IDIS 199 part 2

social connectedness

refers to ur relationships with others

Melancholy

older term for clincial depression, one cause is "overmuch study"

Connectedness

A personal sense of belonging.

other people connectedness

can include your friends, family, peers, colleagues, and more

Natural world connectedness

refers to all of the animals, plants, and other things existing in nature and not made or caused by people. Connections with the natural world and getting out in nature can include gardening, hiking, sightseeing, etc

Meaning values connectedness

refers to faith-based activities, and activities that reflect importance with family and/or personal values.

Meaningful work connectedness

refer to your work, hobbies, volunteering, or passion projects

Culture and heritage connectedness

can include celebrating traditions, cultural holidays, or relating to people and places from your past.

Loneliness

he unpleasant feeling when your social needs are not being metoften accompanied by a desire for social connectedness

U C L A Loneliness Scale

a tool used by experts to determine a person's loneliness

effects of loneliness

increased cortisol, sleep distrubances, reduced activity, increased risk of heart diseases, challenge immune system

social prescribing

a holistic approach to health and mental health supporting non-clinical community based activities to improve social connectedness

Situtional loneliness

when unpleasant events or circumstances causes us to retract from society

developmental loneliness

can hinder our capacity to balance individualism and intimacyeg, can be caused by mental illness

internal loneliness

when self-perception of worthlessness intensifies the feeling of being alone

social isolation

is an objective measurement of the number of people you interact with. In otherwords, social isolation is a lack of quantity of social connections

recreation

1. refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise, or the like.2. a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affording relaxation and enjoyment

directed attention

a form of focused attention that requires great effort to remain on task and process the information

involuntary attention

or fascination, is effortless. This type of is held when the subject is interesting and, therefore, automatically holds your attention

directed attention fatigue (DAF)

refers to a neuropsychological phenomenon indicating overuse of the brain's inhibitory system necessary for maintaining focused attention - such as when you are studying

DAF areas impacted

input deficts, thinking problems, behavior, executive functioning, emotions, worry and rumination

Recovery from DAF

- engage in positive activities you find absorbing- Getting good quality sleep- Allowing the mind to wander freely (i.e. exercising, getting out in nature, visiting an art gallery)- Clearing the mind of internal distractions and take short breaks from directed attention tasks

Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan and Kaplan)

suggests that you think better (or restore your attention) when you spend time in or connecting with nature

This concept can be expanded to feeling restored mentally when immersing oneself in a restorative \n environment - which might be anything that gets you away from worries and stress and helps restore \n your balance

A range of activities and environments can help to engage in involuntary attention including but not limited to:

- Nature- Creative tasks (e.g. art, music, writing, painting)- Kinaesthetic activities (those involving the body- sport, dance, martial arts)- Highly sensory/sensual tasks (e.g., cooking, eating, listening to music)

Endorphins

natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

problem-focused coping

A way of coping through which people actively seek information or help to tackle a problem directly or diminish its impact

Benefits of environments rich in wildlife

physical health, stress, emotional regulation, and social life

culture

refers to the characteristics and knowledge of a particular group of people. It encompasses language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music, art, and more

GLAM Student lifestyle

Make a little time for Galleries, Libraries, Arts, and Museums

Benefits of GLAM lifestyle

longevity, resiliency, community connectedness

cultural heritage

implies a shared bond, our belonging to a community. It represents our history and our identity; our bond to the past, to our present, and the future

prescribe culture

is a well-being and mental health initiative run by the University of Edinburgh Museums Services. It is heritage-based and non-clinical, and pro-actively engaging with the concept of social prescribing

social prescribing in prescribe culture

is an approach for connecting people with non-medical resources (i.e. resources within the community) to help with the health problems they are experiencing

3 main types of recreation

physical activity, connecting with nature, and creativity, culture, and heritage

tipping point

strain/burden of perceived stress. It will be different for each individual; what might be yours will be different than others.

Diathesis

refers to the concept of vulnerability. Specifically, a persons predisposition or vulnerability to a medical

stress

triggers several interconnected biological systems

allostasis

process by which the body adapts to changes in the body

stress diathesis model

A psychological theory that attempts to explain a disorder or behaviour as an interaction between a genetic predisposition (vulnerability) and a risk exposure (event, stressor).

