MENTAL AND
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
AND WELL-BEING
CHAPTER 4
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
CONTINUUM
• MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ARE PATTERNS OF THINKING
AND FEELING THAT DECREASE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL
HEALTH; THIS CAN BE EVERYDAY WORRYING OR A SERIOUS
MENTAL ILLNESS.
• MENTAL DISTRESS IS A SHORT-TERM MENTAL AND
EMOTIONAL STATE IN WHICH NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND
FEELINGS IMPAIR RELATIONSHIPS, DAILY TASKS, AND
ENJOYMENT OF LIFE. EXAMPLES: SADNESS AFTER A FIGHT
WITH A FRIEND OR ANXIOUSNESS ABOUT AN UPCOMING TEST.
FACTORS AFFECTING MENTAL AND
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
• GENETICS
GENETIC PREDISPOSITION- THE INCREASED LIKELIHOOD
OF DEVELOPING A HEALTH CONDITION DUE TO GENES INHERITED
FROM BIOLOGICAL PARENTS: MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS,
ANXIETY DISORDER, BIPOLAR, AND SCHIZOPHRENIA.
FACTORS AFFECTING MENTAL AND
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
• UPBRINGING AND EXPERIENCES- LIFE
EXPERIENCES AND THE WAY YOU WERE RAISED
• ENVIRONMENT- RELATIONSHIPS, CULTURE, AND
COMMUNITY CAN GREATLY IMPACT YOUR
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Self-actualization-the feeling you are reaching your full
potential
MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
CATEGORIZES NEEDS AND SHOWS HOW
THEY PROGRESS.
• SELF-ACTUALIZATION-ALL NEEDS HAVE BEEN FULFILLED
• ESTEEM STAGE-NEED TO BE LIKED AND ACCEPTED
• LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE-NEED FOR SUPPORT, ASSURANCE
AND PRAISE
• SECURITY STAGE-NEED TO FEEL SAFE IN SURROUNDINGS
• PHYSICAL NEEDS-NEED FOR AIR, WATER, FOOD, CLOTHING,
AND SHELTER
FACTORS AFFECTING MENTAL AND
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
• SOCIAL MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY-TV SHOWS AND
ADVERTISEMENTS REFLECT THE BELIEFS OF THE CULTURE AND
COMMUNITY IN WHICH YOU LIVE.
• PATTERNS OF THINKING- PEOPLE’S THOUGHTS ABOUT
THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE
ON MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH.
• COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS-UNHEALTHY PATTERNS OF THINKING THAT
ARE OFTEN NOT GROUNDED BY REALITY, THEY CAN ALSO CREATE
ANXIETY.
EMBRACING YOUR IDENTITY
COMPONENTS OF
IDENTITY:
• CORE VALUES AND BELIEFS- A PERSON’S CORE VALUES ARE A KEY PART OF IDENTITY.
CORE VALUES ARE THE FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS AND IDEALS PEOPLE HOLD THAT
GUIDE THEIR BEHAVIORS AND CHOICES.
• PERSONALITY- ANOTHER IMPORTANT PART OF IDENTITY IS PERSONALITY, OR THE
COMBINATION OF THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND BEHAVIORS THAT MAKE A PERSON
UNIQUE.
• PHYSICAL IDENTITY-MADE UP OF PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS. THESE
CHARACTERISTICS
INCLUDE YOUR BIOLOGICAL SEX, RACE, AGE, HEIGHT, WEIGHT, HAIR AND EYE
COLOR, AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES.
CONTINUED COMPONENTS OF IDENTITY:
• GENDER-DESCRIBES THE CHARACTERISTICS A SOCIETY ASSOCIATES WITH BIOLOGICAL SEX,
GENETICALLY AND PHYSICALLY MALE OR FEMALE.
GENDER STEREOTYPES- SOCIETAL ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT BOYS AND GIRLS;
FOR
EXAMPLE: GIRLS MUST PLAY WITH DOLLS AND BOYS CAN ONLY PLAY
WITH TRUCKS AND CARS.
