MENTAL HEALTH in Adolescence

Define mental health, mental health problems and mental disorder.  Describe the kind of mental disorders and other mental health problems that adolescent face
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Identify ways by which by which mental health problems in adolescents can be recognized and assessed  List ways of how service providers may appropriately respond to and help adolescent with mental health problems
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a state of well being characterized by one’s ability to function properly on account of one’s capacity to think rationally, exhibit appropriate behavior, and “feel good” about oneself

A health phenomenon where the individual is unable to function productively as a result of a disturbance in rational thinking that manifests itself in the way a person behaves.  The problem may come in different forms and may lead to emotional and thinking disturbance as a result of identity crisis, learning problems, poverty or other causes of stress
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A medically diagnosable illness that results in significant impairment of ones cognitive, affective or relational abilities and is equivalent to mental illness

Mild

Moderate

Severe

1. Usually shortlived; disappears w/ resolution of the problem 2. Verbalized worries 3. Temporary disorientation

1. Needs medical and psychological intervention and may take weeks to resolve 2. May be due to shock from an extremely unpleasant experience

1. Needs psychiatric interventions and longer time to resolve 2. Manifested in deviations it may lead to personality deterioration

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internalizing problems externalizing problems school attendance problem and underachievement suicidal thoughts identity problem mental disorders

may come saying that they are frightened, worried or feeling very miserable  may say that their thinking is not right and they cannot study properly  may be brought because they are behaving aggressively or strangely, or may have tried to harm themselves  may be saying that they wish they were dead, or even say they have thought of killing themselves.
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are often masked by ill-defines physical symptoms unexplained disorder which often does not make medical sense and which often takes the young person to many different service providers and healers looking for help  sleep problems or unexplained tiredness  feeling their hearts pounding, dizziness, trembling hands and sweating  headaches, eye aches, chest pains or abdominal pains  poor appetite and loss of weight
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running away signs that the young person has been having unprotected sex unwanted pregnancy drug abuse or alcohol intoxication or the after-effects of it anxiety, depression

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The following questions may help the parents/teachers or counselors assess whether to handle the situation on their own or to seek the assistance of a competent mental health professional.

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Does your child get easily rattled? Is she tense or high strung? When things go wrong, does the child get upset and nervous instead of thinking of a solution? Does the child often complain of body pains or discomfort that never seem to go away? Does the child have trouble making up his mind or making decisions Does the child check on things over and over again so that he ends up accomplishing nothing?

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Does the child play around with her food but consumes little? Is the child on a diet all the time? Does the child weigh herself several times a day? Does the child take laxatives? Does the child vomit or have the impulse to vomit after meals? Is the child’s menstrual period regular?

Does the child have fiery temper? Does the child get annoyed when corrected or when not given recognition after she has done something good?  Is the child easily irritated?  When the child is mad, does she say nasty things? Does she hurt herself or others physically?  Does the child find it hard to stick to rules when losing in a game?  Is the child always where the action is or is he always at the center of the action?
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Is the child’s grades declining?  Did the child change his set of friends?  Does the child receive phone calls that he can’t explain?  Has the child become careless about herself, her clothes, her things?
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Does the child indulge in high risk or socially inappropriate behavior such as:
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use of weapon suicidal behavior risky driving preoccupation with cults stealing lying cutting classes running away from home

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Does the child have trouble sleeping through the night? Has the child’s appetite for food changed? Does the child tire easily Is the child bored or dissatisfied? Is the child sad all the time ?

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Is the child discouraged about the future? Does the child hate herself Does the child blame herself for everything bad that happens? Does the child feel that the world will be better off without him?

Source : Parenting … A Special Job for Ordinary People By: Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists Association of the Philippines, Inc.

Intensity of the problem: whether the adolescent is, for instance, so depressed that he/she can hardly move or simply very sad  Duration of problem or symptom: been present for many months or is recent occurrence which may be transient
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Do not be afraid to probe for suicidal thoughts  Different ways of probing - if someone is miserable or sad ask “Do you sometimes feel that life is not worth living?” - if answer is “no” , you can ask:
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Frequency: does the problem/symptom or behavior occur everyday or only occasionally  Is there a trend? Is the difficulty gradually becoming worse, or does it appear to be staying the same  Is it tied to a life event or some kind of difficulty, or has it apparently come out of nowhere
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“Do you sometimes think you might be better of dead” or  (b) “ have you ever thought of ending your life?”

If answer is “yes”, you can ask:  (a) “have you thought how you might do it” or  (b) “have you ever made any preparation to harm yourself?” or  (c) “ have you ever deliberately harm yourself or tried to kill yourself?
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Psychological approaches Family Intervention including Counseling / Therapy Helping those who are suicidal or who want to harm themselves Medication Referral to a Specialist Facility Preventing Adolescent Mental Health Problems

Involve the young person in deciding the nature of the help and the way it is given, even if it involves taking medication  Get feedback from the adolescent; this shows respect  Let them know that you are interested in them as whole persons; do not just focus on a single symptom or behavior
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They need a confidential and welcoming environment in which to talk; this may mean giving them a chance to speak privately  They need to feel that you are someone they can trust
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Adolescence is a time when a lot of physical, mental and social changes are happening. Some find it hard to cope with these changes, hence they are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems.  There are various kinds of help that can be given to adolescents with mental health problems which may require psychological, behavioral, and biological approaches  Listening and giving friendly advice and support is one of the most important ways of helping adolescents with mental health problems
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Service providers must always be alert to the possibility that a physical complaint may be masking a psychological problem  Expressions of suicide or self-harm must always be taken seriously by the service providers  What matters most in the healing process and helping relationship is the trust between the young person and the service provider
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Supportive family, school and peer environment is very crucial in the assessment and treatment stages Expressions of suicide or self-harm must always be taken seriously by the service providers
Source : Adolescent Health ….. A Training Program for Health and Non-Health Service Providers Reproduced by World Health Organization

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Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting their eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.
Garrison Keillor Leaving Home, “Easter (1987)

THANK YOU