Understanding Mental Health: Exploring Difficulties and Effects

Understanding Mental Health: Exploring Difficulties and Effects

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to define mental health and mental ill-health, identify causes of mental health difficulties, and discuss the impact of mental ill health on individuals and society.

What do you already know about mental health?

What is Mental Health?

Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act.

Mental Ill-Health

Mental ill-health involves experiencing emotional, psychological, or social difficulties that impair daily functioning and well-being.

Causes of Mental Health Difficulties

1. Genetics 2. Traumatic life experiences 3. Biological factors 4. Substance abuse 5. Stress 6. Childhood trauma 7. Social isolation 8. Discrimination 9. Chronic medical conditions 10. Poor socioeconomic conditions

Depression

Depression is a common mental health condition characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, and feelings of worthlessness.

Anxiety and Social Anxiety

Anxiety involves excessive worry and fear, while social anxiety is an intense fear of social situations.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression).

Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Eating disorders involve disturbances in eating behavior, while body dysmorphic disorder is a preoccupation with perceived flaws in physical appearance.

Statistics in the UK

In the UK, 1 in 4 people experience mental ill-health each year, with depression and anxiety being the most common conditions.

Effects on Individuals

Mental ill-health can lead to decreased quality of life, impaired relationships, physical health issues, and reduced productivity.

Effects on Society

Mental ill-health contributes to increased healthcare costs, decreased workforce productivity, and social stigma.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.