MODULE 7: Mental

Health and Well-Being in

Middle and Late
Adolescence
 Big Question:
How do you stay
mentally healthy?
Objectives: At the end of the module, you
will be able to:
1. interpret the concepts of mental health
and psychological well-being in everyday
observations about mental health
problems during adolescence,
2. identify your own vulnerabilities, and
3. create a plan to stay mentally healthy
during adolescence
CHANGE YOUR MIND ABOUT MENTAL
HEALTH
It is not uncommon for teenagers to develop
problems with their mental health. Problems
can range from mild to severe, and can
include depression, anxiety, body esteem
issues, and suicide, among others.
Unfortunately, most young people with
mental health problems don’t get any
treatment for them.
Activity: MEDIA MOTIVES
1. What type of product or service is featured in your ad?
2. What approach has the advertiser used to promote or sell this product or service?
Here are some of the methods that advertisers use to attract consumer:
• Sex Appeal
• Join the Bandwagon: Everyone is getting one!
• Highest Quality Available
• Financial Plans/Installment Incentives
• Negative Advertising
• Homestyle or Traditional
• We Try Harder
• Best Value
• New & Improved
• Name Brands & Logos
• Health & Safety
Activity: MEDIA MOTIVES
3. What message does this ad give the consumer?

4. How would you define or describe this approach to advertising?

5. Do you think that this approach is effective advertising for the

product? Why or why not?

6. In what ways, if any, could any part of this advertisement impact a

person’s body image? (e.g. you could take into consideration: the product
itself, the models selling it, the way it is being presented, etc.)
 Additional Information: Strategies for Becoming a
Critical Viewer of the Media

Media messages about body shape and size

will affect the way we feel about ourselves
and our bodies, only if we let them. One of
the ways we can protect our self-esteem and
body image from the media’s narrow
definitions of beauty is to become a critical
viewer of the media messages we are
bombarded with each day.
Remember:
• All media images and messages are constructions. They are NOT
reflections of reality. Advertisements and other media messages
have been carefully crafted with the intent to send a very specific
message.

• Advertisements are created to do one thing: convince you to buy or

support a specific product or service.

• To convince you to buy a specific product or service, advertisers will

often construct an emotional experience that looks like reality.
Remember that you are only seeing what the advertisers want you
to see.
Remember:

• Advertisers create their message based on what they think you will
want to see and what they think will affect you and compel you to
buy their product.

• As individuals, we decide how to experience the media messages

we encounter. We can choose to use a filter that helps us
understand what the advertiser wants us to think or believe and
then choose whether we want to think or believe that message.
Portfolio Output No. 12: Media Influences (How Ads
Affected My Self-Esteem)

Name some ads that appear on TV, billboards, the internet.

1. What messages do these ads give to middle adolescents
like you?
2. How have these ads affected your lifestyle, self-esteem, and
values?
3. How has this lesson changed your perception about ads?
SELF ESTEEM AND BODY ESTEEM

Does any of this sound familiar? "I'm too tall." "I'm too
short." "I'm too skinny." "If only I were shorter/taller/had
curly hair/straight hair/a smaller nose/longer legs, I'd be
happy.“

Are you putting yourself down? If so, you're not alone. As

a teen, you're going through lots of changes in your body.
And, as your body changes, so does your image of
yourself. It's not always easy to like every part of your
looks, but when you get stuck on the negatives it can
really bring down your self-esteem.
Why Are Self-Esteem and Body Image
Important?
Self-esteem is all about how much you feel you are worth
— and how much you feel other people value you. Self-
esteem is important because feeling good about yourself
can affect your mental health and how you behave.

Body image is how you view your physical self —

including whether you feel you are attractive and
whether others like your looks. For many people,
especially people in their early teens, body image can be
closely linked to self esteem.
What Influences a
Person's Self-
Esteem?
Puberty and Development
Some people struggle with their self-esteem and body
image when they begin puberty because it's a time when
the body goes through many changes.

