Mental Health 101

Theresa Nguyen, LCSWAmerica Paredes, MS

Presentation Outline

• Moving B4Stage4

• Mental Illness 101

• Recovery ‐ People not Disorders 

• Educating the Public

• Lessons from Data

• Mental Health Policy

Placholder for image, chart, graph, or other graphical 

elementPrevention

Early Identification 

and Intervention

Integrated Care and Treatment

Recovery

Moving Before Stage 4

Brain Based

Breaking Points

Interaction of Biology & Environment 

Biology Environment

Stress

Major Categories of Mental Illness• Psychotic Disorders – Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder

• Bipolar Disorders• Depressive Disorders• Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum• Anxiety Disorders – OCD, PTSD• Substance Use

Symptoms of Psychotic Disorders

• Delusions ‐ Bizarre thoughts, paranoia

• Hallucinations‐ shadows, name called, animals

• Disorganized speech – difficulty speaking or                         

understanding speech.

• Disorganized behavior ‐ catatonia

• Memory problems, disconnection, sensitivity to 

stimuli, trouble focusing. 

Psychosis and Environment

Prodrome, Psychosis and Insight

Youth have INSIGHT

Loss of Insight is a symptom NOT a choice 

As people get more sick, symptoms like delusions become fixed

#mentalillnessfeelslike

This is exactly how I feel right now, trapped in my body, like I don't belong here, like I'm trapped and not safe It's driving me insane

Depressive Disorders•Two week duration

• Extremely depressed mood state lasting at least 2 weeks• Cognitive symptoms – Feelings of worthless, guilt, indecisiveness

• Fatigue & loss of energy • Sleep disturbances, restlessness, weight loss or gain• Anhedonia – Loss of pleasure/interest in usual activities• Thoughts of death

• Youth especially feel irritation, psychomotor agitation, and are especially susceptible to self injurious behaviors. 

#mentalillnessfeelslike

As I wake every morning and look in the mirror.I slip on my mask to hide all my tears.The Mask so pretty, the mask of many smiles.To see through it may take a while.Some take the time to look a little deeper,but at the end of the day I'm My Own Reaper.

Mood Instability• Elevated mood• Inflated self 

esteem/grandiosity• Decreased need for 

sleep• Talkative• Distractible• Racing thoughts• Increased goal‐directed activity• Often experience psychosis – maybe due to sleep 

change

#mentalillnessfeelslike

#mentalillnessfeelslike being on a roller coaster. It feels like such a rush sometimes..slowly going up and then flying down and then spinning all around.. #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #mentalillness #bipolar#depression #anxiety #adhd

Anxiety Disorders• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Trauma• Hypervigilance• Nightmares• Flashbacks• Irritability• Avoidance

• Generalized Anxiety • Panic disorder• Social Anxiety Disorder• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

#mentalillnessfeelslike

ADHD, Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum – Communication, Motor, Learning

• Intellectual Delay, Autism, Asperger’s, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)

• Intellectual delay starting in infancy • Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts

• Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities

#mentalillnessfeelslike

how it feels to have Body Dysmorphic Disorder. it feels this way with other eating disorders, but BDD is just a different way still of seeing yourself. it’s like you’ll never know what you really look...

Symptoms Occur on a SpectrumSadness

Suspiciousness

Hallucinations

Young man grieves over recent loss of family member

He is sleeping all day and night, has trouble getting to work and has suicidal thoughts.

Young woman goes to the mall and feels like people are looking at her.

She refuses to go to the mall because she is certain that a specific person is

out to harm her

Hearing indistinct buzzing or whispering

Hearing a voice clearly outside your head saying, “You’re a loser” or “You’re a failure.”

“Above all else, I want my life to have meaning apart from 

my diagnosis.”

‐‐ Dykstra, T., “First person account: How I cope,” Schizophrenia Bulletin. 23(4):697‐9, 1997

#mentalillnessfeelslike

Embrace your progress, no matter how small! #mentalillnessfeelslike#recovery

Is Recovery Possible?

