Module 1 Section 1

Question 1

Definition - What is the definition of well-being?

Clue: 3 descriptive words, and it is made of many components one of which is…

Answer 1

Is considered an overall state of feeling comfortable, healthy, and happy. Well-being is made up of many components one of which is mental health.

Question 2

Definition - What is the definition of mental health?

Clue: 3 aspects, prerequisite for 3, and how it is related to mental health for this courses purpose

Answer 2

Mental health includes psychological, emotional, and social aspects of thinking, feeling, behaving.

Mental health is a prerequisite to realizing potential, being able to cope with normal life stress, and being productive at work or school.

For the purposes of this course, mental health will be considered as an important part of the broader concept of well-being.

Question 3

Historical Origins - What did Aristotle believe the goal of life was?

Clue: what does it translate too?

Answer 3

Thought the goal of life was eudaemonia - translated as happiness - not just the idea of being happy but flourishing

Question 4

Historical Origins - Who though being happy amounts to “living well and doing well”?
In other words what does this mean?

Clue: P and A

Answer 4

Aristotle

In other words to be productive and strive to accomplish something of individual importance that is key in keeping with ones ethical and societal values.

Question 5

Historical Origins - How does Buddhism view health and well-being?

Answer 5

Balance and harmony with self and environment are important.

Question 6

Historical Origins - Health and Well-Being are viewed by different cultures in ________________. However, various religious and cultural traditions have historically perpetuated ___________ such as_________________________________________.

Answer 6

Diverse ways

Injustices

Colonialism, sexism, racism, homophobia ableism, etc.

Question 7

Historical Origins - How does African religious and cultural traditions view Health and Well-being?

Answer 7

Emphasis on land and community relationships (living and dead)

Ubuntu = an African philosophy which shows that a person cannot flourish in isolation but can only grow in connection with others

Question 8

What are the 3 components of well-being?

Clue: MH, PH, SE

Answer 8

1. Mental health
2. physical health
3. Supportive/secure environment.

Question 9

Mental health is a component of well-being. What do 3 things do Westerhof and Keyes 2010 say positive mental health includes?

Clue: 3 positive forms of functioning

Answer 9

1. Emotional wellbeing - feeling happy and satisfied with life
2. Psychological functioning - positive functioning and self realization
3. Social well-being - positive social value

Question 10

What are the 4 Contributors of Mental Health?

Clue: RP, PH, EH, SC

Answer 10

1. Realizing potential
2. Psychological health
3. Emotional health
4. Social connectedness

Question 11

Mental health is a component of well-being. Describe it…

Answer 11

Not defined by the absence of mental illness .
Embodies positive psychological, emotional and social functioning.

Related to your physical health.

Contributes to your ability to strive and reach your potential, cope with normal life stresses, establish good relationships and be productive at work and study

Question 12

Physical health is a component of well-being. Describe it…

Answer 12

More than just being free of disease or illness.

Refers to taking proper care of your body for optimum health and functioning as well as disease prevention.

Is closely related to mental health in a reciprocal way.

Optimal physical health requires good sleep, exercise, nutrition, and mental health.

Question 13

Supportive/secure environment is a component of well-being. Describe it…

Answer 13

Current environment and past experiences affect your mental and physical health.

Supportive and secure environment = one in which a person feels emotionally, physically, and physically safe and valued.

Question 14

Realizing potential is a contributor or mental health. Describe it…

Answer 14

Mental health is affected by the degree to which you feel you are reaching your potential and making a meaningful contribution to the world around you in a way that aligns with your interests and perspective.

Question 15

Psychological health is a contributor of mental health. Describe it…

Answer 15

Involves how you think about things and regulate your feelings.
Includes ability to self reflect, problem-solve, manage emotions, be resilient, think, and be attentive.

Question 16

Emotional health is a contributor of mental health. Describe it…

Answer 16

Emotional well-being is made up of your feelings and emotions.
Includes feeling happy, secure, and confident.
Not overly upset, anxious, or sad.
Also related to your ability to regulate your feelings across different challenges, experiences and contexts.

Question 17

Social connectedness is a contributor of mental health. Describe it…

Answer 17

Creating and maintaining good relationships with others and being in a socially responsible and acceptable way (not bullying, violence, or disruptive behaviour).
Relies upon the development of positive social skills such as empathy.

Question 18

What is the Mental Health Spectrum?

Answer 18

Mental health exists on a spectrum.
Mental health states based on certain defined thresholds.
Triangle = often used to indicate the proportion of individuals in the population likely to meet these thresholds
As you go up in intensity there are less people that are likely to meet these thresholds.

Question 19

What are the thresholds on the Mental Health Spectrum from top to bottom?

Clue: Triangle, 4

Answer 19

Disorders, Conditions, or Illness
Concerns or Problems
Symptoms
Well

Question 20

Disorders, Conditions, or Illness is the top of the triangle (spectrum). Describe this threshold… and list 2 examples.

Answer 20

Clinically diagnosed
Require evidence-based treatments provided by health care professionals
Clinically significant symptoms characterized by a disturbance in thought, feeling, and perception that negatively affects day to day functioning and causes significant distress and impairment

Ex. major depressive disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder

Question 21

What is major depressive disorder?

Answer 21

A mood disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness, and loss of interest in most usual activities.

Often associated with disturbances in sleep, hunger, and appetite.

Question 22

What is generalized anxiety disorder?

Answer 22

Characterized by persistent and excessive worry about everyday events.

Question 23

Concerns or problems is the second top level of the triangle (spectrum). Describe this threshold…

Answer 23

Mental health problem is defined as the presence of symptoms that persist and are associated with distress or difficulty but are not severe enough to be considered a diagnosable mental illness condition, or disorder.

Mental health concern or problem relates to a persistent or new life event or stress.

Problems = uncomfortable, prolonged, but not reflective of a diagnosable mental disorder.

Support and problem-focused counselling can be helpful.

Ex. coping with the death of a loved on or finding the transition to university very challenging.

Question 24

Symptoms are the third down on the triangle (spectrum). Describe it… and the 3 most common symptoms university students face.

Answer 24

Experiences that can be associated with some distress, but may be situational and not necessarily indicative or a problem or disorder.

Most common symptoms university students experience include…
Anxiety - worry, difficulty relaxing, heart racing
Depressive - feeling sad, less hopefully, criticizing self
Sleep problems - trouble falling asleep, shifted sleep

Symptoms can be transient and subside when a stressor or disappointment resolves.

Symptoms can be helped by lifestyle changes, self help, and short term counselling.

If symptoms persist and associated with distress then they might reflect a mental health concern or problem.

Question 25

Well is the bottom of the triangle (spectrum). Describe it…

Answer 25

Feeling confident, capable, and happy.

Stress and disappointment are normal parts of life but when feeling well these are mostly manageable and any associated discomfort is short-lived and appropriate to the stressor or context.

Health lifestyle, good psychological coping and supportive relationships maintain mental health and resilience.

Question 26

How do mental health and well-being relate?

Clue: picture in lecture looked like roads

Answer 26

They are two parallel continuums.

You can have a diagnosed mental illness in good quality remission and therefore experience positive or high level of well-being.

Alternatively you might not have a diagnosable mental illness but you could be experiencing a significant distress.

Question 27

Mental Health in University Students in Canada

What were the 2016 Canadian National College Health Assessment key findings/general trends?

Answer 27

26.3% of Canadian post-secondary students reported having been diagnosed or treated by a professional for one or more mental health conditions within a 12 month period of starting university.

Mostly common conditions where anxiety and depression.

The rates of students who reported mental health related symptoms has continued to increase.

Depression = 46% reported symptoms of depression and said it made it hard to function optimally. Up from 40% in 2013.

Anxiety = 65% reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety
Up from 58% in 2013.

Question 28

Mental Health in University Students in the UK

What where the main findings/general trends in the 2017 Study by the Institute for public Policy Research in the UK and other studies?

Answer 28

19% of 16-24 year old’s in England have a mental health condition. Increased from 15% in 2003.

Reporting mental health = 5-fold increase in the number of students reporting mental health problems from 2006 to 2015.

Rates of probable mental disorders have increased since 2017.

Survey of young adults conducted in 2020 found that 27.2% of women and 13.3% of men were identifies as having a probable mental disorder.

Dropping out of University = Increase in the number of students who dropped out of university because of a mental health problem between 2009 and 2015.

Suicides = There has been an increase in the number of student suicides in UK from 2007-2015.

These findings make it clear that reported problems of mental health have been increasing significantly in recent years.

Question 29

Mental Health in University Students Worldwide

What were the main findings/general trends from the WHO Mental Health Survey from the International College Student Research Project?

Answer 29

Roughly 1/3 (35.3% lifetime and 31.4% 12 months) of first year college students screened positive for a mental disorder.

Specifically anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders.

Majority of students with anxiety and depressive disorders had an onset prior to entering university while substance use disorders tended to onset after entering university.

Question 30

What is the general tend for student demand for mental health resources?

Answer 30

Among post-secondary students = increase requests from counselling services and declarations or mental health-related disabilities.

Demand is increasing.

Question 31

What are the major factors contributing to university students need for mental health services?

Clue: 5

Answer 31

Age risk: brain accelerated growth and development, 75% mental illness begin in adolescence and early adulthood

Difficult transitioning period: new academic, financial, social stressors

Vulnerable brain: brain is vulnerable to a stressful environment and risk factors

Lacking support: resources are limited, short term, and community resources not designed for students, need to figure out away to meet specific uni student demands (diverse and transient)

Decrease in stigma: increase in reporting = reduction in stigma

Question 32

What are the main points Duffy makes about stigma and mental health resources?

Answer 32

Success in some ways = increased demand therefore decreased stigma

BUT

This increased demand has strained resources since the community services were never developed to support students and the universities themselves haven’t put and integrated system of support in place

Question 33

What did a UK study find about stigma and disclosure?

Answer 33

As stigma diminished there is an increasing rate of disclosure.

However, same study found that only 1/3 of students entering university with a mental health condition actually intend to disclose it.

Question 34

Who developed U-Flourish and why was it developed?

Answer 34

Queens University

Developed because despite recognized need for resources little is know about the scope and determinants of student mental health problems in order tailor resources

Question 35

U-Flourish study aimed to analyze the many different interlaying factors to understand how shared and unique student experiences affect mental health, university experience and academic outcomes.

What are these factors and how do they interact?

Answer 35

Family Factors: support, education, health

Personal Factors: mental health, physical health, self-esteem

Environmental Factors: early adversity, peer relationships, perceived stress

Psychological: expectancy beliefs, university appraisal, emotional symptoms

Lifestyle and behaviour: exercise, substance use, sleep-study habits, use of campus services.

to see how they interact look at diagram in notes