Module 1: Mental Health Basics for Teens

Mental HEALTHBasics for Teens

Final Grounding

Post-Survey

Activities

Asking for Help

Mental Health Basics

Group Expectations and Grounding

Introductions

Pre-Survey

Pre-Survey

Let's go around the circle and share our names!

Name

Share 1 Fun Fact about yourself

If this is your first session please raise your hand

Share

First Time?

Introductions

Group Expectations and Grounding

1. Depressive disorders2. Anxiety disorders 3. Bipolar disorders

Mood Disorders

• Suicide warning signs:
• Increase in substance use

• Risky or impulsive behavior, excessive anger

• Talking about wanting to hurt themself or die

• Expresses having no reason to live

• Saying goodbye/giving away one's possessions

• Dramatic changes in personality or appearance

• Self-harm:
• Self harm and suicide are often associated with depressive disorders

• Warning signs:
• Cuts/burns on the body
• Wearing baggy clothes even during hot days to conceal the wounds
• Finding razors, scissors, lighters or knives in strange places
• Spending long periods locked in a room and avoiding social situations

• Loss of Interest
• Feeling Guilty
• Low Energy
• Change in:
• Concencentration
• Sleep
• Appetite
• Speed of Moving/Speech

• Suicidal Thoughts

Persistent feeling of low moodORLoss of interest

Depressive Disorders

• Feeling nervous, restless or tense
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate, breathing rapidly

• Sweating, trembling

• Feeling weak or tired
• Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
• Having trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
• Having difficulty controlling worry
• Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Anxiety Disorders

DEPRESSION

• Depressed mood
• Loss of interest

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• Other symptoms

MANIA

• Inflated self-esteem
• Decreased need for sleep
• Fast Speech
• Racing Thoughts
• Flight of Ideas
• Distractibility
• Increased Anxiety
• Risky activity

Bipolar Disorders

• Bipolar disorder is a serious medical illness that requires medical attention and treatment
• Symptoms usually begin when someone is a teenager or young adult
• Depression is often the first sign that someone might have bipolar disorder
• Everyone experiences fluctuations in mood, but persistent and recurrent mood changes should be brought to the attention of a medical professional

Binge Eating Disorder

Symptoms:

• binge-eating
• Followed by feelings of shame, guilt, disgust, and/or a fear of gaining weight.

• People may continue to eat even are they are uncomfortably full or when they are not hungry.
• They might try to restrict or hide their eating.

Bulimia

Symptoms:

• Episodes of bingeing (eating a lot of food in a short period of time)
• Commonly followed by episodes of purging

Purging can include:

• vomiting
• Exercising too much
• Not eating for a period of time
• Taking laxatives.

These people maintain a normal or increased body weight, unlike in anorexia.

Anorexia

Symptoms:

• Unhealthy low body weight
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Unrealistic view of weight and body shape

May involve excessive methods to lose weight:

• Exercising too much
• Using laxatives or diet aids
• Vomiting after eating.

Eating Disorders

Behavioral Disorders

Conduct Disorder

• Mental illness that makes children and teens act violently, harmfully, or deceitfully.

• Many people exhibit these behaviors at some point in life, but it becomes concerning if it happens repetitively and persistently, despite negative consequences. or if the behavior causes serious harm to others.

ADHD

• Common brain disorder that makes it hard to focus, sit still, and control impulses.

• Usually diagnosed in elementary school children who experience these problems both at home AND at school.

• However, some people remain undiagnosed until later in life.

Ecstasy

Opioids

Methamphetamine

Cocaine

Marijuana

Alcohol

Substance use disorders are common and involve using legal or illegal substances to a degree that is harmful to an individual and/or interferes with their ability to function daily.Many people first begin using substances when they are teenagers, but people of all ages are at riskThere are many programs out there to offer support if you or someone you care about is struggling with a substance use disorder

Substance Use Disorders

Traumatic Disorders (Trauma)

Trauma-related disorders encompass a range of conditions that can be linked to traumatic experiences:

Acute Stress Disorder (< 1 month of Symptoms): Occurs within 3 days to 4 weeks after the traumatic event. Symptoms include intrusive thoughts, dissociation, and avoidanceAdjustment Disorder (< 6 months of Symptoms): A reaction to a stressful life event, such as trauma, that causes significant distress and impairs daily functioning. It’s characterized by emotional and behavioral symptoms.Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD; >= 6 months of Symptoms): A condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the traumatic event

Cluster A personality disorders have a consistently dysfunctional pattern of thinking and behavior that reflects suspicion or lack of interest in others

Cluster B personality disorders have a consistently dysfunctional pattern of dramatic, overly emotional thinking or unpredictable behavior.

Cluster C personality disorders have a consistently dysfunctional pattern of anxious thinking or behavior.

