Mental Health, Wellness, and Stress Management
Mental health is just as important as physical health and can be a major contributor to physical health. NEA HIN’s Mental Wellness program works to promote the health of members, their families, and the students they serve. The program collaborates with national mental health organizations and programs to provide NEA members with information, education, and training about timely mental health topics.
Mental health problems affect one’s thoughts, body, feelings, and behavior. While everyone experiences stress and anxiety at some times, when these get out of control or interfere with day to day functioning, they are can become a mental health problem. Mental health problems are not just a passing phase. They can be severe, seriously interfere with a person’s life, and even cause a person to become disabled. Mental health problems include depression, bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and conduct disorder. Some problems can be managed by individuals but others will need counseling and/or medical help.
Mental wellness is not just the absence of mental health problems. It is having a positive emotional outlook, the ability to cope with stressors in health ways, and the ability to live life in creative ways.
Mental Health Parity
Mental health parity is the principal that whenever mental health problems are covered by health insurance they are covered at the same rate as physical health problems. The so called “Wellstone Act” passed in 2008, covers employers with more than 51 employees and adds substance use disorders to the current law that requires that any mental health coverage be at the same level as medical and surgical coverage. This law takes effect in the first insurance plan year after October 3, 2009 and for calendar year plans it takes effect January 1, 2010. Please contact your benefit plan or your local representative if you have questions about specific coverage.
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Adults
Stress
For many people, stress is one of the first things they think of when they think of mental health. Stress is the body’s response to a demand. Although stress is seen usually as a negative, it can also be positive. For example, having a large class might be a negative stress, but working with your class on really special project can be a positive stress. The way your body responds to stress is called the “fight or flight” mechanism and it is part of basic biology. It is an automatic response that involves the brain, the nervous system, the digestive system, and other body systems. This is the same response that kicks in when there is a physical danger. When there is too much stress the stress response system can cause physical and emotional problems.
What are the symptoms of stress?
Common symptoms include headache, sleep disorders, difficulty concentrating, short-temper, upset stomach, job dissatisfaction, low morale, depression, and anxiety.
What can stress do to your body?
Because the stress response is a physical one, stress can cause physical health problems. It can impair the immune system making illness such as colds more likely. Some of the other physical effects of stress include; headaches, digestive problems, lack of energy, changes in eating behavior; higher risk of asthma and arthritis flare-ups, skin problems such as hives, high blood pressure, and lack of sexual desire. Stress also contributes to feelings of anger, sadness, tension, depression, and anxiety. One thing that stress does NOT do is cause ulcers, although it does irritate them. (Ulcers are caused by a bacterium, H. pylori.)
Stress Self Assessment: COMING SOON
Kill Stress before it Kills You: A Training for NEA Members
While stress itself might not kill you, it may lead to heart disease and other serious health conditions that can. A recent survey found that 88 percent of teachers experience high to moderate levels of stress. In this highly interactive session, you will learn how to make the changes that will help you manage stress and avoid the serious health consequences that it can cause. This session will help you deal successfully with stress and other mental wellness issues by sharing key strategies for living a healthy and balanced life.
Anxiety and depression are normal feelings. Everyone has times when they are worried or anxious. Everyone has times when they are sad or worried. When those emotions get out of hand or become so pervasive that they affect one’s ability to function, then they are a problem.
There are several kinds of anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The symptoms of each type of anxiety disorder vary, but can range from feelings of uneasiness to immobilizing bouts of terror. All are treatable and professional advice should be sought.
Depression also has several types. The most common are major depressive disorder (major depression) and dysthymic disorder (dysthymia). Major depression is a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities. Major depression is disabling and prevents a person from functioning normally. An episode of major depression may occur only once in a person’s lifetime, but more often, it recurs throughout a person’s life. With dythymia people have depressive symptoms that are long-term (e.g., two years or longer) but less severe than those of major depression. Dysthymia may not be disabling but it can prevent someone from functioning normally or feeling well. People with dysthymia may also experience one or more episodes of major depression during their lifetimes.
The symptoms of depression can vary from person to person but include:
- Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” feelings
- Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
- Irritability, restlessness, anxiety
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
- Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
- Fatigue and decreased energy
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
- Insomnia, waking up during the night, or excessive sleeping
- Overeating, or appetite loss
- Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
- Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
Both anxiety and depression can be treated with therapy and/or medication.
More information on treatment COMING SOON:
Substance use and abuse (including alcohol and drugs): COMING SOON
Violence COMING SOON
School employee wellness COMING SOON