UNIT

2:
MODULE 7:
Mental Health
and Well-
Being in
Middle and
Late
Adolescence
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the module, learners will be able
to:
1. interpret the concepts of mental health and
psychological well-being in everyday observations
about mental health problems during adolescence,
2. identify their own vulnerabilities, and
3. create a plan to stay mentally healthy during
adolescence.
L
HEALT
H
TRUE or
FALSE
1. One person in every 100 persons develops
schizophrenia.
2. A person who has one or both parents with
mental illness is more likely to develop
mental illness.
3. Mental illness is contagious.
4. Mental illness tends to begin during
adolescence.
5. Poor parenting causes schizophrenia.
6. Illegal drug use causes mental illness.
7. Mental illness can be cured with
willpower.
8. People with mental illness never get
better.
9. People with mental illness tend to be
violent.
10. All homeless people are mentally ill.
11. Developmental disabilities are a form
of mental illness.
12. Poor people are more likely to have
mental illness than those who are not.
ANSWERS
1. One person in every 100 persons develops
schizophrenia.
TRUE. One per cent of the general population develops schizophrenia.

2. A person who has one or both parents with

mental illness is more likely to develop mental
illness.
TRUE. Mental illness can be hereditary. For example, the rate of schizophrenia in the general
population is one percent. This rate rises to eight per cent if one parent has the disorder and to
37–46 percent if both parents have it. One in 10 people in the general population has experienced
depression, compared to one in four for people whose parents have experienced depression.
3. Mental illness is contagious.
FALSE . Mental illness is not contagious. Heredity can, and often does, play a factor in the
development of the disease.

4. Mental illness tends to begin during

adolescence.
TRUE . The first episode of a mental illness often occurs between the ages of 15 and 30
years. Early intervention is currently thought to be one of the most important factors
related to recovery from mental illness. Embarrassment, fear, peer pressure and stigma
often prevent young people from seeking out help.
5. Poor parenting causes schizophrenia.
FALSE. Childhood abuse or neglect does not cause mental illnesses such as
schizophrenia. However, stressful or abusive environments may seriously impair a
person’s ability to cope with and later manage the illness.

6. Illegal drug use causes mental illness.

TRUE and FALSE. Alcohol and other drugs sometimes play a role in the development of
some symptoms and disorders, but do not usually cause the illness. However, long-term
drug and alcohol use can lead to the development of drug-induced psychosis, which has
many of the same symptoms of organic mental illness. Alcohol and drugs are often used
as a means to cope with the illness, although using alcohol and drugs can make the
symptoms of mental illness
worse.
7. Mental illness can be cured with
willpower.
FALSE. Mental illness is associated with chemical imbalances in the
brain and requires a comprehensive treatment plan.

8. People with mental illness never get

better.
FALSE. With the right kind of help, many people with a mental illness do recover and go on
to lead healthy, productive and satisfying lives. While the illness many not go away, the
symptoms associated with it can be controlled. This usually allows the person to regain
normal functioning. Medication, counseling and psychosocial rehabilitation are treatment
options that can help people recover from mental illness.
9. People with mental illness tend to be
violent.
FALSE. People who experience a mental illness acutely sometimes behave very differently
from people who do not. While some of their behaviors may seem bizarre, people with
mental illness are not more violent than the rest of the population.

10. All homeless people are mentally ill.

FALSE. Although studies have shown that between 17 and 70 percent of people who are
homeless have mental illnesses, it is clear that being homeless doesn’t automatically
indicate a mental illness.
11. Developmental disabilities are a form
of mental illness.
FALSE. Mental illness is often confused with developmental disabilities, even though the
two conditions are quite different. Mental illness does not affect an individual’s intellectual
capacity, whereas developmental disabilities do. However, people with developmental
disabilities are more susceptible to developing mental illness.

