Module 1: Introduction to the Science of Well-being, Mental Health and Resiliency

Question 1

Well-being

Answer 1

Overall state or feeling comfortable, healthy, and happy. Well-being is made up of many components one of which is mental health
Ex. parallel to Physical fitness (capabilities)

Question 2

Mental Health

Answer 2

Includes psychological, emotional and social aspects of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Mental health is a prerequisite to realizing potential, being able to cope with normal life stress, and being productive at work or school
ex. parallel to physical health. (system functioning well)

Question 3

Physical Health

Answer 3

Proper care of your body for optimum health and functioning, as well as disease prevention.
Optimal physical health requires good sleep, exercise, nutrition, and mental health

Question 4

Supportive and Secure Environment

Answer 4

Current environment and past experiences affect your mental and physical health. A supportive
and secure environment is one in which a person feels socially, emotionally, and physically safe and value

Question 5

Contributors to Mental Health

Answer 5

Realizing Potential - degree to which you feel you are reaching your potential and making a meaningful contribution to the world around you

Emotional Health - made up of feelings and emotions. Ability o regulate your feelings across different challenges, experiences, and contexts.

Psychological Health - how
you think about things and regulate your feelings. This includes the ability to self-reflect, problem-solve, manage emotions, be resilient, think, and be attentive

Social Connectedness - creating and maintaining good relationships with others
and behaving in a socially responsible and acceptable way

Question 6

Mental Health Spectrum

Answer 6

1. Well - feeling content, capable and happy. Stress is present but is managed well and short lived
2. Symptoms - Situational distress. Anxiety, Bad Mood, and Bad Sleep. Symptoms subside when stressor is removed. Positive lifestyle helps
3. Concern or Problems - Symptoms that persist but not severe enough for diagnosis. Support or counseling helpful. ex. death of loved one
4. Disorder or Illness - clinically diagnosed illnesses that require evidence-based treatments
   provided by health care professionals. Effect day to day function.

Question 7

Mental Health Contributors

Answer 7

• Family Factors
• Personal Factors
• Early Environment
• Psychological
• Lifestyle and Behaviour
• Course Outcomes

Question 8

Mental Health Goals

Answer 8

• community (be apart of)
• social (broaden network)
• recreational (have hobbies)
• career (enriching work)
• Academic (good grades)
• relationships (new personal relationships)
• cultural

Question 9

Factors Influenced by Mental Health

Answer 9

• Energy levels and Motivation
• Concentration and Cognition
• Self Efficacy (ability to achieve)
• Managing Stressful Situations
• Belongingness

Question 10

Risk Factors

Answer 10

a biological, psychological, or sociological characteristic or exposure that is associated with a higher likelihood of a negative outcome.
ex.
Not getting enough sleep
* Using recreational drugs
* Not having a reliable support network
* Having a prior history of a mental condition
* Any culture in which your identity or experience is seen as other
* Overthinking and avoiding tackling problems

Question 11

Protective Factors

Answer 11

characteristic or exposure that lowers the likelihood of negative outcomes or
that reduces the impact of a risk factor.
ex.
* Having a reliable support network of friends and/or family
* Developing a good study-life balance
* A healthy sleep schedule
* Feeling included
* Positive thinking, journaling, or talking to a friend

Question 12

Stressors

Answer 12

a person, place, or situation that causes a state of psychological strain or tension. Stress
is a psychological response to a stressor
ex.
* An upcoming midterm or final exam
* Relationship problems

Question 13

Resilience

Answer 13

being able to adjust, adapt, overcome, and cope with a disappointment, stressor, threat, or adverse event.
Developed from effectively managing stressors

Question 14

Signs and Symptoms

Answer 14

Refer to observable (signs) or experienced (symptoms) indicators of being under stress.
These are indicators which either distress the individual or impairs their ability to function emotionally,
socially, or academically. Signs and symptoms may signal the emergence of an illness or problem, or
they may be circumstantial and short-lived
Developed from not adapting to stressors

Question 15

Psychodynamic Model

Answer 15

• Developed by Sigmund Freud in late 19th century.
• Mental distress arises from unconscious conflicts, often rooted in repressed childhood feelings that conflict with conscious thoughts.
• Therapy aims to uncover and resolve these unconscious issues through the therapeutic relationship.
• Limited evidence for effectiveness; largely replaced by newer treatments.

Question 16

Medical or Disease Model

Answer 16

• Based on early ideas by Aristotle, Galen, and Hippocrates.
• Emil Kraepelin: Modern psychiatry’s founder, linking psychiatric disorders to biological and genetic malfunctions.
• Studied asylum patient and noted illness run in families
• Views mental health issues as diseases with a biological basis.
• Treatment focuses on somatic therapies, such as medication and brain stimulation.

Question 17

Behaviour Model

Answer 17

• Based on learning theories by Pavlov (1920s), Watson (1930s), and Skinner (1950s).
• Actions are conditioned through reinforcement: positive outcomes increase behaviour, negative outcomes decrease it.
• In anxiety, harmless stimuli become linked to fear, leading to avoidance and preventing the safe learning.
• In depression, avoiding activities during low moods reduces positive experiences, worsening mood and reinforcing withdrawal.

Question 18

Cognitive Model

Answer 18

• Key contributors: Abraham, Seligman, Teasdale (1978), Beck et al. (1983), Brown & Harris (1978).
• Mental disorders arise from errors in thinking or cognitive biases.
• Negative thinking, focusing on past failures or future worries, increases anxiety and mental disorders.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) combines this model with the Behavioural Model to treat disorders.

