THEME OF THE MONTH
October | Depression
What is it?
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It can be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person's daily activities.
Helplines
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 833-456-4566
Symptoms:
Feelings of sadness that include crying spells for no reason
Feeling hopeless or empty
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities
Low self-esteem
Fixation on past failures or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism
Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
Tiredness or loss of energy
Changes in appetite (can be weight loss or weight gain)
Social isolation
Self-harm
Use of alcohol or drugs
Statistics
It is estimated 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by mental illness or disorder
The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is 3.2 million
About 21% of people who have a substance abuse problem also experience depression
Globally more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression
Suicide is among the leading causes of death for 15-24 year olds in Canada
What is Depression?
Depression for Teens
5 Signs of Depression in Teens
NOVEMBER | Ptsd
What is it?
Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. For example: serious accidents, physical or sexual assault, abuse including childhood or domestic abuse.
SYMPTOMS
Hypervigilance
Flashbacks
Avoidance behaviours
Angry outbursts
Being irritable
Trouble sleeping
Nightmares
*It's important to note that symptoms differ for everyone... above are common symptoms*
wHAT IS ptsd?
Veterans Health Administration
The science behind ptsd
Ted Ed
COPING WITH PTSD
Psch2Go
December | Anxiety
What is it?
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes.
Helplines
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Mental Health Association - Manitoba Division: 204-982-6100
Anxiety Panic Disorder: https://anxietypanicsupport.com/
Symptoms
Recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns
Feeling nervous, restless and tense
Having a sense of impending doom or panic
Having an increased heart rate
Sweating, trembling, hyperventilation
Feeling weak or tired
Trouble sleeping
Experiencing gastrointestinal problems
Trouble concentrating
Difficulty controlling worry
The urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety
Types of Anxiety
Agoraphobia
Anxiety disorder due to medical condition
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic disorder
Selective mutism
Separation anxiety
Specific phobias
Substance-inducing anxiety disorders
Other specified and unspecified anxiety disorders
Statistics
Women are twice as likely to develop an anxiety disorder than men
Only 1/3 of those suffering from anxiety receive adequate treatment or council
An estimated 284 million people worldwide experienced an anxiety disorder in 2017 making it the most prevalent disorder in the world
Around 8% of children and teens experience an anxiety disorder
Coping with anxiety
TEDx Talks
What is an ANXIETY DISORDER?
PsychHub
LIVING WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING ANXIETY
TEDx Talks
February | eating disorders
what is it?
Eating disorders are a range of physcolgical disorders characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits.
helplines
Women’s Health Clinic – Provincial Eating Disorder Prevention & Recovery Program: 204-947-2422
Health Sciences Centre – Adult Eating Disorders Service Program: 204-787-3482
Health Sciences Centre – Child & Adolescent Eating Disorders Service Program: 204-958-9660
symptoms
Excessive exercise
Preoccupation with feeling fat
Abnormal electrolyte levels
Intense fear of weight gain
Unusually large intake of food
Anxiety all round or avoidance of eating
Alterations in weight
Obsession with body image
Disruptions in eating patterns
Preoccupation with nutrional content
Mood flucuations
types of eating disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulemia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorder
Rumination Disorder
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Orthorexia
Diabulimia
OSFED
Pica
statistics
Approximately 1 million Canadians have a diagnosed eating disorder.
Eating disorders have the highest overall mortality rate of any mental illness, being 10-15 percent.
Younger Canadians are engaging in dieting which could possibly put them at risk of developing an eating disorder.
In Canada, between 12-30 percent of girls and 9-25 percent of boys ages 10-14 are dieting to lose weight.
Life after anorxia
Tedx Talks
experiences with eating disorder
Tedx Talks
3 types of eating disorders and how to spot them
MedCircle
March | Substance abuse
What is it?
Substance abuse is a pattern of harmful use of any substances for mood-altering purposes. These substances can include alcohol, drugs (legal or illegal), and many other types of substances used in harmful ways.