Media Images and Other Outside Influences

Our tweens and early teens are a time when we become
more aware of celebrities and media images — as well as
how other kids look and how we fit in.

Families and School Family

life can sometimes influence our body image. Some
parents or coaches might be too focused on looking a
certain way or "making weight" for a sports team.
Common Eating Disorders
The most common eating disorders are anorexia
nervosa and bulimia nervosa (usually called simply
"anorexia" and "bulimia“). But other food-related
disorders, like avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder,
binge eating, body image disorders, and food phobias,
are becoming more and more commonly identified.
1. Anorexia
People with anorexia have a real fear of weight gain and
a distorted view of their body size and shape. As a
result, they eat very little and can become dangerously
underweight.’

2. Bulimia
is similar to anorexia. With bulimia, people might binge
eat (eat to excess) and then try to compensate in
extreme ways, such as making themselves throw up or
exercising all the time , to prevent weight gain.
Portfolio Output No. 13: Research on
Anxiety Disorders/Depression
Among the mental health challenges discussed in class, two of the most common among
middle adolescents are anxiety disorders and depression. Go to the Library or browse the
internet and do a little research on either one of these.

Look for the answers to the following questions and put them in your portfolio:
1. What are anxiety disorders/depression?
2. Who gets anxiety disorders/depression and how common are they?
3. Describe some of the symptoms of anxiety disorders/depression.
4. List and briefly explain some of the main types of anxiety
disorders/depression.
5. What type of treatment is available for people experiencing anxiety disorders/depression?
6. What other kinds of support can help a person with anxiety disorders/depression recover?
 Activity: SIGNS OF TROUBLE: DEPRESSION
Put a check mark under the Column Yes or No for each of the items
below:

Test Your Mood Yes No

Do you feel sad, depressed or down most of the time?
Are you unable to enjoy the things that once gave you pleasure?
Do you feel tired and/or lack energy most of the time?
Do you have trouble sleeping or do you sleep too much?
Do you find it difficult to concentrate or make decisions?
Have you had an increase or decrease in appetite or weight?
Have you had feelings of worthlessness or guilt?
Have you felt frightened or panicky for no apparent reason at all?
Have you felt restless and found it difficult to sit still?
Have you been feeling anxious or worried?
Have you felt like you just cannot go on or had thoughts of death or
dying?
Reading: HEALTHY EATING AND MENTAL HEALTH

Healthy eating nourishes the body, including the brain, and

supports mental health through:
• Improved overall health and vitality
• Increased ability to concentrate
• Reduced irritability and mood swings
• Lowered risk of mental illness

Physical Activity and Mental Health: Physical activity can make

you feel good physically and build confidence. Evidence
suggests that physical activity may contribute to improved
mood and increased self-esteem, self-confidence and sense of
control (UK Dept of Health, 2004; Fox, 1999).
Sleep and Mental Health
Most teens need 9-11 hours of sleep every night. Problems from
not being fully rested include:

• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating and learning
• Don’t move information from short-term to long-term memory
as well
• Falling asleep in class
• Mood swings and behavior problems
• More accident prone
• More prone to depression
Sleep and Mental Health
Most teens need 9-11 hours of sleep every night. Problems from
not being fully rested include:

• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating and learning
• Don’t move information from short-term to long-term memory
as well
• Falling asleep in class
• Mood swings and behavior problems
• More accident prone
• More prone to depression
Portfolio Output No. 14: Response to “Tired at School”
Pretend that you are Abby. Write an answer to the letter
writer “Tired at School”.

Activity: SLEEP AND BEDTIME ACTIVITIES DIARY

Week (date):

Day: Write in the rows below your activities before you went
to sleep, starting on the day in the week that you begin with:
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday
Day Time went to What was I doing before I went to bed? Did this
sleep Examples: affect
• Playing a sport what
• Playing a video game time
• Reading a book you
• Watching TV went to
• Talking on the phone sleep?
• Texting with friends
• Hanging out with friends
• Others

PY
Yes N
o

O
C