Mental HealthMental Health

Depression and AnxietyDepression and Anxiety

J Ferguson, S3 PSE, Cumnock AcademyJ Ferguson, S3 PSE, Cumnock Academy

Learning IntentionsLearning Intentions

In this lesson we learn In this lesson we learn about specific mental about specific mental health problems.health problems.

We will explore how We will explore how they affect people they affect people andand

We will discover how We will discover how to support the to support the recovery of people recovery of people with mental health with mental health problems.problems.

What is a panic attack?What is a panic attack?

Thousands of years ago Thousands of years ago humans lived with humans lived with constant threat of attack, constant threat of attack, from members of other from members of other tribes or from wild tribes or from wild animals.animals.

When attacked, humans When attacked, humans either had to run or fight.either had to run or fight.

The body’ response to The body’ response to this is called the fight or this is called the fight or flight mechanism and it’s flight mechanism and it’s this ancient this ancient programming that programming that causes panic.causes panic.

What is a panic attack?What is a panic attack? When our fight or flight When our fight or flight

response is triggered it response is triggered it causes lots of very quick causes lots of very quick changes in the body, much changes in the body, much of them caused by a huge of them caused by a huge release of adrenaline. release of adrenaline.

Our heart beats faster and Our heart beats faster and our breathing increases to our breathing increases to get more oxygen to our get more oxygen to our muscles, we may start to muscles, we may start to shake or our muscles get shake or our muscles get twitchy to prepare us for twitchy to prepare us for actionaction

Panic attacks are when this Panic attacks are when this happens and we are NOT happens and we are NOT under threat!under threat!

What is a panic attack?What is a panic attack?

The feeling of being The feeling of being sweaty, feeling sweaty, feeling dizzy, distorted dizzy, distorted vision or being sick vision or being sick are all symptoms of are all symptoms of a panic attack.a panic attack.

Panic attacks can be Panic attacks can be really frightening really frightening when they first when they first happen and happen and sometimes it even sometimes it even feels like you are feels like you are going to die.going to die.

What is a panic attack? What is a panic attack? – the facts– the facts

Panic attacks are very Panic attacks are very common (about 1 in 3 common (about 1 in 3 Scots has one panic Scots has one panic episode per year).episode per year).

Panic attacks are Panic attacks are healthy bodily reactions healthy bodily reactions but just in the wrong but just in the wrong situations.situations.

They can be conquered They can be conquered with some simple steps.with some simple steps.

They are not the signs of They are not the signs of a heart attack and they a heart attack and they CANNOT kill you.CANNOT kill you.

Further information: Further information: www.panic-attacks.co.ukwww.panic-attacks.co.uk

Panic attacks continued Watch the following 2 clips about

panic attacks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UysGYkv4Fpc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bORorxMt6rY

DEPRESSION

Depression is the most common Depression is the most common mental illness and is experienced mental illness and is experienced by more than one in six of the by more than one in six of the population at some time in their population at some time in their lives.lives.

www.wellscotland.info The website for the Scottish www.wellscotland.info The website for the Scottish Executive’s National Programme for Improving Mental Executive’s National Programme for Improving Mental

Health and Well-beingHealth and Well-being

What is depression?What is depression?

We all feel down sometimes We all feel down sometimes and may say we are and may say we are depressed, however depressed, however depression is more serious depression is more serious than just experiencing than just experiencing everyday ups and downs.everyday ups and downs.

When we experience When we experience depression we feel bad depression we feel bad about ourselves and about about ourselves and about everything around us. We everything around us. We experience very deep experience very deep feelings of despair and feelings of despair and anxiety.anxiety.

What is depression?What is depression? We may feel useless or We may feel useless or

worthless or numb and worthless or numb and empty. We may empty. We may experience loss of experience loss of appetite, aches and appetite, aches and pains, disrupted sleep, pains, disrupted sleep, poor concentration.poor concentration.

Everyone is affected Everyone is affected differently by depression, differently by depression, some may be able to some may be able to continue with work and continue with work and school even though it school even though it requires a huge amount requires a huge amount of effort, others may be of effort, others may be overwhelmed with overwhelmed with feelings of despair and feelings of despair and may be suicidal.may be suicidal.