• SOCIAL IDENTITY-YOUR CONNECTION TO OTHER PEOPLE, INCLUDING FAMILY, FRIENDS,
AND GROUP MEMBERS
• CULTURAL AND ETHNIC IDENTITY- YOUR CONNECTION TO DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND
ETHNIC GROUPS. ETHNICITY IS ONE’S CONNECTION TO A PARTICULAR SOCIAL
GROUP THAT SHARES SIMILAR CULTURAL OR NATIONAL TIES.
IDENTITY FORMATION IS THE PROCESS OF DISCOVERING AND
ESTABLISHING YOUR IDENTITY. THE PROCESS BEGINS DURING
CHILDHOOD AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT A PERSON’S ENTIRE LIFE.
WAYS TO DISCOVER YOUR
IDENTITY:
-ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR
QUALITIES
-LISTEN TO OTHERS
-TRY NEW ACTIVITIES
-LEARN FROM YOUR
MISTAKES
I N G
L D L F-
U I E • SELF-IMAGE IS YOUR MENTAL
B RS M PICTURE OF YOUR ABILITIES,
O U E E
Y ST APPEARANCE, AND
E PERSONALITY BASED ON
EXPERIENCES AND
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHERS.
• SELF-ESTEEM DESCRIBES HOW
YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF.
THIS CAN ALSO CHANGE
THROUGH LIFE EXPERIENCES
AND NEW UNDERSTANDINGS.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SELF-ESTEEM
EEM LOW
E S T EST SEL
F- EEM F-
S EL
IG H
H
• GENERALLY LIKES ONESELF • GENERALLY DISLIKES ONESELF
• FEELS SECURE AND WORTHY OF • FEELS INSECURE AND
LOVE UNWORTHY OF LOVE
• ACCEPTS CORRECTIONS • SENSITIVE TO CRITICISM
• ATTEMPTS NEW ACTIVITIES • FEARS FAILURE
• TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR • BLAMES OTHERS FOR MISTAKES
ACTIONS
IMPROVING YOUR SELF-ESTEEM
• KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS- FOCUS ON YOUR POSITIVE QUALITIES
RATHER THAN WHAT YOU DISLIKE ABOUT YOURSELF
• CELEBRATE YOUR SUCCESSES-FOCUS ON TIMES YOU HAVE
SUCCEEDED AND RECOGNIZE AND ACCEPT AREAS YOU CAN
IMPROVE.
AFFIRMATION-STATEMENTS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE A PERSON’S
VALUE AND STRENGTHS.
CONTINUED WAYS OF IMPROVING YOUR
SELF-ESTEEM
• AVOID PERFECTIONISM- HOLDING
YOURSELF TO IMPOSSIBLY HIGH
STANDARDS IS HARMFUL TO YOUR SELF-
ESTEEM. PERFECTIONISM-PERSONAL
STANDARD OR ATTITUDE THAT REJECTS
ANYTHING LESS THAN AN IDEAL
PERFORMANCE.
• CARE FOR YOURSELF- ENGAGING IN
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, GETTING ENOUGH
SLEEP, TAKING TIME TO RELAX, PERSONAL
HYGIENE, AND EATING WELL.
SELF-CARE- TAKING CARE OF YOUR OWN
WELL-BEING AND HEALTH.
EXPRESSING YOUR EMOTIONS
• MOOD SWINGS- SUDDEN
SHIFTS IN EMOTION. MOOD
SWINGS CAN BE CAUSED BY
CHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE
BODY, THEY ARE A NORMAL
PART OF ADOLESCENCE.
• EMOTIONS- STRONG
FEELINGS BASED ON
CIRCUMSTANCES,
RELATIONSHIPS, OR MOODS.
DEFENSE
MECHANISM- A MENTAL
PROCESS USED TO AVOID
CONSCIENCE CONFLICT,
FEELINGS, OR THOUGHTS.
• IDENTIFY WHAT YOU ARE FEELING
MANAGE YOUR
• ACCEPT YOUR FEELINGS-TRY NOT TO JUDGE OR
EMOTIONS
CHANGE THEM
• EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS-THIS WILL MAKE YOU
FEEL BETTER
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
IS A SKILL THAT PEOPLE HAVE
IN PERCEIVING,
UNDERSTANDING, AND
MANAGING EMOTIONS AND
FEELINGS. IT IS NECESSARY
IN ORDER TO DEVELOP
CLOSE PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH
OTHERS.