12. Poor people are more likely to have

mental illness than those who are not.
FALSE. Income is not a factor in overall rates of mental health problems. However, people
with lower incomes experience slightly higher rates of depression. People who live with
major mental illnesses often end up in lower social classes because the illness may
interfere with their ability to hold a job.
 CHANGE
YOUR MIND
ABOUT
MENTAL
HEALTH
MENTAL HEALTH
It’s the way your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors affect
your life. Good mental health leads to positive self-image
and in-turn, satisfying relationships with friends and
others. Having good mental health helps you make good
decisions and deal with life’s challenges at home, work, or
school. It is not uncommon for teenagers to develop
problems with their mental health. Problems can range
from mild to severe, and can include depression, anxiety,
body esteem issues, and suicide, among others.
Unfortunately, most young people with mental health problems
don’t get any treatment for them.

Research shows that effective treatments are available that can

help members of all racial, ethnic, and cultural groups. If you
broke your leg or came down with pneumonia, you wouldn’t let it
go untreated. Often however, young people ignore mental health
problems thinking they will “snap out of it,” or that they are
something to be ashamed of. That kind of thinking prevents
people from getting the help they need. Sometimes getting help is
a matter of understanding mental health issues and changing
your mind about them.
Activity: MEDIA MOTIVES
The activity in this lesson is intended to make students dig deeply
at media advertisements so they are more critical of what they are
seeing and less apt to internalize the messages. Advertisers have
developed a multi-billion dollar industry to convince consumers
that we need to buy their products. In this lesson, we are going to
examine the advertising methods that are used. Body image can
be a sensitive topic to many individuals, so it is important that
others be respectful to emotions and feelings that may arise.
1. What type of product or service is featured in your ad?
2. What approach has the advertiser used to promote or sell this
product or service? Here are some of the methods that
advertisers use to attract consumer:
• Sex Appeal
• Join the bandwagon: Everyone is getting one!
• Highest quality available
• Financial plans/Installment Incentives
• Negative Advertising
• Home style or Traditional
• We Try Harder
• Best Value
• New & Improved
• Name Brands & Logos
• Health & Safety
3. What message does this ad give the consumer?
4. How would you define or describe this approach to
advertising?
5. Do you think that this approach is effective advertising
for the product? Why or why not?
6. In what ways, if any, could any part of this
advertisement impact a person’s body image? (e.g. you
could take into consideration: the product itself, the
models selling it, the way it is being presented, etc.)
 Additional Information: Strategies for Becoming a Critical
Viewer of the Media
Media messages about body shape and size will affect the way
we feel about ourselves and our bodies, only if we let them.
One of the ways we can protect our self-esteem and body
image from the media’s narrow definitions of beauty is to
become a critical viewer of the media messages we are
bombarded with each day. When we effectively recognize and
analyze the media messages that influence us, we remember
that the media’s definitions of beauty and success do not have
to define our self-image or potential.
Remember:
 All media images and messages are constructions. They are
NOT reflections of reality. Advertisements and other media
messages have been carefully crafted with the intent to send a
very specific message.
 Advertisements are created to do one thing: convince you to
buy or support a specific product or service.
 To convince you to buy a specific product or service,
advertisers will often construct an emotional experience that
looks like reality. Remember that you are only seeing what the
advertisers want you to see.
 Advertisers create their message based on what they think
you will want to see and what they think will affect you and
compel you to buy their product. Just because they think their
approach will work with people like you doesn’t mean it has to
work with you as an individual.
 As individuals, we decide how to experience the media
messages we encounter. We can choose to use a filter that
helps us understand what the advertiser wants us to think or
believe and then choose whether we want to think or believe
that message. We can choose a filter that protects our self-
esteem and body image.
SELF ESTEEM AND BODY ESTEEM
Does any of this sound familiar? "I'm too tall." "I'm too
short." "I'm too skinny." "If only I were shorter or taller; had
curly hair or straight hair; had a smaller nose; or had longer
legs, I'd be happy."

Are you putting yourself down? If so, you're not alone. As a

teen, you're going through lots of changes in your body. And, as
your body changes, so does your image of yourself. It's not
always easy to like every part of your looks, but when you get
stuck on the negatives it can really bring down your self-
esteem.
Why Are Self-Esteem and Body Image Important?
Self-esteem is all about how much you feel you are worth —
and how much you feel other people value you.
Self-esteem is important because feeling good about yourself
can affect your mental health and how you behave.