When to get help . . . .When to get help . . . . Feeling down is normal, Feeling down is normal,

especially after especially after experiencing loss or experiencing loss or when going through when going through difficult times.difficult times.

When depression When depression makes day to day living makes day to day living seem difficult or seem difficult or impossible, however, or impossible, however, or when feelings of when feelings of despair last longer than despair last longer than a few weeks, we should a few weeks, we should seek help in treating seek help in treating depression.depression.

DEPRESSION continued Watch the following clips about

depression:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1PPCzRkBKQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiS02j3zt68

Fact or FictionFact or Fiction

Next PPT…Next PPT…

J Ferguson, S3 PSE, Cumnock AcademyJ Ferguson, S3 PSE, Cumnock Academy

What can we What can we do?do? Depression is very Depression is very

common and there is a common and there is a wide range of support wide range of support available, including your available, including your GP.GP.

Information on local Information on local support groups, support groups, counselling services, stress counselling services, stress management courses, management courses, alternative therapy centres alternative therapy centres etc can be found in local etc can be found in local libraries, at healthy living libraries, at healthy living centres or on the Internet.centres or on the Internet.

For young people For young people www.talking2ourselves.cowww.talking2ourselves.comm

Medical Medical TreatmentTreatment

Most people seeking treatment Most people seeking treatment for depression will be treated for depression will be treated by their family doctor.by their family doctor.

He/she may prescribe anti-He/she may prescribe anti-depressants.depressants.

Anti-depressants alter the Anti-depressants alter the chemical balance in your brain chemical balance in your brain to improve mood.to improve mood.

They can give you valuable They can give you valuable ‘breathing space’, getting you ‘breathing space’, getting you to a level where you can to a level where you can function well enough to tackle function well enough to tackle the problems that may be the problems that may be causing the depression.causing the depression.

Your doctor may refer you to Your doctor may refer you to see a counsellor, psychologist see a counsellor, psychologist or other mental health or other mental health professional.professional.

Talking TherapiesTalking Therapies

A lot of people benefit A lot of people benefit from talking to a trained from talking to a trained counsellor or therapist counsellor or therapist and there are many and there are many different kinds of different kinds of therapies. therapies.

Some are about finding Some are about finding new ways to work new ways to work through problems and through problems and issues and some are issues and some are about looking at what about looking at what underlying issues may underlying issues may have caused the have caused the depression.depression.

ExerciseExercise

Exercise boosts our Exercise boosts our feel good hormones feel good hormones and general health and general health and with it our and with it our sense of self worth.sense of self worth.

In some areas of In some areas of the UK exercise is the UK exercise is ‘prescribed’ by GP’s ‘prescribed’ by GP’s for depression.for depression.

DietDiet

There are links There are links between between depression and depression and poor diet.poor diet.

Both diet and Both diet and exercise are part of exercise are part of generally looking generally looking after yourself, after yourself, which is particularly which is particularly important when important when you are depressed.you are depressed.

Self-esteem boosting Self-esteem boosting activitiesactivities

Taking part in activities Taking part in activities which make you feel good which make you feel good have a crucial role in have a crucial role in overcoming depression.overcoming depression.

Often people with Often people with depression are low in depression are low in confidence and have lost confidence and have lost their old social networks.their old social networks.

Making new friends, Making new friends, finding new interests, finding new interests, hobbies and passions all hobbies and passions all help boost self-esteem and help boost self-esteem and feelings of well-being and feelings of well-being and self-worth.self-worth.

Self HelpSelf Help

There are a huge There are a huge range of self help range of self help books, CDs, DVDs books, CDs, DVDs and on-line courses and on-line courses for overcoming for overcoming depression.depression.

The local library or The local library or Internet is a good Internet is a good place to start.place to start.

J Ferguson, S3 PSE, Cumnock AcademyJ Ferguson, S3 PSE, Cumnock Academy

How can we maintain How can we maintain good mental health?good mental health?

J Ferguson, S3 PSE, Cumnock AcademyJ Ferguson, S3 PSE, Cumnock Academy

Further information:Further information: