mental health education for learners.pdf

1. Dr. R. Rajalakshmi
MSc,(Psy. Nursing) MBA., MA.,(Sociology) Ph.D (Nursing)
Teaching Faculty, College of Nursing, NIMHANS

2. Mental Health Awareness
Dr. R. Rajalakshmi
MSc,(Psy. Nursing) MBA., MA.,(Sociology) Ph.D (Nursing)
Teaching Faculty, College of Nursing, NIMHANS

3. Mental Health
• As defined by WHO, mental health is “a state of
well-being in which the individual realises his/her
own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of
life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able
to make a contribution to his/her community.”
•It is not only the absence of clinical disorders but
also the ability to function adequately, have
satisfactory interpersonal relations, remain
emotionally stable and core adaptively with the
daily hassles of life as well as other stressors.

4. Mental Health
• Mental health includes well being in 3 domains
Cognitive
(thinking)
Emotional
(feeling)
Behavioural
(behaving)

5. Factors in Mental Health
• Being physically active
• Mindfulness, healthy sleep patterns
• Good working conditions
• Healthy eating pattern
• Regular physical activity
• Social interactions
• Access to supportive services
• Healthy family, school, work and
relationships
• Developing personal skills
(resilience)
• Strengthening social and emotional
skills
Factors that promote
positive mental health
• Unemployment
• Poor diet
• Lack of physical activity
• Family violence or trauma
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Childhood abuse, trauma or neglect
• Social isolation or loneliness
• Experiencing discrimination and/or
stigma
• Stressful life events
• Poor physical health
• Poverty and poor living conditions
Factors that weaken
mental health

6. Mental Illness
• Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in
emotion, thinking or behaviour (or a combination of these).
• Mental illnesses can be associated with distress and/or
problems functioning in social, work or family activities.
• Examples of Mental Illness include depression, anxiety
disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive
behaviours.

7. Concepts of Mental Illness
There are various factors (either alone or in combination)
that can cause or predispose a person to mental illness.
Biological
factors
• Genetics
• Brain chemistry
(neurotransmitte
rs imbalance)
• Perinatal factors
(e.g., neonatal
hypoxia)
• Brain defects or
trauma (e.g.,
vitamin
deficiency,
Infections)
Psychological
factors
• Severe childhood
trauma
(emotional,
physical and
sexual)
• Early loss of
parents
• Bereavement
• Marital discord
• Interpersonal
relations problems
• Dysfunctional
family
Social
factors
• Substance use
• Social Crisis
• Disasters
(tsunami,
COVID-19
pandemic)
• Unemployment
and poverty

8. Myths and Facts related to
Mental Illness
MYTH FACT
Mental health issues
can’t affect me.
Mental health issues can
affect anyone.
Children don’t
experience mental
health issues.
Even very young children
may show early warning
signs of mental health
concerns which are often
clinically diagnosable.

9. Myths and Facts related to
Mental Illness
MYTH FACT
It is impossible to
prevent a mental
health condition.
Prevention of
mental, emotional,
and behavioural
disorders is possible

10. Myths and Facts related to Mental Illness
MYTH FACT
If a person has a
mental health
condition, it means the
person has low
intelligence
Mental illness, like physical
illness, can affect anyone
regardless of intelligence,
social class, or income
level.
Take care of your
mental health is
important, only if you
have a mental health
condition.
Everyone can benefit from
taking active steps to
promote their well-being
and improve their mental
health.

11. Myths and Facts related to
Mental Illness
MYTH FACT
Teenagers just
have mood swings
caused by
hormonal
fluctuations and
act out due to
desire for
attention.
Teenagers often have
mood swings, but that
does not mean that
adolescents may not also
struggle with their mental
health. Half of all mental
health conditions start by
the age of 14.

12. Broad Classification of Mental Illness
• Common mental health problems-These include
depression and anxiety disorders such as generalised
anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive
disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Other
common mental health problems include phobias
about a specific thing.
•Severe mental health problems-These include
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder
and major depressive disorder. These disorders result in
functional impairment which substantially interferes
with or limits one or more major life events.

13. Mental Health Disorders in Children &
Adolescents.
•Worldwide 10-20% of children and
adolescents experience mental disorders.
• Half of all mental illnesses begin by the age
of 14 and three-quarters by mid-20s.

