Common Adolescent Issues How to Identify and Help Mark Samways School Counsellor Mark.Samways@dubaicollege.org @DCol_wellbeing
Dates of all talks Tuesday 21 st November: Screen Time Tuesday 28 th November: Speakfluence. Su Bridgman Tuesday 16 th January: Lifestyle choices for adolescents in UAE Monday 22 nd January: Bullying in schools. Dr Rebecca Tuesday 30 th January: Body Image. Aisling Prendergast Lighthouse Arabia Wednesday 28 th February: Building healthy relationships - For both parents and students Tuesday 6 th March: Exam Parenting Monday 12 th March: Mindful Parenting Joanne Jewell Wednesday 21 st March: E-Safety
What is Mental Health? Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community. - WHO
Prevalence of Mental Health 1 in 4 people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide. WHO 80% of serious prolonged disorders begin prior to age 18 60% before age 15
Prevalence of Mental Health
Which of the following domains lead to adult life satisfaction? British cohort study by Richard Layard et al (1970) Qualifications Behaviour Emotional health
Which of the following domains lead to adult life satisfaction?
Stigma in Mental Health Social Stigma and Self-stigma Stigma can often prevent people from seeking out treatment It can lead to abuse, rejection and isolation
Myths in mental health You are either mentally ill or mentally healthy Suffering from a mental illness makes you weak and stupid Mental health problems are forever Young people don t suffer from Mental health issues Only weirdo s and crazy people suffer from mental health conditions
Causes of Mental Disorders Both mental and physical illnesses are caused by a combination of many things, such as: Genetics: How we turn out depends a lot on the genes that we are born with, some people have a greater chance of developing a disorder Family History: If a family member has had depression or anxiety we have a great chance of developing it. Both genetic and modelling behaviour Reactions to experiences: Stress can be a trigger. Anyone who grows up in an unhealthy environment has a great chance of developing a disorder Resources: Do we have friends and family to support us?
Depression- What to look out for Poor performance in school Withdrawal from friends and activities Sadness and hopelessness Lack of enthusiasm, energy or motivation Anger and rage Overreaction to criticism Feelings of being unable to satisfy ideals Poor self-esteem or guilt Indecision, lack of concentration or forgetfulness Restlessness and agitation Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
Anxiety Disorders The five major types of anxiety disorders are: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Panic Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)
Anxiety- What to look out for Intense fear Fear you are going mad Restlessness, fidgeting, inability to concentrate Sense of impending danger Nervousness feeling on edge Impatience Irritability
The effect of stress on the brain University of Iowa researchers recently found a connection between the stress hormone cortisol and memory loss Their findings showed that cortisol reduced synapses connections between neurons in the pre-frontal cortex.