May 2023 Edition

Family & Consumer Sciences
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Warning Signs of Mental Health Issues

It is difficult to notice the signs of a mental health issue in a person. There is no easy checklist that can tell you that someone has a mental illness. Each illness and each person have their own unique symptoms. However, The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides some good information about frequent signs of mental illness in adults and teens. These can at least help you start a conversation if you see them in a loved one or yourself.
• Excessive or unwarranted worrying or fear
• Feeling extremely sad or down in the dumps
• Difficulty with concentrating or learning new things
• Intense mood changes, including highs and lows
• Persistent feelings of being irritable or angry
• Avoidance of friends or social activities
• Trouble understanding or relating to others
• Changes in sleeping habits, including too much or too little sleep
• Feeling tired or having low energy all the time
• Changes in eating habits, including increased appetite or lack of appetite
• Experiencing delusions or hallucinations
• Inability to realize there are changes in yourself, such as your own emotions, behavior, or personality
• Abusing substances such as alcohol or drugs
• Experiencing constant headaches or stomach aches or other physical issues with no obvious causes
• Being unable to carry out your typical daily activities or cope with daily stresses
• Confused or scattered thinking
• Thinking about suicide
• Extreme fear of changes in appearance, such as weight gain

Warning Signs of Mental Health Issues
Some mental health issues can start developing during childhood. Younger children may not yet be able to talk about their thoughts and feelings. As a result, behavioral symptoms are the most common symptoms we may see. Symptoms in children may include the following:
• Changes in school performance or attendance
• Hyperactive behavior
• Repeated nightmares
• Acting disobediently or aggressively
• Recurrent temper tantrums
• Excessive worry or anxiety
It is important to know your own warning signs. When you realize there are changes going on within yourself, you can be more aware of whether you should speak to a professional. The first and hardest step for many people is getting an exact diagnosis. After diagnosis, a professional can help develop an individual treatment plan that best suits you. Treatment plans might include medication, therapy, or other lifestyle changes. It is OK to share your own goals and opinions. Treat-ments for mental illness can vary greatly by both diagnosis and by indi-vidual. No treatment plan is “one size fits all.”
It is important to reach out if you or someone you love is in need of help. Spend a little time to learn all you can about mental health. This little bit of time can go a very long way in helping others. Some places you can go for more resources include your health insurance company, your doc-tors, or local or state mental health centers. You can also contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness Help Line. They can help you learn about services and supports that may be available right in your community. If you or someone you know needs helps now, do not hesi-tate. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255* or you can call 911 immediately.

Book of the Month
This month’s book review comes from “The Old Favorites” of our KEHA 2022-2023 Booklist.
“The Westing Game” by Ellen Raskin (1978)
Samuel Westing is a wealthy businessman who made his fortune in pa-per products. He was very patriotic and never smoked, drank, nor gam-bled! He owned a newly built apartment building on the banks of Lake Michigan called Sunset Towers. In the beginning of the book, Sam Westing dies. The 16 tenants of the towers become the heirs of his will! The will is structured like a puzzle and the 16 heirs were challenged to find the solution! In the will, it states that one of the heirs has taken his life. They are put into pairs. The pair that solves the mystery of his death receives and shares the $200 million dollars and will control his company!

 

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Raskin’s clever and humorous book is accessible to young readers, but still enjoyed by adults.