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Unit 1: Assignment 1: Introduction and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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Unit 1: Assignment 1: Introduction and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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Hello, my name is Marylou, and I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Professional Counseling. One of my personal goals in achieving this degree is to become the first person in my family to earn a Master’s. Professionally, I aspire to be a school counselor because I believe our children are the future. They need to have support in processing their concerns, which can help them grow into great individuals. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of trauma through this Intro to Trauma class and learn how to address it in a healthy and healing manner, not only for myself but also for my current and future patients/clients. I am excited about the opportunity to learn and connect with others who are on a similar path toward counseling.

What I learned in this session about prior knowledge is that many young people struggle with mental health issues and experience thoughts of suicide. While I wasn't completely surprised by this, seeing the statistics has motivated me even more to pursue my degree and return to support these students.

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Unit 1: Assignment 4: Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders 

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Unit 1: Assignment 4: Reference Guide for Mental Health Disorders 

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Unfortunately, I was unable to complete this assignment due to technical difficulties with my Excel software. However, I found it interesting to learn about the various types of mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, substance use disorders, and eating disorders. The disorder that stood out to me the most was seasonal depression. I can relate to experiencing seasonal depression during the fall and winter months. The longer nights and reduced sunlight make me feel more tired, sleepy, and depressed.

Seasonal depression can impact individuals due to various factors, including their location, genetics, age, sex, lifestyle choices, stress levels, social and environmental influences, personal responses to seasonal changes, and the presence of other mental health issues (Calmerry, 2023).

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Unit 2: Assignment 2: Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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Unit 2: Assignment 2: Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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Throughout this course, we explored different types of trauma, including early childhood trauma, adolescent trauma, adult trauma, elderly trauma, and everyday trauma and disasters-and the effects they can have on the brain. I was most interested in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). I had no idea ACE existed until I read about it in this course. It is a form of childhood trauma that occurs between 0 and 17 years of age. As a result of taking the ACE test, I scored a 6, which surprised me and brought back a lot of memories for me. I was able to see more clearly why the things I struggle with now are related to my childhood. It would have been helpful if my parents and I were introduced to this information or if it was discussed more in school to help people like me who have struggled with mental health live healthier lives and have a positive outlook on the future. Learning about different types of trauma helped me understand trauma a bit more than I did before this course.

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Unit 3: Assignment 1: Psychological First Aid Online Certificate 

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Unit 3: Assignment 1: Psychological First Aid Online Certificate 

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I appreciated the practical skills I gained in this 5-hour disaster relief course. Learning to approach individuals in crisis, by observing, introducing myself, considering cultural differences, assessing needs, ensuring safety, and providing information was invaluable. This approach is essential for building trust and effectively connecting people with needed assistance.

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Unit 1: Assignment 1: Introduction and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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Unit 1: Assignment 1: Introduction and Assessing Prior Knowledge

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https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-by-the-numbers/

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You Are Not Alone
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Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year. Across the country, many people just like you work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love and inspire every day.

22.8% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2021 (57.8 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults.

5.5% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2021 (14.1 million people). This represents 1 in 20 adults.

16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people)

7.6% of U.S. adults experienced a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness in 2021 (19.4 million people)

Annual prevalence of mental illness among U.S. adults, by demographic group:

Non-Hispanic Asian: 16.4%

Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 18.1%

Non-Hispanic Black or African American: 21.4%

Hispanic or Latino: 20.7%

Non-Hispanic White: 23.9%

Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native: 26.6%

Non-Hispanic mixed/multiracial: 34.9%

Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 50.2%

Annual prevalence among U.S. adults, by condition:

Schizophrenia: <1%

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: 1.2%

Borderline Personality Disorder: 1.4%

Bipolar Disorder: 2.8%

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: 3.6%

Major Depressive Episode: 8.3%

Anxiety Disorders: 19.1%

Mental Health Care Matters
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47.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021

65.4% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness received treatment in 2021

50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health disorder received treatment in 2016

The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years

Annual treatment rates among U.S. adults with any mental illness, by demographic group:

Non-Hispanic Asian: 25.4%

Hispanic or Latino: 36.1%

Non-Hispanic Black or African American: 39.4%

Non-Hispanic White: 52.4%

Non-Hispanic mixed/multiracial: 52.2%

Male: 40%

Female: 51.7%

Lesbian, Gay or Bisexual: 55.6%

10.6% of U.S. adults with mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2021

11.9% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness had no insurance coverage in 2021

160 million people live in a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area

The Ripple Effect Of Mental Illness
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Having a mental illness can make it challenging to live everyday life and maintain recovery. Beyond the individual, these challenges ripple out through our families, our communities, and our world.

