Mental health is the accepting and liking of oneself.› It is the ability to adapt to, deal with and
accept emotions, challenges and changes that happen in life; it is the ability to work with what life deals you!
Identity Self-Esteem Nutrition Physical Activity STRESS Life-Style Drugs and Alcohol
Relationships Circle of Support Genetics Income/Education Where you live Social Conditions
(racism, sexism, homophobia)
Mental illness is a medical disease, disorder or condition that affects a person's mind. › Mental illness can arise from poor mental
health, but can also be caused by factors such as genetics or damage to the brain.
› Mental illness impacts the ability for a person to function in life and results in mental, emotional and behavioral problems.
Mental illnesses and conditions can be caused by:› Biological Causes
Genetics Infections Brain Injury Pre-Natal Damage Exposure to Toxins
› Psychological Causes Trauma – emotional, physical Abuse Neglect
› Environmental Causes Living in poverty Nutrition Family/Cultural/Societal Expectations Prolonged stress
Eating Disorders Personality Disorders Psychotic Disorders Substance Related Disorders Mood Disorders Anxiety Disorders Childhood Disorders
Eating disorders are conditions that occur when people become overly focused on their weight, body shape, and food, and develop dangerous eating behaviors
These include:› Anorexia Nervosa› Bulimia Nervosa› Binge-Eating Disorder
Personality disorders are long-term patterns of thoughts and behaviors that cause serious problems with relationships and work
These include:› Borderline personality disorder› Narcissism › Anti-social personality disorder
Psychotic disorders are severe mental disorders that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions.
People with psychotic disorders loose touch with reality.
People may experience delusions and/or hallucinations
These include:› Schizophrenia › Psychosis
A chronic relapsing condition characterized by compulsive drug-seeking and abuse and by long-lasting chemical changes in the brain.
Addiction does not have to be related to drugs or alcohol, addition can include:› Drugs› Alcohol› Gambling› Sex› Videogames
Mood disorders occur when your general emotional state or mood is distorted, or inconsistent, with your circumstances.
People with mood disorders experience long term, extreme “Highs” and “Lows”.
These include:› Depression› Bipolar Disorder
Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders which affect behavior, thoughts, emotions and physical health.
People with anxiety disorders are subject to intense, prolonged feelings of fright and distress for no obvious reason
These include:› Obsessive Compulsive Disorder› Phobias› Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Mental health problems that interfere with normal development and functioning in a child.
These include:› Autism Spectrum Disorder› Childhood Schizophrenia› Attention Deficit Disorder› Attention Deficit Hyper-Active Disorder
Medical Treatments Integrative Health Treatments Horticultural Programs Animal Assisted Programs Technology Therapeutic Treatments
Medical Treatments for mental health illnesses include those treatments that involve health care professionals.
Treatment Options:› Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy modifying the patterns of thought and behaviour associated
with a particular disorder Psychoanalysis
Investigating underlying issues, defences and behaviours of a disorder – understanding what is going on inside an individual
› Medications There are many different medical treatments that
work to correct, disguise or counter mental illnesses.
Also known as “alternative treatments” These are any treatment that does not fall into the
world of “conventional” treatments (ie: western, medical)
Treatments can be based on a TEAM of professionals or SINGULAR treatments
Treatments include:› Relaxation Healing
Biofeedback (listening to heart rate) Acupuncture Massage Therapy
› Culture Healing Yoga, talking circles, drumming therapy
› Expressive Therapies Art Therapy, Music/Sound Therapy, Dance/Movement Therapy
Horticultural Therapy is the purposeful use of plants and plant-related activities to promote health and wellness for an individual or group
This therapy uses the positive benefits of the interaction between people and plants and gardens to improve cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
Animal Assisted Therapy is the purposeful use of animals to promote health and wellness for an individual or group.
This therapy uses the positive benefits of the interaction between people and animals to improve cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
New technologies are emerging in the treatment of mental health.
These include:› Neurofeedback
A type of Biofeedback (the process of becoming aware of various physiological functions using instruments that provide information on the activity of those same systems, with a goal of being able to manipulate them at will)
Uses real time EEG’s to show brain activity› Telemedicine
Medical information is transferred through interactive audiovisual media
To counsel, observe, assist› Voice Boxes
Can help a person manage their mental health condition by allowing them to communicate using a technological box.
There are different kinds of therapeutic treatments for persons with mental health illnesses. These are designed to help a person to cope with, and manage their illnesses in order to function in life.
These include:› Occupational Therapy› Recreational Therapy› Physiotherapy› Speech Therapy