Sitting at the University of British Columbia today and listening to Stan Kutcher speak about Adolescent Mental Health was one of the most inspiring and fulfilling presentations I have heard in a long time.
I heard that mental health is a disorder, not a disease. Mental health information should be taught just like any other piece of curriculum. Dr. Kutcher called it Mental Health Literacy. I knew more about mental health walking out than I did walking in. It isn’t about bad parenting. It isn’t about what you eat or what you wear. Mental health disorders are derived from conception through gene selection. It’s what happens in ones life that may make it manifest itself. We try to build resiliency and learn how to cope through experiences. There is a population that struggle through this. Subsequently, they are the ones who have the greatest difficulties.
- Fact – A brain at 25 years old is 75% water. There are billions of neurons in it. In a brain of someone who is depressed, there are misfirings. They see things in a different way.
- Fact – If a teen has attempted suicide and gets the proper treatment, they will grow to have a fruitful life.
- Fact – Mental problems, mental distresses and mental health disorders are all different things.
- Fact – Treatments for mental health disorders may include psychological and pharmacological.
- Fact – Treatment for those suffering from mental health disorders all need to be individualized.
Teen Mental Health – Dalhousie University www.teenmentalhealth.org This link has so many good resources, videos, etc to present to families and teens.
I finally got a DRAFT report from Amanda’s stay at Surrey Memorial Hospital. I need to go through it carefully. But it makes me cry because then I think of how impulsive Amanda was on that afternoon of October 10th. She should be here Back to School shopping. Buying shoes, clothes, new underwear, make-up, etc.
This is where life is frustrating. They say that first are the worst.
What about the seconds???? Anticipating them is making me feel sick to my stomach.