People with high self-esteem know themselves well. They're

realistic and find friends that like and appreciate them for who they
are. People with high self-esteem usually feel more in control of
their lives and know their own strengths and weaknesses.
Body image is how you view your physical self
— including whether you feel you are attractive
and whether others like your looks. For many
people, especially people in their early teens, body
image can be closely linked to self-esteem.
 What Influences a
Person's Self-Esteem?
1. Puberty and Development
Some people struggle with their self-esteem and
body image when they begin puberty because it's a
time when the body goes through many changes.
These changes, combined with wanting to feel
accepted by our friends, means it can be tempting to
compare ourselves with others. The trouble with that
is, not everyone grows or develops at the same time
or in the same way.
2. Media Images and Other Outside Influences
Our tweens and early teens are a time when we
become more aware of celebrities and media images
— as well as how other kids look and how we fit in.
We might start to compare ourselves with other
people or media images ("ideals" that are frequently
airbrushed). All of this can affect how we feel about
ourselves and our bodies even as we grow into our
teens.
3. Families and School
Family life can sometimes influence our body image. Some parents or
coaches might be too focused on looking a certain way or "making weight"
for a sports team. Family members might struggle with their own body image
or criticize their kids' looks ("why do you wear your hair so long?" or "how
come you can't wear pants that fit you?"). This can all influence a person's
self-esteem, especially if they're sensitive to others peoples' comments.

People also may experience negative comments and hurtful teasing about
the way they look from classmates and peers. Although these often come
from ignorance, sometimes they can affect body image and self-esteem.
Common Eating
Disorders
1. Anorexia
People with anorexia have a real fear of weight gain and a
distorted view of their body size and shape. As a result, they eat very
little and can become dangerously underweight. Many teens with
anorexia restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting, or excessive
exercise. They hardly eat at all — and the small amount of food they
do eat becomes an obsession in terms of calorie counting or trying to
eat as little as possible.
Others with anorexia may start binge eating and purging —
eating a lot of food and then trying to get rid of the calories by making
themselves throw up, using some type of medication or laxatives, or
exercising excessively, or some combination of these.
2. Bulimia
Bulimia is similar to anorexia. With bulimia, people might
binge eat (eat to excess) and then try to compensate in extreme
ways, such as making themselves throw up or exercising all the
time, to prevent weight gain. Over time, these steps can be
dangerous — both physically and emotionally. They can also lead
to compulsive behaviors (ones that are hard to stop).
To have bulimia, a person must be binging and purging
regularly, at least once a week for a couple of months. Binge eating
is different from going to a party and "pigging out" on pizza, then
deciding to go to the gym the next day and eat more healthfully.
 People with bulimia eat a large amount of food (often junk food)
at once, usually in secret. Sometimes they eat food that is not cooked
or might be still frozen, or retrieve food from the trash. They typically
feel powerless to stop the eating and can only stop once they're too
full to eat any more, or they may have to go to extreme measures (like
pouring salt all over a dessert to make it inedible) in order to get
themselves to stop eating. Most people with bulimia then purge by
vomiting, but also may use laxatives or excessive exercise.
Although anorexia and bulimia are very similar, people with
anorexia are usually very thin and underweight, but those with bulimia
may be an average weight or can be overweight.
PORTFOLIO OUTPUT NO. 12:
Media Influences(How Ads Affected My Self-Esteem)

Name some ads that appear on TV, billboards, the internet.

