All aspects of
our Mental H our lives are affected by
ealth - it is h
ow we think,
feel and act
as we face lif
e’s situations
and challenges
,
relate to one how we handle stress,
another and
make
decisions. It
al
look at oursel so influences the way we
ves, our lives
in our lives.
and others
Like physical
h
important at ealth, Mental Health is
every stage
of life.
When untrea
te
disorders ca d, Mental Health
n lead to sch
ool, college or
work failure,
fa
abuse, violen mily conflicts, drug
ce, and even
suicide.
“Mental Health Disorders” refers
to the range of all diagnosable
tal
emotional, behavioural, and men
g:
udin
incl
rs,
health disorde
> Depression
y
> Attention-deficit/hyperactivit
Disorder
> Anxiety Disorders
> Eating Disorders
> Bipolar Affective Disorder
> Addictions
> Psychosis
Causes of
Mental Health
Disorders?
Mental Health disorde
by:
s which can
Biological factor
include:
> Genetics
ces in the body, or
> Chemical imbalan
ntral nervous system,
> Damage to the ce
y.
such as a head injur
:
factors such as
Environmental
g
sin
es
tn
wi
as
ce, such
> Exposure to violen
physical or sexual
of
tim
vic
or being a
abuse,
> Financial strain,
thing important
> The loss of some
h death, separation
(person, pet) throug
or travel.
in college,
> Bullying: in school,
unity or online.
at work, in the comm
s.
> Relationships stres
choices.
le
sty
life
> Unhealthy
25% of people
will experience
a mental health
difficulty within
their lifetime
www.walkinmyshoes.ie
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rs can be influenced
Mental Health
Disorders Affect
1 in every 4
p e o p le
at any given time
Hospital
St. Patrick’s University
Jonathan Swift, author
It is over 250 years since
nded St. Patrick’s
of Gulliver’s Travels, fou
Hospital.
a hospital to provide
His vision was to create
eriencing mental
treatment to people exp
health difficulties.
rsity Hospital is
Today, St. Patrick’s Unive
dent mental health
Ireland’s largest indepen
t-for-Profit
No
service provider. It is a
providing the highest
to
d
ate
organisation dedic
care, promoting
quality of mental health
hts of those who
mental health and the rig
.
ess
suffer from mental illn
l health services is
Now the need for menta
four people in Ireland
greater than ever. One in ulties at some
fic
will suffer from mental dif tless families and
un
co
d
an
s,
stage in their live
it.
by
ted
ec
friends are aff
▲▲▲▲▲
St. Patrick’s University Hospital Foundation
CHY no: 6276
The Foundation is the fundraising body of St.
Patrick’s University Hospital. The Foundation is
responsible for raising funds to develop and
provide access to mental health services.
By donating to the Foundation you are
supporting the provision of the highest quality
mental health services to those who need
them most. Funds raised by the Foundation
support the following key areas:
• Access to quality mental health care.
• Prevention Initiatives.
• Anti- Stigma Campaigns.
St. Patrick's Unive
rsity Hospital prov
ides
services delivering
therapeutic treatm a wide range of programmes and
ent and care to pa
these include:
tients. Some of
• Adolescent Se
rvices for young pe
ople aged 13-17.
• Young Adult Se
rvices for those ag
ed 18-25.
• Eating Disorder
Programme.
• Psychiatry of La
ter Life which focu
ses on mental healt
• Addiction Serv
h of older people.
ices.
• The Dean Clinics
– unique commun
ity-based mental he
• Free Support &
alth centres.
Information line –
a free service, oper
health professiona
at
ed by mental
ls, is available to all
. T: 01 249 3333.
St. Patrick’s offers a specialist Young r
Adult service dedicated to 18-25 yea
olds who are experiencing mental s
health difficulties. The service help
young adults develop positive coping
mechanisms and skills.
to
The aim is to support young adults ite
desp
l
ntia
pote
est
achieve their high
their mental health difficulties.
i.e. college, employment.
È
F CARE AND
THE FOCUS O
E
TO RETURN TH
TREATMENT IS
L,
A
CI
SO
VE
TI
N AC
PERSON TO A
AS
FE
ND WORK LI
PERSONAL A
IBLE.
SS
PO
SOON AS
È
●●●●●●●
www.walkinmyshoes.ie
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È
“CPAENOPLE
”
AND DO
RECOVER!
J
YOUNG
Did you know that
people suffer
from a mental heal in
th difficulty such as
depression, anxiety,
eating disorders,
self-harm or stress
.
Over 75% of adults with mental illne
ss
first experienced symptoms
before the age of 25.
sssss
COLLEGE STUDENTS! and stressful. You’re
Starting college can be both exciting
{
The transition from
adolescence
to adulthood is a
ch
al
lenging
time. It may includ
e
he
ading of to
college, entering
marriage, childrethe workforce,
n, job changes
or job loss.
For the more than
1 in 4 young
adults with menta
l
he
alth
dif ficulties, this ph
as
e
of life
poses even grea
ter challenges.
