Mental Health Flashcards
What main social determinants increase likelihood of suffering from mental health illness?
Which groups are marginalized and experience a higher risk of experiencing mental health illness?
What is the difference between mental health and mental ilness?
“Mental health” is a concept similar to “physical health”: it refers to a state of well-being. Mental health includes our emotions, feelings of connection to others, our thoughts and feelings, and being able to manage life’s highs and lows.
The presence or absence of a mental illness is not a predictor of mental health; someone without a mental illness could have poor mental health, just as a person with a mental illness could have excellent mental health.
Problematic substance use is sometimes linked to poor mental health or mental illness; it can be a coping strategy for untreated trauma, pain, challenging thoughts or emotions, or other health symptoms.
What are the main causes of mental illness?
Mental illnesses are caused by a complex interplay of genetic, biological, personality and environmental factors.
Life events such as violence and trauma during childhood or adulthood can give rise to mental health and substance use problems if supports for recovery are not available or sought.
Environmental factors play an important role in our mental health: access to safe and affordable housing, meaningful education and employment, leisure activities, the support of a community, access to land and nature, freedom from violence, and good access to health care and mental health services all support good mental health.
What environmental factors impact mental health?
Environmental factors play an important role in our mental health: access to safe and affordable housing, meaningful education and employment, leisure activities, the support of a community, access to land and nature, freedom from violence, and good access to health care and mental health services all support good mental health.
What systemic inequalities can further increase risk and severity of mental health and illness?
Mental illness affects people of all ages, education, income levels, and cultures; however, systemic inequalities such as racism, poverty, homelessness, discrimination, colonial and gender-based violence, among others, can worsen mental health and symptoms of mental illness, especially if mental health supports are difficult to access.
What is the age by which symptoms of mental illness present in most individuals?
When it comes to mental illness, youth is a critical period: most people living with a mental illness see their symptoms begin before age 18.
By the age of 40, what percentage of the Canadian population will have or have had a mental illness?
By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness.
What was the estimated economic cost of mental health care in Canada for 2021?
The economic cost of mental illnesses to the Canadian healthcare and social support system was projected as $79.9 billion for the year 2021.
Stress can affect brain…
Size, structure, and how it functions
Which stress hormone negatively impacts brain
function?
Cortisol
Chronic stress can impair…
Learning, memories, stress control.
Changes in brain structure include…
-shrinkage
-loss of synaptic connections betwen neurons,
-Fewer new brain cells being made in the hippocampus.
Anxiety is a very…. and… emotion.
real and normal
In which area of the brain does anxiety originate?
Amygdla
Which part of the brain is higher functioning and tries to keep anxiety in check?
Prefrontal cortex.
What are the symptoms of depression related to feelings, thoughts and behaviors.
Feelings - Nearly constant feelings of sadness, anger, guilt hopelessness.
Behaviours - Social withdrawl, lack of energy, low motivation, poor concentration, sleep problems, changes in appitite.
Thoughts - Poor self esteem, thoughts of sueside and loss of interest in regular activities.
What is trauma?
Any event that happens, makes you so upset that it overwhelms you
It’s how you are responding to the event
Literally changes the brain – imprints on the brain and rewires the brain as if you are still in danger
How can trauma impact with the “animal brain” for survival
Fight-flight
Shut down and cannot engage, learn, see other’s point of view, coordinate thoughts with thinking
Challenges in experiencing joy
Changes in hormones, immune system long-term physiological health
In what groups of people might trauma be more prevalent?
Groups recognized as being oppressed immigrants, BIPOC, LGBTQ2+, low SES…
What is the scientific name for our inner voice?
Verbal working memory system
What are the main functions of our inner voice?
Simulate and plan
Self control
Storify our lives
How does our inner voice negatively impact mental health?
By keeping the stress response activated with our thought patterns, how can this impact our health?
-Rumination (Chatter)
-Makes it hard to focus
-Creates problems in relationships
-Makes us irritible (displaced aggression)
-Cronicly ellavated stress has physical effects on our bodies. (cardiovascular deseas, inflimation, sometimes cancer.)