Symptoms
Having a compulsion/desire to use said substance regularly
Being unable to think about anything besides said substance
Being unable to meet work, school, or personal responsibilities due to substance use
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when away from substance for a period of time
Why is it so hard to quit?
Repeated drug/substance use alters the chemistry of our brains. Substance abuse changes parts of your brain, specifically your “pleasure centers” causing you to not only want to continue using, but in fact makes you feel the “need” to use. It also damages crucial parts of your brain such as the prefrontal cortex, resulting in lack of judgment, as well as failure to recognize dangerous or harmful behaviors. This damage is so significant that structural changes can be seen in brain scans/images.
Recognizing abusive behaviours
Sufferers of substance abuse may have:
Problems at school/work
New physical health problems/issues
Change or neglect in appearance (basic hygiene)
Money issues (constantly borrowing/being unable to pay back)
Major changes in behaviour
HOW TO HELP
Educate yourself about addiction/substance abuse
Offer support/ensure they know you are there to help
Encourage them to seek treatment/further help
Confide in a trusted adult if you believe someone is struggling with substance abuse
What is substance use?
Psych Hub
YOUTH AND SUBSTANCE USE
TEDx Talks
Stigma of Substance use
TEDx Talks
Sources and Helplines:
Addiction Helpline: 1-855-662-6605
Kids Helpline: 1-800-668-6868
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/drug-addiction/related-topics/help-someone-drug-addiction/
APRIL | AUTISM
WHAT IS IT?
Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction, and communication, as well as restricted and repetitive behavior.
SIGNS 0F AUTISM
Avoiding eye contact
Delayed speech and communication skills
Reliance on rules and routines
Being upset by relatively minor changes
Unexpected reactions to sounds, tastes, sights, touch and smells
Difficulty understanding other people’s emotions
Focusing on or becoming obsessed by a narrow range of interests or objects
Engaging in repetitive behavior such as flapping hands or rocking
Children not responding to their name by 12 months
Children not pointing at distant objects by 14 months
Advancing autism awareness
TEDx Talks
Don't Diss Ability
TEDx Talks
what it means to me to be autistic
Chiltern Music Therapy
MAY STRESS
The Body
Everyone has the fight or flight response which is very useful to the body when it faces situations that are stressful. If stress continues long-term, the stress will develop wear and tear in the body resulting in physical, emotional and behavioural outbursts and struggles.
Symptoms
There are a variety of symptoms that can be experienced, depending on the level of stress and how your body deals with it. You may experience:
-aches and pains
-exhaustion or trouble sleeping
-headaches, dizziness or high blood
-muscle tension or jaw clenching
-stomach or digestive problems
-weak immune system
-high blood pressure
Levels of stress can lead to experiencing more serious symptoms like:
-Anxiety or irritability
-Depression
-Panic attacks
-Sadness
Diagnosis
Stress can not be diagnosed through tests. How severe it is can only be determined by the person experiencing the stress. Healthcare workers will use questions to try and better understand what you're feeling, how it is affecting your life and what solutions are. Chronic stress can more easily be detected by a healthcare worker by doing an evaluation like a high blood pressure test.
Stress is an unavoidable part of life. However, you can stop it from controlling your life by practicing healthy strategies such as:
-Exercising
-Gratitude
-Schedule your days
-Breathing exercises
-Eating properly
-Leave the past in the past.
-Say no to tasks or responsibilities when you are busy.
Doctors, and stress
Medical attention or advice is never a bad thing especially if you are feeling overwhelmed. If you are using drugs or alcohol as a coping method or thinking of causing yourself pain, speak to a healthcare provider. They can help you by giving advice, referring you or putting you on medication.
Teenagers and Stress
Teenagers experience stress daily with:
-School—assignments and struggling can result in stress. Seeking extra help can relieve the amount of stress.
-Self-thoughts—Thinking negatively about yourself is very common amongst teenagers.
-Friends—troubles amongst friends and drama is stressful.
-Homelife is one of the highest stress causes with children and teenagers. Fighting parents, money struggles, abuse, passing of loved one, high pressure to succeed, moving or changing schools are causes of stress.