• Recovery is Self Defined• Recovery is not a Switch• Recovery is not Linear• Failure vs Learning• Dance Don’t Wrestle

Public Education and Campaigns

• May is Mental Health Month• Back to School • Mental Illness Awareness Week• Life on Campus• National Observance Months• Partnerships and co‐branded materials

May is Mental Health Month• MHA leads observance since 1949 • Unique theme developed each year:

o #B4Stage4o #mentalillnessfeelslike

• Toolkit includes:o Key Messageso Sample Press Releaseo Drop‐In Articleo May is Mental Health Month Proclamationo Social Media and Web Componentso Fact Sheets and Handouts

• Outcomeso 8,668 toolkit downloadso 22.3 million people participants/people reachedo Nearly 150 million media impressions. 

#mentalillnessfeelslike

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Other Campaigns

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MHAScreening.org

• Youth Screen (PSC)• Parent Screen (PSC)• Alcohol & Sub Use Screen (CAGE‐AID)• Psychosis Screen (PQB)

• Depression Screen (PHQ9)• Anxiety Screen (GAD7)• Bipolar Screen (MDQ)• PTSD Screen (PC‐PTSD)

September2016: 

1,670,322 Screens

Results Overview• Depression screen is most popular (54.13%) –

close to 1 million.

• Even psychosis ‐2.10%; 44,760 screens

• Race/Ethnicity ‐ close to Census

• 36% are 11‐17;  29% 18‐24. 

• 30% report chronic pain, 12% lung problems, 12% diabetes.

• Special Pop – Caregivers, LGBT, Mothers, Students, and Vets.

Positive66%

Negative

Been Diagnosed

Never Been Diagnosed

65%

Youth Screening Youth screeners feel Anxiety/Depression effects “Often,” but half “Never” 

experience Conduct Problems.

3%

10%7%6%10%

47%44%

52%61%

49%74%

59%17%

36%13%9%8%

28%34%

27%25%

39%40%

38%36%

29%37%

21%32%

48%46%

35%38%43%

68%56%

66%69%

50%12%

17%11%10%14%

6%9%

35%18%

52%53%49%

Feel sad, unhappyFeel hopeless

Down on yourselfWorry a lot

Seem to be having less funDo not listen to rules

Do not understand other people's…Tease others

Fight with other childrenBlame others for your troubles

Take things that do not belong to youRefuse to share

Fidgety, unable to sit stillAct as if driven by motor

Daydream too muchDistract easily

Have trouble concentrating

Never Sometimes Often

AttentionProblems

Anxiety/DepressionProblems

Conduct Problems

Cluster:

Psychosis Clusters By State

HealthiestLeast HealthyFewer HallucinationsMore Hallucinations

More Hallucinations and Communication Challenges

What People Want

Information and 

Education

Referral to Care and Services

Engagement with People Like Me (Peers)

DIY: Self‐help Tools

• Information about mental health• Use at home ‐ worksheets or 

coping skills to• Online or mobile program that 

can help you track or manage your symptoms

• Referrals to those that can help• Phone number for immediate 

support

48.55%

46.16%

45.25%

18.80%

13.74%

Screening to SupportsUser Driven and Customizable

16 Indicators Exploring the Following Factors: How many adults and youth have mental health issues? How many adults and youth have substance use issues? How many adults and youth have access to insurance? How many adults and youth have access to adequate insurance? How many adults and youth have access to mental health care? Which states have higher barriers to accessing mental health

care?

Workforce Development Problems

The state rate of mental health workforce ranges from:

Low(Massachusetts) 

216:1 

High1289:1 (Alabama)

Nationally, there is only one mental health provider for every 529 individuals.  The term mental health provider includes: psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, counselors, marriage and family therapists and advanced practice nurses specializing in mental health care. 

Mental Health Policy Issues• Funding – especially important at state level• Privacy – HIPAA • Early Intervention – psychosis and screening• Least Restrictive Care – communities first• Psychosocial Rehabilitation – people first• Heroin Epidemic • Abuse and Care – conversion therapy, tx regulation• Seclusion and Restraints – including in schools• Incarceration – juvenile justice• Mental Health in Schools – IDEA and IEP services• Homeless Youth – especially foster care

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