1. What messages do these ads give to middle
adolescents like you?
2. How have these ads affected your lifestyle, self-
esteem, and values?
3. How has this lesson changed your perception about
ads?
ANXIET
Y
DISODE
R
Activity: MENTAL HEALTH
CHALLENGES
INSTRUCTION: The class will be divided into 8 groups. Each
group will read the paragraph assigned to them. Using the
content in their paragraph, each group should create 4 - 5 bullets
or short sentences that describe the mental health challenge
assigned to their group. The list should also include some
positive aspect related to the challenge. Each group will be given
2-3 minutes to present to the class what they have learned about
their group's mental health challenge. List down all the positive
statement so that it is more visible and later when summarizing
students can visually see what may be a positive commonality
across all challenges.
1. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
ADHD is pretty common and can make it hard to focus and sit
still. ADHD makes it hard to finish things, and makes thoughts
jump around. Kids who have ADHD can learn to control their
thoughts and bodies by figuring out what helps them focus, or by
talking to a doctor or mental health professional. Some kids with
ADHD do better in school if they can do their work in a quiet
room. Sometimes medicine can help too. Even though having
ADHD can make some things harder, people who have ADHD are
just as smart as other people. They can still do well in school and
in life.
2. Anxiety (Panic Disorder)
Have you ever been really nervous? Maybe from a test, a speech, or a big
game? When you’re nervous, your heart starts pounding, you breathe fast,
or your stomach might feel funny. Feeling anxious and nervous is common.
But a person diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder will have these feelings
suddenly and often. These strong, sudden feelings of stress or fear are
called “panic attacks.” A panic attack can make your chest or stomach hurt,
your heart speed up, make you feel afraid, dizzy, or feel like you can’t
breathe.
Even kids can have panic attacks. People who have panic attacks
sometimes feel scared to go places because they are afraid of having an
attack. Their daily life can be scary, but they can get help, get better and be
okay.
3. Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder changes the way the brain understands
the world. People diagnosed with autism can have a hard time
talking about their feelings, understanding people’s actions, and
being social. They can also be very sensitive about being touched.
To a person diagnosed with autism, being hugged can be scary
and uncomfortable. Kids who have autism are just as smart as
other kids. They can be very good at things like math or music.
Just because some things are hard for kids with autism, they are
not acting mean or weird. Their brains just work in a different way.
They still make friends and learn how to work and play with others.
4. Bi-Polar Disorder
Everybody has feelings that change. When something good happens, you feel
happy. If something bad happens, you feel sad. Bi-polar disorder changes the
way people feel emotions. If people have bi-polar disorder, their emotions can
go from happy to sad very quickly. They can be very cheerful one moment, and
very angry, sad and tired the next moment. When people with bi-polar disorder
experience intense feelings of happiness it is called “mania.” They can’t think
clearly or sleep well, and they might do things without thinking about them first.
When people with bi-polar disorder feel intense sadness and tiredness, it is
called “depression.” Having bi-polar disorder can be very tiring and stressful.
Medication can help. Talking to a mental health professional, friends and family
can also help someone with bi-polar disorder learn how to manage feelings and
live a healthy life.
5. Depression
Depression is a mental health challenge that makes people feel very sad all
the time. It can change how you think, feel, and act. It can even make your
body feel sick too. A person diagnosed with depression can feel so sad that it
makes it hard to think clearly. Someone diagnosed with depression might feel
very sad every day or feel that nobody loves them. They might not want to do
things they used to think were fun. People diagnosed with depression may
not know why they feel so sad. Even if you have a good life, you can struggle
with depression. It is good to have family and close friends to talk to and help
when things are bad, and talking to a mental health professional about these
strong feelings can help. Depression can be very hard, but people with
depression can get better too, and learn how to enjoy life.
6. Eating Disorders
An eating disorder exists when a person's thoughts and behaviors are focused too much
on food and body weight. The person may worry about being "too fat." The person may
have a big fear of becoming obese. Yet, the person's weight may be quite healthy. Three
of the most common types of eating disorders are anorexia, bulimia, and extreme
overeating.
• Anorexia refers to weight loss that occurs from not eating.
• Bulimia refers to eating large amounts of food over a short period of time followed by
an attempt to get rid of the food. This getting rid of food is called "purging."
• Extreme overeating is marked by eating, and eating, and eating and then having
feelings of guilt and shame.
The important thing to remember is that having an eating disorder is about more than
body weight and food. Behind the problem we see is something bigger – a person's
sense of self-esteem, relationships, feelings, and how the person handles the stresses of
life. A medical doctor, a mental health professional and a nutritionist are important
helpers for this type of problem.
7. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Sometimes if you see or live through something very scary, you can
keep feeling afraid even after the scary part is over. It is normal to feel
afraid sometimes, but people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) feel scared even if they are safe and there is nothing to be afraid
of. Kids with PTSD might have very bad dreams that seem real or think
something bad is going to happen again. Even when they are safe, the
feelings of fear are very real. Talking to a mental health professional or
friends and family can help. It takes time and hard work, but kids who are
diagnosed with PTSD can learn ways to handle their fears and can live
healthy, happy lives.
8. Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia makes it hard for people to know what is real and what is
not real. Schizophrenia can make the brain think it sees or hears things
that aren’t really there. A person diagnosed with schizophrenia can also
start to think that people are trying to control them or read their minds.
Even though the things they see, hear, believe or feel might not be true,
their brains think they are real and true, and that can be very scary.
Having schizophrenia does not mean a person is violent or bad. Usually,
people do not get this illness until their late teens or early adulthood,
and there are ways to make their lives better, like therapy and
medication.
Processing:
1. What did you learn today about mental health challenges
that you did not know before this class began?
2. Are there any positive similarities across the different
challenges?
3. People facing mental health challenges are just like
everybody who wants to be a friend and have friends with;
helping people with mental health
challenges can get better and live normal lives.
Portfolio Output No. 13: Research on Anxiety Disorders /
Depression
Among the mental health challenges discussed in class, two of the most common
among middle adolescents are anxiety disorders and depression. Go to the Library or
browse the internet and do a research on either one of these. Look for the answers to
the following questions and put them in your portfolio:
1. What are anxiety disorders/depression?
2. Who gets anxiety disorders/depression and how common are they?
3. Describe some of the symptoms of anxiety disorders/depression.
4. List and briefly explain some of the main types of anxiety disorders/depression.
5. What type of treatment is available for people experiencing anxiety
disorders/depression?
6. What other kinds of support can help a person with anxiety disorders/depression
recover?
 MENTAL
HEALTH
ISSUES AND
STIGMA
MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
Having access to reliable information on positive
mental health and mental illness is crucial for adolescents
for a number of reasons.

