Understanding Mental Illness

1. Understanding Mental Illness Information for consumers and supporters at NSCC

2. Why we need to understand NSCC employees have traditionally provided excellent service to all students who have come to us pursuing their dreams through education. Over the years the needs of these learners have changed. As our post secondary environment continues to strive towards education without boundaries, and, mental health consumers become more comfortable with accessing our services, we need to learn as a group so that we can provide better service to this growing educational community.

3. What is Mental Illness? • Mental illness is like any other illness. It can manifest itself in many forms, it is commonly misunderstood and it can be treated.

4. It’s: • Biological – linked to disturbances in the brain chemistry • Psychological – affects thoughts and emotions • Social – affects stress levels and life events

5. Mental Health is : • Striking a balance in all aspects of your life- social, physical, spiritual, economic and mental.

6. Mental illness is: • A health condition characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behaviour (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and or impaired functioning. (Canadian Mental Health Association)

7. Statistics • 1 in 5 Canadians (close to 6 million) will be affected by mental illness at some time in their lives. Mental health problems often emerge between the ages of 16 and 24. • Schizophrenia affects 1% of Canadians • Mood disorders affect 10% of Canadians • Anxiety disorders affect 12% of Canadians

8. Some myths! • People with mental illness are violent and dangerous. • People with mental illness are more likely to be the victims, rather than the perpetrators of violence

9. People with mental illness are poor and less intelligent. • Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of intelligence, social class or income.

10. Mental illness is caused by personalweakness. • Mental illness is an illness (just like diabetes is an illness), and it has nothing to do with weakness or lack of will power.

11. All mental illness is the same and its rare. • MI is a broad classification of disorders and includes: anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, eating disorders and organic brain disorders.

12. Schizophrenia Often starts slowly. When symptoms appear (usually in adolescence or early adulthood) they appear more confusing than serious. We often say, oh they’re just going through a phase! They include: Delusions and hallucinations Lack of motivation Social withdrawal Thought disorders Common Diseases

13. Depression • Depression becomes an illness when the following feelings are severe, last for several weeks and begin to interfere with daily living. They include: • Worthlessness/hopelessness • Sleeping more or less than usual • Eating more or less than usual • Difficulty concentrating • Decreased sex drive • Avoiding other people • Overwhelming sadness or grief • Feeling unreasonably guilty

14. Manic depression (bipolar disorder) These folks experience alternating mood swings from high (mania) to low (depression). Mania feelings include: euphoria, extreme optimism, exaggerated self esteem. Behaviours include: rapid speech, racing thoughts, decreased need for sleep, extreme irritability, impulsivity and recklessness In the depressive phase they demonstrate all of the symptoms in classic depression

15. Seasonal Affective Disorder It is thought to be related to seasonal variations in light that affects our circadian rhythm Symptoms include: change in appetite – craving sweet or starchy foods, weight gain, decreased energy, fatigue, oversleeping, difficulty concentrating, irritability, anxiety, despair, avoiding social activities Often difficulty to distinguish from depression and bipolar disease

16. Anxiety disorders • A group of illnesses which affect behaviour, thoughts, emotions and physical health. • It is not uncommon to be affected by more than one anxiety disorder simultaneously • Anxiety disorders can be accompanied by depression, eating disorders, substance abuse and physical disorders

17. Panic disorder • Attacks occur without warning and are accompanied by sudden feelings of terror. May cause chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal pain, feelings of unreality and fear of dying.

18. Common signs of MI • Marked changes in personality • Confused thinking • Inability to cope with problems and ADL’s • Strange ideas or delusions • Excessive fears or anxiety • Prolonged feelings of sadness • Extreme highs and lows in mood • Social withdrawal

19. Manifested in the classroom • Consistently late or frequent absenteeism • Low moral • Disorganized study habits or submission of assignments • Lack of cooperation • Inability to communicate with others or monopolizing the conversations in the learning environment • Increased accidents • Missed deadlines, poor grades, excessive excuses • Evidence or complaints of excessive fatigue • Decreased interest in the classroom

20. When is it an issue? • Having a mental illness is challenging. It becomes a disability when the symptoms of the condition overwhelm the individual and inhibit the person from successfully achieving their goals.

22. How to help • Get informed • Speak with the learner directly about the changes you have seen or if a student discloses actively listen and ask how you can help • Talk to other campus staff who have contact with the learner to share observations and experiences • Confer with faculty, the campus DRF and CSS counselors maintaining learner confidentiality

24. How to help yourself If you have a diagnosed MI, consider disclosing to the people who will be your academic supports (faculty and CSS staff) so that together you can have the opportunity to create a plan of action. Proactive planning will reduce stress for you and your faculty coach in the event that your disease causes frequent, erratic or extended absences from the program you are in.

25. In the classroom • Do the simple stuff: • Look at the environment (lighting, noise, space, ventilation) • Look at the learner needs (equipment, support, information, time, clarity)

26. Support Strategies • Learn the techniques associated with universal instructional design • Accomodations • Available through Disability Services upon registration (documentation required) • Notetaking or taping of instruction • Tutoring – academic or organizational • Preferential seating • Testing accommodations (quiet room, schedule changes, supervised breaks)

27. Listen to the learners needs • Time (extra time to complete assignments, tests and to clarify instructions) • Negotiate and communicate

28. Available Supports CSS - services differ at each campus( includes: counseling and referral processes) check yours out In a crisis the emergency ward of your local hospital can deal with the immediate medical crisis The learners family physician SSP (student support program) 1-800-268-5211 Mental Health Services for adults – Halifax- information services 902-424-4232 Local hospital mental health clinic/services – see your local phone directory Canadian Mental Health Association – www.cmha.ca Local support groups

29. Want more information? • Do some research- contact CMHA • Ask the CSS staff, Res Voc and Human Services Faculty on your campus for input • Hit the internet • Ask a self declared person with MI how you can help

30. Introduction Ruth Fraser – Educational Resource Facilitator, Disability Services • Presentation Scott MacGillivray – ALP Counselor, NSCC Pictou and Lynn Morris Jamieson - Team Lead/Academic Chair H&HS, NSCC Cumberland