14. If untreated, these conditions severely influence
children’s development, their educational
attainments and their productive lives.
Children with mental disorders face major
challenges with stigma, isolation and
discrimination, as well as lack of access to health
care and education facilities, in violation of their
fundamental human rights.

15. Contd….
The most common childhood mental disorders
are anxiety disorders, Phobic Disorder, depression,
and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Although less common, developmental disorders
and psychotic disorders in children can have a
lifelong impact on the child and his or her family.

16. Poor school performance
Persistent boredom
WARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL
DISORDER IN CHILDREN

17. Frequent complaints of physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomach
aches;
Sleep and/or appetite problems like sleeping too much or too
little, nightmares or sleepwalking

18. Behaviors returning to those of a younger age
(regressing), like bedwetting throwing tantrums, or
becoming clingy;

19. Bullying

20. Sudden change in their feelings (e.g., a
child may show signs of feeling unhappy,
worried, guilty, angry, fearful, hopeless or
rejected)

21. Contd…
Started avoiding places or situations that others don’t routinely avoid
Shown little regard for the feelings or property of others
Expressed disgust over their weight, or changed how they eat, in
unhealthy ways

22. More risk-taking behaviors and/or showing less
concern for their own safety.

23. Contd….
Making odd or repetitive
movements beyond regular
playing

24. Difficulty in social interaction

25. Conti………

26. Difficulty in communication

28. Abnormal or repetitious behavior

32. Deliberately hurt themselves or talked of suicide

33. Using alcohol or drugs more often

34. Mobile Addiction

35. Acting anxious or agitated
Changing eating and/or sleeping habits

36. Make careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or during other activities
Have problems sustaining attention in tasks or play, including
conversations, lectures, or lengthy reading

37. Not seem to listen when spoken to directly
Not follow through on instructions and fail to finish schoolwork,
chores or start tasks but quickly lose focus and get easily sidetracked

38. Treatment Modalities
Psychotropic
drugs
Electroconvulsiv
e therapy (ECT)
Psychotherapy Behaviour
therapy
Cognitive Behaviour
therapy
Milieu
therapy
Family
therapy
Recreation
al therapy
Art
therapy
Occupationa
l therapy
Yoga and
meditati
on
Complementary
and alternative
medicine

39. Discussion
Talk to us ………….. If you have any problem

41. We are Sure that you will agree that- Learning
something in general and studying for an exam are two
very different things.
The thought of board exams might make you feel tense
& stressed leading to anxiety

42. The key to handling exam stress is to understand
the process, do all you can, and avoid worry
Stressing out reduces your mental capabilities
If you're relaxed, the conscious and subconscious
parts of your mind interact better, reducing the
risk of mistakes

43. Revision tips
•Time Table
•Writing Practice
•Different Subjects
•Spend as much timeon recall as on
reading.
•Practice by writing answers as you would do in exam
•Practice writing answers under exam conditions.

44. Time out
To prevent mental fatigue, take a short break as soon
as you notice your mind is losing concentration.
It is important to relax. Your mind and body perform
at their best only if you get adequate rest.
Go for a walk, talk to a positive friend or just listen to
some Soft music. This way you will feel refreshed and
able to concentrate on your revision again.

45. For every hour take a 10 or 15 minute break. This
gives your brain a little rest and will help keep you
more focused when you are actually doing work.

46. The power of positive thinking
Spend time with people who have a positive effect.
Avoid negative thoughts, such as 'Everyone else
seems better organized, while I'm struggling.'
 Challenge such thoughts with positive thinking; for
example, 'I have done well in exams before.'

47.  Maintain a regular sleep pattern.
A regular seven hours to eight hours of sleep is
mandatory for the body to function well.
Also, sleep at a regular time; Don’t alter your
sleeping cycle.
Sleep

48. What to eat
 The nutrients will help your brain stay sharp.
 Don't drink too much coffee, tea or fizzy drinks.
 Caffeine will keep you up and reduce the clarity of
your thinking.

49. No distractions
 Keep all unimportant issues at bay.
 Stick to activities that do not break your study
continuum.

50. Practice Relaxation Techniques

51. Believe in yourself

52. Don’t just worry – take action!
 If you don't understand some of your subject , getting
stressed out won't help.
 Instead, take action by seeing and talking to your teacher
/facilitator or asking your class mates to help you understand
the problem.

