKnow yourself• Be attuned to your thoughts and feelings.Be attuned to your thoughts and feelings.• Keep a journal.Keep a journal.• Recognize when Recognize when ““this just doesnthis just doesn’’t seem like I usually think or t seem like I usually think or

actact””..– Say Say ““nono”” sometimes. Don sometimes. Don’’t overbook your schedule t overbook your schedule

or your life.or your life.• Make time for quiet Make time for quiet

– Turn off the cell phone, TV…Turn off the cell phone, TV…

What can I do to help protect What can I do to help protect my mental health?my mental health?

– Recognize warning signs inRecognize warning signs in• How you think,How you think,• How you feel,How you feel,• How you act.How you act.

– Practice stress management and other self care Practice stress management and other self care strategies throughout life.strategies throughout life.

– Know when and where to get help.Know when and where to get help.• Get help as soon as you suspect you need it.Get help as soon as you suspect you need it.• Get help from a trained counselor or through a medical Get help from a trained counselor or through a medical

referral.referral.