9.MEH.2

What does this standard mean a child will know and be able to do?

9.MEH.2.1 Identify causes and symptoms of depression and mental disorders.
Mental disorders include abnormal thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. The symptoms that accompany a mental disorder make it difficult for a person to function in daily life. Mental disorders are believed to be caused by a combination of factors. These include physical factors, such as damage to the brain by a tumor, an accident or prolonged use of alcohol or drugs. A person can inherit a tendency toward a mental disorder, which means they have a greater risk of having that disorder if life events trigger it. Life experiences can also trigger mental disorders. Early life experiences such as child abuse or being neglected and recent experiences such as the death of a loved one can also cause a mental disorder. Some of the symptoms of depression include extreme sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, apathy, and thoughts of suicide. Some behavioral symptoms include increased/decreased appetite, alcohol and drug abuse, and other risk-taking behaviors. People who suffer from depressive disorders may also suffer from anxiety disorders. These include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Symptoms for anxiety disorders include intense worry, trouble sleeping and concentrating, thoughts of death, nausea and sweating. Attention-deficit and hyperactivity are also categorized as mental disorders.
 * The student will be able to recognize the symptoms of depression.
 * The student will be able to identify the symptoms of other common mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders, attention-deficit and hyperactivity.
 * The student will explain the causes of mental disorders and there can be more than one cause.

9.MEH.2.2 Design useful help-seeking strategies for depression and mental disorders.
There are many misconceptions about mental disorders. Because of this, barriers often exist that prevent people from seeking the help that they need. There is often shame and embarrassment associated with mental disorders. Many who suffer from a mental disorder will deny that they need help or are convinced that they cannot be helped. For these reasons, mental disorders often go untreated. When depression goes untreated, suicide can be the tragic and final result. The first step toward recovery is recognizing the need for help and then knowing where to access this help. Students should be made aware of all the community resources available to them and what services these resources provide. Psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors are four types of mental health professionals. Students can find these professionals using the phonebook or the Internet. They may be referred by a doctor or a friend. They can also begin their course of treatment with their school counselor.
 * The student will describe how to overcome the barriers to seeking help for mental disorders.
 * The student will be able to locate and access the various resources for mental disorders.