Stress- and Allostasis-Induced Brain Plasticity: brain and regulation

The brain is central in the stress diathesis model. The brain determines what are threatening/adverse and what are positive experiences/exposures. The brain is responsible for regulating an individual's physical, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive response to stressors, events, and experiences

Stress- and Allostasis-Induced Brain Plasticity: stress

Stress must be balanced. Stress, if manageable, can lead to positive growth and adaptation (steeling effect) which promotes resilience and good health

Stress- and Allostasis-Induced Brain Plasticity: stress and health

Too much stress, either chronic (cumulative) or acute overwhelming stress, takes a toll on the brain and body, and is associated with poor mental and physical health outcomes

Stress- and Allostasis-Induced Brain Plasticity: Brain structure

When stressed, the brain changes its structure in an adaptive or maladaptive way in response. In fact, the loss of resilience (physiologically, neurologically, and behaviourally) is a key feature of disorders related to stress (i.e. anxiety and depression).

Brain plasticity

also known as neural plasticity or neuroplasticity, can be defined as the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections

steeling effect

Refers to evidence of more resistance to later stress having successfully coped with a stress or challenge

perceived stress

brain processes info from your internal and external environment

allostatic load

refers to the wear and tear on the body and brain resulting from chronic dysregulation or overactivity/strain related to the process of allostasis

HPA axis

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, an important part of the biological stress response system

Emotional signs and symptoms associated with anxiety

feeling on edge, feeling irritable, not fully enjoying things

physical signs and symptoms associated with anxiety

restlessness, chest tightness, muscle tension, SOB, hyperventilation, gastrointestinal upset, headaches, sweaty palms, butterflies, changes in appetite, blushing/flushing, fatigue or low E, rapid pressured speech

behavioral signs and symptoms associated with anxiety

avoidance of feared situations, short temper and at times angry, diffcultly sleeping, diffculty concentrating, distracted by worries, forgetfulness

cogntive signs and symptoms associated with anxiety

apprehension, over-worry, distracted

Emotional signs and symptoms associated depression

feeling sad, non-reactive mood, feeling despair, loss of enjoyment of normally enjoyable experiences

physical signs and symptoms associated depression

changes in sleep (a lot less or a lot more than usual), changes in appetite, feeling slowed down in your movements, or agitated and restless, pain, headaches

behavioral signs and symptoms associated depression

withdrawing from friends and family, staying in more, missing work or university

cognitive signs and symptoms associated depression

feelings of guilt, suicidal thoughts, feelings of hopelessness, diffculty concentrating, dwelling on the negative, thinking over past bad memories and experiences, diffculty making decisions, negative thinking

4 main indicators of a problem

disproportionate reaction, time, impairment, out of character

disproportionate reaction indicator

severity or intensity of symptoms and level of distress are disproportionate to the sitution

time indicator

symptoms persistent for extended period of time (past the stressor)

impairment indicator

symptoms are associated with impairment and interfere with day-to-day life

out of character indicator

other notice that the person does not seem themselves or is "off"

Developmental history

i.e. early trauma or abuse, academic history

family history

history of mental disorders to identify a predisposition, or genetic and familial vulnerability

symptoms

The clinical course of distressing and impairing symptoms, in terms of onset and nature (i.e. chronic or episodic) and relationship to context/stressors

treatment

The response or paradoxical worsening to any treatment tried to date and other physical or medical problems that might be contributing

other factors asscessed

use of alcohol and/or recreational or illicit drugs and/or current stressors

relational and social factors

nature of the relationships, social connectedness, and environment

Psychiatry is...

particularly well-suited for assessing and treating moderate to severe mental health conditions or disorders that require a combined psychological and pharmacological treatment approach

Psychological therapy or psychotherapy services

are often well-suited to help with and support young people with emotional, social, and mental health problems, typically of moderate severity

Your primary care provider (family doctor)

should be though of as central to coordinating (or quarterbacking) your health and mental health care. Primary care providers are a first line for assessment of a mental health concern and provide continuity and coordinate your care. As such, ideally your Primary care provider should be kept up to date with any health or mental health supporter care you receive

Counselling

provided through Student Wellness Services is often short-term and problem-focused, addressing healthy coping during periods of stress, strengthening problem-solving skills, and managing emotional responses to an identified stressor

peer support

Being able to talk to other students who are going through - or who have been through - similar experiences as you can be helpful for support.

self-help

refers to using available resources, such as books, websites, or apps, to work through a problem or difficulty.

