Page 35 - Maeve Whelan

Mental Health

Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological and social
well-being. It influences the way we think, feel and act.

It also helps decide how we deal with stress, how we relate to others, and
When beginning this project those who how we make choices. Mental wellbeing is critical at every stage of life, from

choose the same 'Design Series' all childhood and adolescence to adulthood.

gathered together in separate calls to Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your

discuss possible sub-areas and topics thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected.
in the main categories.

There was a total of five people in the

'Home-Work' group, myself included.

Symptoms/Signs of Mental Illness
As a group we discussed and charted Signs and symptoms of mental illness can differ depending on the

out a brainstorm of our topic. We ended condition, circumstances and other factors. Symptoms of mental
with six sub-areas and pro and cons to Risks/Factors disorder may influence feelings, perceptions and behaviors. Complications

each area. Examples of signs and symptoms are:

Certain factors may increase your risk of • Feeling sad or down Mental illness is a leading cause of disability.
This was just what we could think of off developing a mental illness, including: • Confounded thought or impaired ability to focus Untreated mental illness can cause severe

the top of out heads and researched emotional, behavioral and physical health problems.

each area further afterwards. • A history of mental illness in a blood relative,
such as a parent or sibling. Complications sometimes linked to mental illness
include:
I choose to base my project on the • Stressful life situations, such as financial

isolation sub-area, mainly focused on problems, a loved one's death or a divorce. Causes • Unhappiness and decreased enjoyment of life.
children in online school during COVID-19 • An ongoing (chronic) medical condition, such as Mental health issues can have a wide variety of causes. It is • Family conflicts.
possible that there is a complex combination of factors for many
diabetes.
and how mentally damaging being • Brain damage as a result of a serious injury people – and different people may be more profoundly influenced • Relationship difficulties.
isolated from their friends and social (traumatic brain injury), such as a violent blow to by some things than others. • Social isolation.

interaction. the head. For example, the following factors may potentially lead to a • Missed work or school, or other problems related
period of poor mental health:
to work or school.
• Few friends or few healthy relationships. • Legal and financial problems.
• A previous mental illness • Social isolation or loneliness

• Experiencing discrimination and stigma
• Severe or long-term stress

• Having a long-term physical health condition
• Unemployment or losing your job