Question 19

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Answer 19

• Widely used therapy that combines cognitive and behavioural components.
• Cognitive: Identifying and correcting thinking errors (e.g., distortions, over-generalizations, worry).
• Behavioural: Changing maladaptive behaviours (e.g., exposure, systematic desensitization).
• Effective for treating anxiety and depression.

Question 20

Biopsychosocial Model

Answer 20

• Introduced by George L. Engel (1977).
• Mental illness results from the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.
• Biological: Health, genetics, drug effects.
• Social: Peers, family circumstances, relationships.
• Psychological: Coping skills, self-esteem, mental health.
• The relative importance of these factors varies across different mental disorders.

Question 21

Osler Medical Humanist Model

Answer 21

• A holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the whole person.
• Moves away from rigid biological, cognitive, or social models and instead integrates all relevant factors.
• Focuses on medical, biological, social, and psychological aspects in a flexible, patient-centered way.
• Developed by Sir William Osler, the father of modern medical education.

Question 22

Social and Cultural Models

Answer 22

Social Model: Focuses on community-based influences like work, housing, socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental factors that impact mental health.
- Emphasizes support through addressing broader issues like nutrition, education, and healthcare access.
Cultural/Minority Model: Highlights lived experiences, advocating for the voices of those affected by mental health issues.
- Example: Hearing Voices Network, which challenges stigma and promotes a more positive approach to voice-hearing experiences.

Question 23

The Mad Movement

Answer 23

• Emerged in the 1960s, alongside civil rights movements, led by individuals with lived experience of mental health issues.
• Focuses on a non-stigmatizing approach to mental health and challenges traditional views.
• Influenced by Michel Foucault’s Madness and Civilization (1964), which explored how society historically defined madness as the opposite of reason and rationality.
• Foucault argued that madness was marginalized and treated as deviant by society.

Question 24

Distal

Answer 24

A factor that represents an indirect cause or underlying vulnerability for a particular condition.

Question 25

Proximal

Answer 25

A factor that represents a direct cause or immediate vulnerability for a particular condition

Question 26

Reconsidering Risk Factors

Answer 26

enes: Our temperament and predisposition to mental disorders is in part related to our genetic make-up and family history. Epigenetics: Epigenetics refers to the modification of gene activity or expression. This modification can occur through certain exposures, including biological (e.g. hormones), environmental (e.g. famine), and/or psychological (e.g. chronic stress, abuse or neglect) factors. Environment: In this context, the environment refers to your physical, psychological, and social surroundings, including the emotional context at home or in class. Stress Diathesis* Model: A model of mental illness that is based on interactions between genes and the environment, and the wear and tear effect of chronic risk exposures related to stress on your mind and body. Your ability to cope and adapt is affected by this balance. Culture: The differences in cultures have a range of implications for mental health practice [and risk], ranging from the ways that people view health and illness, to treatment seeking patterns, the nature of the therapeutic relationship and issues of racism and discrimination

Question 27

Student Stories: Risk Factors

Answer 27

Dakota’s risk factors include: * A prior history of experiencing uncomfortable anxiety symptoms * She was bullied in high school and feels misunderstood by her peers * She is already feeling some anxiety symptoms, including tension, racing heart, dry mouth, and wavering voice * She is still formulating aspects of her self concept in terms of her socio-cultural identity and sexuality * She is a member of a minority group and, therefore, there is potential risk of exclusion and harassment Lily’s risk factors include: * She feels lonely and a little homesick as the only member of her family in Canada * She worries about mother's health * She feels pressure to perform academically, but worries she is missing out socially Noa’s risk factors include: * He is struggling to find a balance between school, sport, and a social life * Recent change in university that meant he moved away from his previous supportive relationships * Binge drinking * Cannabis use * Family history of substance abuse and severe mental illness Gabriel’s risk factors include: * He stopped exercising this year * He is not sleeping well and feeling stressed about academic performance * He feels unusually low at times * His support system is not local * He finds it hard to make friends * Family history of mental illness * He is a member of a minority group and, therefore, there is potential risk of exclusion and harassment

Question 28

Student Stories: Protective Factors

Answer 28

Dakota’s protective factors include: * Knows a number of students who are also attending her University * Is physically active and part of a team Lily’s protective factors include: * Organized and self-directed * Good sleep and study routine * Makes friends easily * Currently not distressed or experiencing impairment, despite a major life change Noa’s protective factors include: * Physically active and part of a team * He has quickly found a new strong social support network (housemates, girlfriend) * Clear personal goals * No personal history of mental health problems or illness Gabriel’s protective factors include: * Supportive partner * Highly-motivated and self-directed * Does not misuse alcohol or drugs * Clear sense of himself and comfortable with who he is

Question 29

Student Stories: Signs and Symptoms

Answer 29

Dakota Dakota is manifesting symptoms of anxiety in the context of the stress of starting university and in light of her still-evolving sense of self, including her racialized minority background, being the first of her family to go to university, and her sexuality. Lily Lily has some feelings of homesickness and loneliness appropriate to her situation and feels some stress finding a healthy study-life balance. Noa Noa is showing some symptoms of anxiety and low mood associated with substance misuse, along with low energy and breathing problems associated with smoking cannabis. Gabriel Gabriel is showing some symptoms of stress and shortened/disrupted sleep.