Mental and emotional problems need to be addressed,

just like student’s physical health problems.

Even if students have not experienced mental illness,

it is very likely that they will know someone who has.
Consider the following statistics:
 Mental health problems affect one in five young people at any
given time.
 Mental illness is second only to heart disease as the leading
cause of disability worldwide.
 The first symptoms of mental illness generally appear between
the ages of 15– 24.
 An estimated 50% of young people with mental illness are not
getting help.
 Fear of stigma and the resulting discrimination discourages
individuals and families from getting the help they need.
An interesting fact is that 30% of people diagnosed with mental
illness will also have a substance use disorder.

When people have both, we call it a concurrent disorder. It is often

difficult to predict why someone with a mental health problem is
“using”.

Sometimes drug use is a form of self-medication for mental health

problems, other times the substance use might have caused the
mental health problem. Regardless what the reason, using drugs
is not a good thing to do!
The cause of mental illness is often very complex. The stress-vulnerability
theory explains why someone develops a mental illness:

Vulnerability: There is a genetic characteristic to mental illness, but just

because a family member has a mental health problem, it doesn’t mean that
you will too. Sometimes mental illness happens right “out of the blue”.

Stress: Stress can trigger the development of a mental illness, but stress
alone doesn’t cause the mental illness unless you have a vulnerability gene.
Causes of stress can be varied, sometimes a change in environment, e.g.,
where you live or the school you attend, or even psychological trauma, e.g.,
exposure to teasing/bullying, other violence or abuse.
Activity 2: SUICIDE PREVENTION

Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people

ages 15-24. At least 90% of those who die by suicide have a
mental illness. If a friend mentions thoughts of suicide or
self-harm, you NEED to tell an adult. This may be a parent,
teacher or a guidance counselor. It’s better to have a friend
who is angry with you than to keep their secret and live with
knowing you could have helped but remained silent when
your friend was in trouble.
Here’s a scenario: “Your friend isn’t acting like his old self.
He seems really down and has been doing strange things
like giving his favorite things away. He recently told you
that he thought the people he knew would be better off
without him around and that he’s thought of killing himself.
After he tells you, he asks you not to tell anyone else about
what he has said.”
1. Do you think he has a mental health problem?
2. Is he in trouble?
3. What should you do?
 SUPPORT STRATEGIES/COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES
Here are some strategies for supporting someone with mental health concerns:
 Encourage the person to seek help and support from an adult.
 Spend time with the person, listen to his/her concerns.
 Be hopeful; help them feel like their life will get better.
 Stand by them. Invite your friend to things that you are doing; keeping busy and
staying in touch with friends will help your friend feel better, when they are ready.
 Learn as much as you can about mental illness so that you understand what is going
on for them.
 If you are a close friend or family member of someone with a mental health problem,
make sure that you get help as well. Talk to someone about what is happening. This
will help you be a better support person.
 Put the person’s life before your friendship. If the person mentions thoughts of
suicide, don’t keep it secret, even if the person has asked you to.
HELP HOW-TO’S
 First Step, Reach Out To People You Trust
Sometimes people don’t get the help they need because
they don’t know where to turn. When you’re not feeling well, it
can be a struggle to take the necessary steps to help yourself
get better.
When dealing with mental health or emotional problems,
it’s important not to go at it alone. Healing is a combination of
helping yourself and letting others help you. Comfort and
support, information and advice, and professional treatment are
all forms of help.
Think of all the people you can turn to for support. These are people who are
concerned about you and can help comfort you, who will listen to you and encourage
you, and who can help arrange for treatment. In other words, find caring people in
your life who can help you.
These people might include:
 friends
 parents and other family members
 someone who seems “like a parent” to you
 other adults whose advice you would value—perhaps a favorite teacher or
coach, a member of your church or other place of worship, or a good friend’s
parent.

Research shows that males are more reluctant to look for help and receive it than females are.
While some people may have difficulty reaching out to others they trust, taking the first step in
getting help is important for everyone to do.
 Second Step, Take Action
The more you know, the easier it is
Libraries are an excellent source of information about mental
health. Bookstores often have “self-help” or “psychology” sections.
For those with Internet access, there are many websites
related to health and mental health. Some are better in quality than
others. It is important to know if the information on a site comes
from sources you can trust. Use caution whenever you’re sharing or
exchanging information online: there’s a chance that it will not be
kept private.
Nothing is worse than nothing
The consequences of not getting help for mental
health problems can be serious. Untreated problems
often continue and become worse, and new problems
may occur. For example, someone with panic attacks
might begin drinking too much alcohol with the
mistaken hope that it will help relieve his or her
emotional pain.
It’s All in the Attitude
There are many reasons why people do not get help
for mental health problems. Fear, shame, and
embarrassment often prevent individuals and their
families from doing anything.
Sometimes being able to get the help, support, and
professional treatment you need is a matter of changing
your mind about mental health and changing the way you
react to mental health problems.
Here are some important reminders:
 Mental health is as important as physical health. In fact, the two
are closely linked.
 Mental health problems are real, and they deserve to be treated.
 It’s not a person’s fault if he or she has a mental health problem.
No one is to blame.
 Mental health problems are not a sign of weakness. They are not
something you can “just snap out of” even if you try.
 Whether you’re male or female, it’s ok to ask for help and get it.
 There’s hope. People improve and recover with the help of
treatment, and they are able to enjoy happier and healthier lives.
 Healthy
Living
and Mental
Health
 HEALTHY EATING AND MENTAL HEALTH
Healthy eating nourishes the body, including the brain, and
supports mental health through:
Improved overall health and vitality
Increased ability to concentrate
Reduced irritability and mood swings
Lowered risk of mental illness

There is some evidence that healthy eating may be a factor in

lowered risk of depression and improved ability to deal with stress
and anxiety (Healthy U Alberta, 2009).