53. Talk to a friend

54. Don’t put yourself under too much
pressure
Give your 100% and enjoy the
preparation for success.

55. Play is as important as work.
 Make sure that you build in time to have fun
and relax in between study sessions.
 Develop a timetable so that you can track and
monitor your progress.

56. A change is as good as a rest.
Experiment with several alternative revision
techniques so that revision is more fun and
your motivation to study is high.

57. 
 Index cards, mind maps and notes
 Use these to record key points Incorporate pictures,
color, highlighting





Learning posters and visual material Use pattern,
color, symbols and drawings Cover key points & topics
Develop diagrams for your subject if relevant
Pin them up where you’ll see them often

58. Key words, phrases, themes or concepts
Usethe topic introductions, summaries, key
questions to discover what’s key in each
block
Usetwo or three sentences to define,add
course example and diagram if relevant

59. Summary tables or grids
Teach someone
Teach a topic to a fellow student or a
friend
Thinking it through is effective revision
Fill in the gaps in your knowledge as
you identify them

60. 
Reinforce your memory
As you end a revision session, review key
points
Review again regularly

61. Cue Cards
Note/cue cards are always handy for when you're out
and about. List definitions and rules you need to know.
Or write key words from which you can fill in the gaps
to tell the whole story.

62. Mini Revision Booklet

Take the topic heading for your subject and a few pieces of
paper and then attempt to write concise summaries
containing key information under each. This is a useful way
to see what you know and create a resource that is easy to
understand- HOWEVER….

63. Mini Revision Booklet
It is important that this is done completely from memory
towards the end of your revision. Point you miss out can be
put in an appendix section points to remember. Don't
forget your not writing a book this should use up no more
than 10 A4 sheets (both sides)

64. Give your body a workout (as well as
your mind).
Regular moderate exercise such as a
brisk walk, swim or session in the gym
will boost your energy, clear your mind
and help reduce any feelings of stress.

65. The place you study-
Should be
1Comfortable
2 Away from distractions
3-Properly lighted
4-Airy
Ideally it should be a study table-where you can
both read and write and keep all referral
materials and water bottle/glass are in reach and
the place should receive sufficient light to avoid
strain
(Avoid studying in the bed or sofa-Avoid lying
down and studying-we are preparing for board
exams and not going through a comic-right?)

66.  Wear Comfortable
clothes
Don’t wear tight , figure
hugging dress when you
are studying


(Choose dress according to climate)

67. 
It's natural to feel some exam nerves prior to starting
the exam and that can be a positive and motivating
feeling. However, getting excessively nervous is
counterproductive as it hinders your ability to think
clearly.

68. The quickest and most effective way of
eliminating feelings of stress and panic is to close
your eyes and take several long, slow deep
breaths. Breathing in this way calms your whole
nervous system.

69. blank?
If your mind goes blank, don't panic - it just makes it harder
to recall information.
Instead, focus on slow, deep breathing for about one
minute.
If you still can't remember the information then move on
to another question and return to this question later

70.  Don't spend time focusing where you think
you went wrong.
 Often we are our own harshest critics.
 Congratulate yourself for the things you did
right, learn from the bits where you know you
could have done better

71. Stress actually is contagious. During exam
week, resist the urge to have a study session with
your super-tense friend, especially if he/she’s
complaining about all the work (study)he/she has
to do and breaking pencils all over the place.
His/her stress will only add to your stress.

72. Resist the urge. Say no to the
distractions and be selfish for few days.
You want a good Grade/Percentage,
right?

73. YOU MAY WANT
TO ASK…???

74.  On the day of exams, difficult as it may be, you
need to make sure you wake refreshed.
 Try to get a good night's sleep before.
 Try a warm bath and a small carbohydrates
snack and may be a biscuit and hot
chocolate before you go to bed.
 Set your alarm, and have a family member
agree to wake you so you don't worry.
 Have a small breakfast, your brain will
work better with food

75.  Try practicing writing at home, or doing simple
stretching and relaxing
 Food diet and rest are important.
 Dehydration is also bad for cramps.

76. If your mind goes blank, write some
notes in the side or on a spare sheet of
paper, in a word association manner to
jog your memory about topics related to
the question.
If you really can't focus and you
have the option, change to a different
question and then come back

77. Wish you all the Best for Your Exams.
We are sure that you will come out with flying colors
and do your
School, Teachers and Parents
Proud