stepped care

approach aims to match individual patients to the level of service indicated based on intensity of need- represents a progressive increase in the level or intensity of treatment and the expertise brought to bear into that treatmentoften visualized using a pyramid (generalized-\>specilaized): campus-based health promotion, student mental health care team, community mental health services, emergency and urgent care services

Occupational therapists (O Ts)

are regulated healthcare professionals who specialize in assessment and intervention focused on helping people resume or maintain participation in a variety of activities, including work, school, recreation, and activities of daily living

Counsellors

have variable training, which may include a graduate degree - provided is often short-term and problem-focused. - can support healthy coping, emotional and behavioural regulation, and healthy lifestyle choices, as well as achieving a good study-life balance

Psychotherapists

are licensed healthcare professionals with training in group and individual psychological talking therapies- There are different "schools" or models of psychotherapy including cognitive behaviour therapy (C B T), interpersonal psychotherapy (I P T), and psychodynamic psychotherapy

Psychologists

receive extensive training in psychological, cognitive, and psychoeducational assessment, and in providing manualized effective group and individual therapeutic approaches to help with a variety of mental health problems and conditions

psychiatrist

are medical doctors with extensive specialty training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, integrating pharmacological treatment (i.e., medication) with other aspects of educational, psychological, and social and family care

ideal mental health system modek

start with a welcoming clinic visit to determine each student's support need,followed by referrals to the appropriate level of service and supportsingle point of entry or a triage (sort what is going on, the nature of the problem and what the indicated level of care should be), clincial humanistic, therapeutic first contact, ideally matched to a level of care need

Queen's Student Health and Wellness Services (Q S W S)

supports the personal, academic, and social health development of students at Queen's University by providing a range of programs and services, including physical and mental healthcare.

Queen's Student Accessibility Services (Q S A S) (part of Q S W S)

supports the personal and mental health of students, and their academic success through providing a range of resources and services

Psychology Clinic at Queen's University

provides psychological assessments, treatment, and consultation for Queen'sstudents and members of the Kingston community

Hospital-based services

include emergency or urgent care (walk-in basis) and various subspecialty programs (i.e. eating disorders, early psychosis) which typically have defined criteria for admission

Publicly Funded Community-Based Services

High demand plus limited funding often means that publicly funded community-based services have long waitlists and prioritize the most ill people. Often hospital-based services and publicly-funded community services do not line up with the university student demographic or the specific needs of university students

Private and Fee-for-Service Options

Because many provincial health plans such as OHIP do not cover psychotherapy outside of what is offered on campus, many people have to rely on private and fee-for-service options. As noted previously, some insurance companies offer coverage, and for those under 25 years you might qualify under your parents' coverage, but in many cases this coverage is limited

stigma related barriers to care

fear of being evaluated negatively as a result of a mental health problem presents asignificant barrier in accessing mental health services and supports

attitudinal barriers to care

It is not uncommon for people to invalidate their own or others' mental health concerns or diagnosis as there is not a clear diagnosable test such as an x-ray or lab test to provide clear objective proof and validation of a mental health disorder

Practical barriers to care

long wait times, financial barriers, challenges navigating the system

Long wait times

High demand plus limited funding for resources often means that there are long wait times for accessing mental health services.

Financial barriers

Finance can limit timely access and access to certain specialized services

Challenges Navigating the System

It can be difficult to know what level of services you need and where you can best access those services

social approaches

include a variety of supports that can improve your social support and well-being. Some of these resources and supports may include social skills workshops, interest groups and clubs, health promotion, and support groups- may benefit mild MH symptoms

Mindfulness-based stress reduction and other mindfulness approaches

are useful for being mentally present, focused, and relaxed

Behavioural activation

is an evidence-based treatment based on increasing your activity level, especially in pleasurable activities to combat low mood

Psychodynamic Therapy

Unconscious thought processes can manifest in feelings, thoughts, and behaviour. - focuses on unpacking our thoughts and feelings

Interpersonal psychotherapy

focuses on relieving symptoms by improving interpersonal functioning. It focuses on understanding and strengthening your relationship with yourself and others

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (C B T)

is an evidence-based therapy that involves addressing and changing maladaptive thinking patterns (cognitions) as well as modifying behaviour.- effective treatment options for a variety of mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and trauma- when more severe=useful when combined withother psychosocial and educational approaches including medication

Cognitive processing therapy (CPT)

another type of C B T that focuses on evaluating and changing upsetting thoughts. It has been used for reducing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

maladaptive

Not adjusting appropriately or in a healthy way to a situation or stress