Modules in Special Topics in Education Alejandro L. Giray, Jr.

8 MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION

Mental health awareness is an important issue for all educators, who are
often the first line of defense for their students. Education professionals have
recognized the impact that a student's mental health has on learning and
achievement, and they realize that there's a great deal that can be done to help
What do I students with mental health issues.
need to
learn?
Mentally healthy children are more successful in school and life. Good
mental health is critical to children’s success in school and life. Research
demonstrates that students who receive social–emotional and mental health
support achieve better academically. School climate, classroom behavior, on-task
learning, and students’ sense of connectedness and well-being all improve as well.
Mental health is not simply the absence of mental illness but also encompasses
social, emotional, and behavioral health and the ability to cope with life’s
challenges. Left unmet, mental health problems are linked to costly negative
outcomes such as academic and behavior problems, dropping out, and
delinquency.

In this module, the learners will be introduced to the concept of mental

health education. At the end of the module, the learners are expected to:

 define mental health and mental health education;

 understand the importance of mental health;
 identify some mental ailments and their treatments;
 discuss the significance of mental health in schools.

Definition of Mental Health

Mental health refers to our cognitive, behavioral, and emotional wellbeing

- it is all about how we think, feel, and behave. The term 'mental health' is
What do I sometimes used to mean an absence of a mental disorder. Mental health can
need to affect daily life, relationships, and even physical health. Mental health also includes
know? a person's ability to enjoy life - to attain a balance between life activities and
efforts to achieve psychological resilience.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary, mental health is:

"Emotional, behavioral, and social maturity or normality; the absence of a mental
or behavioral disorder; a state of psychological well-being in which one has
achieved a satisfactory integration of one's instinctual drives acceptable to both
oneself and one's social milieu; an appropriate balance of love, work, and leisure
pursuits.“ According to the WHO (World Health Organization), mental health is: "...
a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can
cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is

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able to make a contribution to his or her community." The WHO stresses that
mental health "is not just the absence of mental disorder."

Importance of Mental Health and Wellness to a Person

Positive mental health allows people to:

 Realize their full potential

 Cope with the stresses of life
 Work productively
 Make meaningful contributions to their communities

Understanding the Importance of Addressing Mental Health Issues

 Experts say we all have the potential to develop mental health problems;
Regardless of Age, Gender, Race and Social-Economic Status.
 According to latest numbers of the World Health Organization (WHO),
over 300 million people are known to be suffering from depression
worldwide. While here in the Philippines, over six million Filipinos live with
anxiety and depressive disorders.
 There are also 2,558 recorded suicides in the country in 2012, where most
were males diagnosed with mental health disorders.
 A large proportion of the people who have a mental disorder have more
than one.
 In the U.S. and much of the developed world, mental disorders are one of
the leading causes of disability.

Factors that Causes Mental Health Issues

 Biological factors
 Life experiences: trauma social disadvantage long term stress abuse social
isolation bereavement substance & alcohol abuse
 Family history of mental health problems
 Physical accidents or illness

Types of Mental Illness

The most common types of mental illness are anxiety disorders mood
disorders schizophrenia disorders.

 Anxiety disorders are the most common types of mental illness. The
individual has a severe fear or anxiety, which is linked to a certain objects
or situations. Most people with an anxiety disorder will try to avoid
exposure to whatever triggers their anxiety.

 Panic disorder - the person experiences sudden paralyzing terror or a

sense of imminent disaster.

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 Phobias - these may include simple phobias (a disproportionate fear of

objects), social phobias (fear of being subject to the judgment of others),
and agoraphobia (dread of situations where getting away or breaking free
may be difficult). We really do not know how many phobias there are -
there could be thousands of types.

 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - the person has obsessions and

compulsions. In other words, constant stressful thoughts (obsessions), and
a powerful urge to perform repetitive acts, such as hand washing
(compulsion).

 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - this can occur after somebody has
been through a traumatic event - something horrible or frightening that
they experienced or witnessed. During this type of event, the person thinks
that their life or other people's lives are in danger. They may feel afraid or
feel that they have no control over what is happening.

 Mood Disorders are also known as Affective Disorders or Depressive

Disorders. Patients with these conditions have significant changes in
mood, generally involving either mania (elation) or depression.

 Major depression - the individual is no longer interested in and does not

enjoy activities and events that they previously liked. There are extreme or
prolonged periods of sadness.

 Bipolar disorder - previously known as manic-depressive illness, or manic

depression. The individual switches from episodes of euphoria (mania) to
depression (despair).

 Persistent depressive disorder - previously known as dysthymia, this is mild

chronic (long term) depression. The patient has similar symptoms to major
depression but to a lesser extent.

 Schizophrenia Disorders Whether or not schizophrenia is a single disorder

or a group of related illnesses has yet to be fully determined. It is a highly
complex condition. Schizophrenia normally begins between the ages of 15
and 25. The individual has thoughts that appear fragmented; they also find
it hard to process information.

