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