Cluster C

Cluster B

Personality Disorders

Cluster A

• If you or someone you love is feeling like you may harm yourself, let your parent, guardian or another trusted adult know immediately.

• If this is not an option for any reason, contact a resource like Crisis Text Line (text “NAMI” to 741-741) for support and direction.

• If you do not have access to a mobile device or computer, you need to let a teacher, coach or faith leader in your community know about your crisis situation.

• If you have already harmed yourself, consider calling 911 for immediate medical assistance.

Asking for Help

Ask for help when your feelings/emotions, thinking or behaviors:

• Are too intense or cause too much distress

• Last more than two weeks

• Interfere with daily life, causing difficulties sleeping, eating, concentrating, working, enjoying things

• Are accompanied by misuse of alcohol or drugs, thoughts of self-harm or aggressive behaviors

When to Ask For Help

Who to Ask

Friend

Therapist

Trusted adult

Seeking Accommodations for School

Your family, friends, health care providers, teachers and administrators are all on your team You are not alone!

Each state or school system has a process:

• Even if you are given official accommodations, check in with your teachers to let them know how you are doing, what is working well for you and what the problem areas are.
• That way they can work with you and help you be successful.

If you are asking for significant changes or long-term flexibility (ex:receiving time out of school each week for therapy):

• Your school may ask you to verify your need for accommodation.
• They may ask what you are doing to manage or treat your condition.
• This does not mean you have to explain very personal or clinical details, but it is not unreasonable for them to request a lot of information.

Communication with the school is very important:

• You and your parents or guardian should be prepared to explain in detail what you believe you need to be successful with your school work.

• Example:
• Needing extra time on tests
• Knowing width of the school door for the wheelchairs to fit

Mental Health Disorders Myths vs Realities

• Split the whiteboard into 2 columns (Myths and Realities)
• The group comes up with myths about mental health disorders that we have heard and then we challenge those with the realities we have learned in the session
• Debrief after
• Examples:

Post-Survey

It went something like, “I’m Full Name. I’m X years old. I live in City, State. Today is Friday, June 3. It’s 10:04 in the morning. I’m sitting at my desk at work. There’s no one else in the room.”

Repeat your anchoring statement you came up with earlier!

Grounding

Thank

You!

• Be respectful to everyone in the group!
• Put your phone away (except when doing the surveys)
• Avoid other distractions
• Please be willing to speak up and share!
• These workshops are voluntary, so make the most of your time here!

Anyone have any ideas for other group rules they want us to follow today?

If you are struggling with your mental health — for example, if you are feeling down or nervous much of the time — it’s important to talk with your parent or guardian and let them know you need help.Tips:

• Plan what you want to say
• Find a private place to talk
• Explain as clearly as you can
• Discuss possible next steps
• Continue the conversation

If they are not supportive:

• Explain the effort you've put in
• Let them know there are affordable resources
• Talk to another trusted adult (family, teacher, etc.)

Grounding ExerciseCreate an anchoring statement!

This might be something like, “I’m Full Name. I’m X years old. I live in City, State. Today is Friday, June 3. It’s 10:04 in the morning. I’m sitting at my desk at work. There’s no one else in the room.”

Our learning topics today will be:-Mental Health Basics-When and how to ask for help

• Some are open about challenges, others are more private—both are okay.
• Sharing can bring you closer to friends but may also risk them sharing your info with others.
• Decide in advance what you’re comfortable sharing and why (common experience, seeking help, gaining empathy).
• Consider writing down or practicing what you want to say before talking about your mental health.
• If unsure about sharing, talk to a trusted adult, counselor, or therapist.
• As you learn more about your mental health, sharing will get easier.

• If mental health issues are affecting school, friendships, or family, consider seeing a therapist.
• Talk therapy is an ongoing conversation that helps you understand and manage your feelings, thoughts, and behavior.
• Struggling in school? It might be due to difficulties with attention, anxiety, or conflicts with others, not just the workload.
• Therapy can help with these challenges.
• Don’t hesitate to involve your parent or guardian in finding a therapist.

• Pick one of the mental health disorders you learned about today and draw a picture that shows what you imagine it might feel like to live with that mental health disorder. If you have already been diagnosed with one, try to pick a different one that you have never experienced!
• Draw a picture of what you imagine it might be like for someone to ask for help when they are suffering from a mental health disorder.

Art Therapy

Mental Health Myths and Facts | SAMHSA

Example Myths

• Myth: Mental illness is rare; only people with serious mental illness struggle
• Myth: People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable
• Myth: Mental illness is incurable and lifelong
• Myth: Mental illness results from a personality weakness or character flaw
• Myth: Having a mental health condition means low intelligence
• Myth: Children don’t experience mental health issues
• Myth: I can’t do anything for a person with a mental health issue