PERSON

People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. People with serious mental illness are nearly twice as likely to develop these conditions.

33.5% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2021 (19.4 million individuals)

The rate of unemployment is higher among U.S. adults who have mental illness (7.4%) compared to those who do not (4.6%)

High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers

Students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral concerns are 3x more likely to repeat a grade.

FAMILY

At least 8.4 million people in the U.S. provide care to an adult with a mental or emotional health issue

Caregivers of adults with mental or emotional health issues spend an average of 32 hours per week providing unpaid care

COMMUNITY

21.1% of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. have a serious mental health condition

Among people in the U.S. under age 18, depressive disorders are the most common cause of hospitalization (after excluding hospitalization relating to pregnancy and birth)

Among people in the U.S. aged 18-44, psychosis spectrum and mood disorders account for nearly 600,000 hospitalizations each year

19.7% of U.S. Veterans experienced a mental illness in 2020 (3.9 million people)

9.6% of Active Component service members in the U.S. military experienced a mental health or substance use condition in 2021

Across the U.S. economy, serious mental illness causes $193.2 billion in lost earnings each year

WORLD

Depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion in lost productivity each year

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide

Common Warning Signs Of Mental Illness
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Diagnosing mental illness isn't a straightforward science. We can't test for it the same way we can test blood sugar levels for diabetes. Each condition has its own set of unique symptoms, though symptoms often overlap.

It's Okay To Talk About Suicide
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Thoughts of suicide can be frightening. But by reaching out for help or checking in with family and friends, we can avoid devastating outcomes.

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 and the 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 15-24 in the U.S.

​Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.

46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition

90% of people who die by suicide may have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition, according to interviews with family, friends and medical professionals (also known as psychological autopsy)

Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, high risk populations:

U.S. Adults: annual average 4.8%

Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: 7.4%

Mixed/Multiracial: 8.2%

American Indian/Alaska Native: 8.5%

Youth Populations

Young adults aged 18-25: 13%

High school students: 22%

LGBTQ youth: 45%

Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are nearly 4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth

79% of people who die by suicide are male

Transgender adults are nearly 9x more likely to attempt suicide at some point in their lifetime compared to the general population

2020: Recognizing The Impact
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2020 was a year of challenges, marked by loss and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We must recognize the significant impact of the pandemic on our mental health-and the importance of increasing access to timely and effective care for those who need it.

1 in 15 U.S adults experienced both a substance use disorder and mental illness

12+ million U.S adults had serious thoughts of suicide

1 in 5 U.S adults report that the pandemic had a significant negative impact on their mental health

Among people aged 12 and older who drink alcohol, 15% report increased drinking

Among people aged 12 and older who use drugs, 10% report increased use

Among U.S. adults who received mental health services:

26.3 million U.S adults received virtual mental health services in the past year

2020: Youth & Young Adults
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Youth and young adults experienced a unique set of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic-isolation from peers, adapting to virtual learning, and changes to sleep habits and other routines.

We must recognize the significant impact of these experiences on young people's mental health-and the importance of providing the education, care and support they need.

Among U.S. adolescents (aged 12-17):

Among U.S. young adults (aged 18-25):

1 in 5 young people report that the pandemic had a significant negative impact on their mental health

1 in 10 people under age 18 experience a mental health condition following a COVID-19 diagnosis

Mental Illness And The Criminal Justice System
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People with mental illness deserve help, not handcuffs. Yet people with mental illness are overrepresented in our nation's jails and prisons. We need to reduce criminal justice system involvement and increase investments in mental health care.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

About 2 million times each year, people with serious mental illness are booked into jails.