 Positive symptoms include delusions, thought disorders, and

hallucinations.
 Negative symptoms include withdrawal, lack of motivation, and a flat
or inappropriate mood.
 Cognitive symptoms include affected memory, learning and
understanding; subtle and difficult to notice *symptoms a physical or
mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease,
particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.

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The most common Mental Illness in the Philippines; Schizophrenia,

Substance abuse, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Depression.

Myths & Facts Regarding Mental Health

Myth: Mental health problems don't affect me.

Fact: Mental health problems are actually very common.

 The mental health situation in the Philippines is something we should be

able to talk freely about. Approximately 1 in 5 Filipino adults suffers from
a mental disorder — this isn’t to mention the 10 to 15 percent of children
who also have mental health conditions.
 The most common mental illnesses in the country include schizophrenia,
substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression.

Myth: Children don't experience mental health problems.

Fact: Even very young children may show early warning signs of mental health
concerns. These mental health problems are often clinically diagnosable, and can
be a product of the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.

 Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns
14 years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before
age 24.
 Unfortunately, less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable
mental health problems receive the treatment they need. Early mental
health support can help a child before problems interfere with other
developmental needs.

Myth: People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable.

Fact: The vast majority of people with mental health problems are no more likely
to be violent than anyone else. Most people with mental illness are not violent and
only 3%–5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a serious
mental illness. In fact, people with severe mental illnesses are over 10 times more
likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population. You probably
know someone with a mental health problem and don't even realize it, because
many people with mental health problems are highly active and productive
members of our communities.

Myth: People with mental health needs, even those who are managing their
mental illness, cannot tolerate the stress of holding down a job.

Fact: People with mental health problems are just as productive as other
employees. Employers who hire people with mental health problems report good
attendance and punctuality as well as motivation, good work, and job tenure on

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par with or greater than other employees. When employees with mental health
problems receive effective treatment, it can result in:

 Lower total medical costs

 Increased productivity
 Lower absenteeism
 Decreased disability costs

Myth: Personality weakness or character flaws cause mental health problems.

People with mental health problems can snap out of it if they try hard enough.

Fact: Mental health problems have nothing to do with being lazy or weak and
many people need help to get better. Many factors contribute to mental health
problems, including:

 Biological factors, such as genes, physical illness, injury, or brain chemistry

 Life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse
 Family history of mental health problems People with mental health
problems can get better and many recover completely.

Philippine Mental Health Law

(Republic Act No. 11036, or RA 11036, AN ACT ESTABLISHING A

NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH POLICY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENHANCING THE
DELIVERY OF INTEGRATED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, PROMOTING AND
PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS UTILIZING PSYCHIATRIC, NEUROLOGIC
AND PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH SERVICES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.) was signed into law on June 21, 2018. It proposes
a mental health policy that aims to enhance integrated mental health services, the
promotion of mental health services, protection of people who use said services,
and the establishment of a Philippine mental health council.

Early Signs of Mental Health Problem

 Withdrawing from people or activities they would normally enjoy.

 Sleeping or eating too much or too little
 Feeling as if nothing matters
 Consistently low energy
 Using drugs more than normal (including alcohol and nicotine).
 Displaying uncharacteristic emotions
 Confusion
 Not being able to complete standard tasks, such as getting to work or
cooking a meal
 Persistent thoughts or memories that reappear regularly
 Thinking of harming one's self or others
 Hearing voices
 Delusions

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Treatment of Mental Illness

There are various ways people with mental health problems might receive
treatment. It is important to know that what works for one person may not work
for another; this is especially the case with mental health. Some strategies or
treatments are more successful when combined with others. A patient with a
chronic mental disorder may choose different options at different stages in their
life. The majority of experts say that a well-informed patient is probably the best
judge of what treatment suits them best.

Psychotherapy (talking therapies) - this is a psychological approach to

treating mental illness. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and
dialectical behavior therapy are examples. Medication - although it cannot cure
mental disorders, some medications can improve symptoms. Self-help - including
lifestyle changes such as reducing alcohol intake, sleeping more, and eating well.

Maintaining Positive Mental Health

 Getting professional help if you need it

 Connecting with others
 Staying positive
 Getting physically active
 Helping others
 Getting enough sleep
 Developing coping skills Always remember if you have a mental health
issue, it is not just about you being able to cope with it, it must be
addressed with a professional

Promoting Mental Health and Well-being in your School

Mental health and well-being

Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. Mental health is
a state of wellbeing where people can meet their learning potential, cope with
normal stresses, and are connected to community and their friends.

Why mental health and well-being is promoted in schools

For most people, mental health issues emerge when they are young — half
of all mental disorders emerge by the time people are 14 years old and three
quarters by 25 years old – the same period when most people are in education.
As well as increasing a person's opportunity and choices in life, promoting mental
health and wellbeing as a core role in education helps students:

 flourish in their education journey

 build resilience against adversity
 develop protective factors from mental ill-health

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 provide them with skills and confidence to self-seek help for early
intervention.