About 2 in 5 people who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness (37% in state and federal prisons and 44% held in local jails).

66% of women in prison reported having a history of mental illness, almost twice the percentage of men in prison.

Nearly one in four people shot and killed by police officers between 2015 and 2020 had a mental health condition.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for people held in local jails.

An estimated 4,000 people with serious mental illness are held in solitary confinement inside U.S. prisons.

COMMUNITIES

70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition.

Youth in detention are 10 times more likely to suffer from psychosis than youth in the community.

About 50,000 veterans are held in local jails - 55% report experiencing a mental illness.

Among incarcerated people with a mental health condition, non-white individuals are more likely to go to solitary confinement, be injured, and stay longer in jail.

ACCESS TO CARE

About 3 in 5 people (63%) with a history of mental illness do not receive mental health treatment while incarcerated in state and federal prisons.

Less than half of people (45%) with a history of mental illness receive mental health treatment while held in local jails.

People who have healthcare coverage upon release from incarceration are more likely to engage in services that reduce recidivism.

Mental Health & Access To Care In Rural America
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People from all communities are affected by mental illness, but rural Americans often experience unique barriers to managing their mental health.

Among U.S. adults in nonmetropolitan areas, 2020:

21% experienced mental illness

6% experienced serious mental illness

13% experienced a substance use disorder

5% had serious thoughts of suicide

Access to Treatment is Severely Limited

25+ Million rural Americans live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, where there are too few providers to meet demand

Some Populations Face Additional Challenges

53% of rural adults say the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their mental health

66% of farmers and farmworkers

71% of younger adults aged 18-34

Many rural states have a postpartum depression rate higher than the national average of 13%:

21% in Alabama

22% in Mississippi

23% in Arkansas

Rural youth are at an increased risk of suicide, but highly rural areas have fewer youth suicide prevention services

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Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year. It's important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact - and so we can show that no one is alone. These numbers are also powerful tools for raising public awareness, stigma-busting and [...]

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Unit 1: Assignment 4: Reference guide  for Mental Health Disorders

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Unit 1: Assignment 4: Reference guide  for Mental Health Disorders

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This was the template used for the assignment. Unfortunately, I encountered technical issues with Excel.

Skurat, K. (2024, February 8). Seasonal affective disorder: Symptoms, causes, and treatment. Calmerry. https://calmerry.com/blog/depression/seasonal-depression-sad-symptoms-causes-treatments/

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Unit 2: Assignment 2: Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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Unit 2: Assignment 2: Developmental Discussion on Trauma

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More information about ACE and how it can benefit you an your family.

Preventing adverse childhood experiences (aces). (n.d.). https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/82316/cdc_82316_DS1.pdf

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Unit 3: Assignment 1: Psychological First Aid Online Certificate 

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Unit 3: Assignment 1: Psychological First Aid Online Certificate 

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Psychological first aid (PFA) online. NCTSN Learning Center. (n.d.). https://learn.nctsn.org/course/view.php?id=596&section=3

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Unit 3: Assignment 2: Crisis Prevention & Threat Assessment 

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Unit 3: Assignment 2: Crisis Prevention & Threat Assessment 

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For this assignment, I collaborated with classmates on a shared interest: combating adolescent sex trafficking. We researched available resources and developed strategies to help educate the community on recognizing and preventing this critical issue.

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This assignment was a vital step in preparing me for my future role as a counselor. It provided practical experience in using counseling skills to help people in real life situations. Specifically, I practiced identifying client needs, building rapport, and developing strategies to address their concerns. This assignment showed me how to move from theory to practice, and how to effectively respond to clients needs

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Unit 3: Assignment 2: Crisis Prevention & Threat Assessment 

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Unit 3: Assignment 2: Crisis Prevention & Threat Assessment 

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Adolescence Sex Trafficking Reference/Info slides

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Attached is the Case Study and the steps that were taken to identify the problems and make out a plan to better assist.