Key features of promoting mental health and well-being in schools

Whole of school approaches

A whole school approach involves everyone (school leaders, teachers, staff and
parents) to embed a safe and inclusive learning culture and environments,
including:

 providing social and emotional skills programs

 providing timely support for those with additional needs
 involving students and families in decision-making.

Resilience building for students

Resilience is the ability to cope and thrive in the face of negative events,
challenges or adversity. It is a skill that can be developed through:

 positive social connections

 safe environments
 life skills such as positive coping and problem solving skills
 pro-social values
 positive self-regard
 and a sense of purpose and agency or responsibility.

When school staff, leaders, teachers and educators are given the resources
and tools to promote and model behaviors, values and inclusivity, this improves
teacher-student relationships and builds inclusive and safe school communities to
support everyone's wellbeing and improved learning outcomes.

Curriculum and Teaching

The curriculum supports the teaching of mental health, wellbeing and

resilience of all students in schools through the learning areas of Health and
Physical Education, and the Personal and Social Capability.

Health and Physical Education Learning Area

Focuses on students enhancing their own and others' health, safety,

wellbeing and physical activity participation in varied and changing contexts. The
curriculum focuses on supporting students to develop the understanding and
skills they require to make healthy and safe choices that will enhance their own
and others' health and wellbeing.

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Personal and Social Capability

This involves students:

 learning to recognize and regulate emotions

 develop empathy for others and understand relationships
 establish and build a framework for positive relationships
 work effectively in teams and develop leadership skills,
 handle challenging situations constructively.

Respectful Relationships teaching and learning resources

Respectful Relationships supports schools and early childhood settings to

promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviors. It teaches our
children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence.

As well as being a whole of school approach to promote and model

respectful and positive relationships, it also supports educators to teach students
how to build relationships, resilience and confidence.

Respectful Relationships online professional learning program

The resilience, rights and respectful relationships professional learning

program is available to teachers from government, Catholic and independent
schools.
Students are further supported to build their social and emotional skills,
including confidence, resilience, respect and help-seeking behavior, and staff
capability building via whole of school approaches and specific programs detailed
below.

Whole of school approach

There are many whole of school approaches that can be used to embed a
culture of wellbeing, mental health and enhance resilience. When a culture of
wellbeing is prioritized across the whole school community, positive social norms
and behavior are built between leaders, school staff, teachers and educators and
students, and a sense of belonging and inclusivity is woven through everything
the school already does.

Components of a whole of school approach

Schools enhance mental health and wellbeing and build resilience at three levels
- organizational, pedagogical, and relational.

At an organizational level, schools:

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 foster a friendly, respectful and inclusive environment

 implement a positive approach to behavior management
 establish proactive policies addressing wellbeing and inclusion
 drive improvement in wellbeing outcomes through the Framework for
School Improvement (FISO) and the Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion
Workforces Practice Model
 provide opportunities for student participation and leadership
 foster strong partnerships with students, parents, careers, community and
service providers.
 At a pedagogical level, schools:
 explicitly teach social and emotional learning skills
 provide a comprehensive wellbeing education program
 explicitly develop personal and social capabilities
 At a relational level, schools:
 have high but achievable expectations for student learning and behavior
 promote positive and supportive teacher-student relationships and peer-
peer relationships
 use positive approaches to manage student behavior, including fostering
a range of strategies to prevent and respond to bullying
 notice and intervene when students experience problems related to
learning or wellbeing.

Activity 1. Answer the following briefly but substantively.

1. What is mental health?

2. What is mental health education?
3. What is the importance of mental health awareness in education/schools?
What do I 4. What is the importance of mental health and wellness to a person?
need to do?
5. Identify two (2) factors that causes mental health issues and explain each.

Look for a research about this topic. Highlight the research problem/s and the
findings of the study. (Please use separate sheet/s of paper for this activity)

Title of Research ____________________________________________________________________

What does ______________________________________________________________________________________
research say
Author/s ____________________________________________________________________________
about this?

Research Problem __________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

Findings ____________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

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Reflect on this questions. (Please use separate sheet/s of paper for this activity)

1. What are your thoughts about mental health education?

What 2. As a future teacher, how will you implement mental health education
insights and
program in your classroom?
learning
have I
gained in
this topic?

REFERENCES

 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154543.php
 https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health
 https://www.manilatimes.net/mental-health-in-the- philippines/418522/
Where can I  http://manilastandard.net/spotlight/256663/raising-mental-health-
get awareness-.html
additional  https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-
information? problems/mental-health-problems- introduction/causes/#.W43kRugzbIU
 http://www.modernfilipina.ph/health/health-issues/mental-illness-stigma-
philippines
 https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/importance-mental-health-
awareness-schools1810.html
 https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-
podcasts/mental-health/school-psychology-and-mental-health/school-
based-mental-health-services

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