TELL SOMEONE
“
TALKING ABOUT
M ENTAL HEALTH
IS IMPORTANT
A SIMPLE
CONVERSATION
È
for the first time and
juggling classes, living on your own
It’s no surprise that
life.
of
out
t
figuring out what you wan
many feel overwhelmed!
l at home in
One way to fight stress and fee
t to other
nec
con
to
is
your new surroundings
munity.
com
pus
cam
er
larg
students and the
Here are some suggestions:
ily and friends.
• Stay connected to your fam
feel close
you
help
• Staying in touch can
.
and supported
ity by
• Connect to the campus commun
see a club
’t
Don
joining clubs & societies.
.
you like? Start one
and
• Connect to your roommates
pus together,
cam
the
lore
exp
,
tes
classma
go for a coffee.
and academic
• Connect to your professors
help you get
to
re
the
are
y
advisors. The
isions and
through tough classes, tough dec
tough times.
A
CAN MAKE
È
Nearly 5% of young people
need help from mental health
professionals – such as doctors,
nurses, therapists, counsellors.
Early intervention and treatment
is key to recovery.
lllllll
sssss
{
1 4
ADULTS & M E N TA
L
BIG DIFFERENCE
lllllll
might be
of your friends
iculties you
If you think one
ff
di
tal health
en
m
om
fr
g
in
er
suff
can help by:
follow us on
”
If you suffer with depression you feel like nobody understands what you’re going through but that
simply isn’t true. Never give up and never give into the thought that it would be easier if your life
ended. Life is a gift. We all suffer at some point in our lives but that doesn’t mean that we always
will. There is always hope, there is always the chance of a better day tomorrow so never give up
because we’re all worth something to someone even if we don’t believe it ourselves.
Written by Jack, who attended the Young Adult Service at St. Patrick’s Hospital.
Your health and well-being can affect
your college experience. Check out the hea
lth
and wellness centre on your campus and
learn more about the service they provide
.
www.walkinmyshoes.ie
È
• Being supportive
• Spending time with them
• Making sure they don't isolate
themselves.
• Tell them you are willing to list
en.
W AT C H
OUT FOR
T H E WA R N
ING
SIGNS?
HOW TO SPOT THE
S, FAMILY AND WORK
R FRIEND
WATCH OUT FOR YOURSELF, YOU
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
COLLEAGUES IF YOU RECOGNISE
K HELP
WARNING SIGNS IT’S TIME TO SEE
FEELINGS
EXPERIENCES
BEHAVIOUR
• Sad and hopeless without
reason for a long time
• Angry, crying, over-reacting
most of the time
• Feeling worthless or guilty
often
• Being anxious or worried
often
• Unable to cope with the loss
of someone or something
important
• Extremely fearful,
unexplained fears
• Worried about being harmed,
hurting others
• Concerned about physical
appearance or physical
problems
• Feeling life is too hard to
handle/ having suicidal
thoughts
• Increasingly declining performance in
school, college, work
• Losing interest in things once enjoyed
• Unexplained changes in sleeping patterns
• Unexplained changed in eating patterns
• Avoiding friends, family
• Wanting to be alone all of the time
• Daydreaming too much/ poor
concentration
• Frightened that his/ her mind is out of
control/ or controlled
• Hearing voices that cannot be explained
• Persistent nightmares
• Poor concentration, unable to
think straight
• Inability to sit still or focus
attention
• Compulsive need to wash,
clean things, perform routines
numerous times daily to avoid
unsubstantiated danger
• Over talkative, disjointed
conversations
YOUNG PEOPLE
WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
NEED TO GET HELP
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
EARLY INTERVENTION
AND TREATMENT
IS KEY TO RECOVERY
WHAT TO DO
ACTIONS
(causing problems)
• Using/ abusing/ depending on
alcohol or drugs
• Finding ways to eat large
amounts of food or abusing
laxatives to avoid weight gain.
Dieting/ exercising excessively
• Excessive risk taking
• Doing things that can be life
threatening
ASKING FOR HELP IS A SIGN OF STRENGTH NOT WEAKNESS
St. Patrick’s University Hospital: Free Support and Information Centre: 01 249 3333
Dean Clinic [Providing free assessments]: Helpline: 01 249 3590
Aware [Helping defeat depression]:
Helpline: 1890 303302
www.aware.ie
Bodywhys
[The eating Disorders Association of Ireland]
Helpline: 1890 200 444 www.bodywhys.ie
Ie.reachout.com an online service to help young
people aged 16 – 25
www.stpatrickshosp.ie
Samaritans Helpline: 1850 6060 90
Shine [Supporting people affected by Mental Health]
Helpline: 1890 621 631 www.shineonline.ie
Console [Bereaved by suicide]
Helpline: 1800 201 890 www.console.ie
Pieta house
[Centre for prevention of self harm & suicide]
Helpline: 01 601 000 www.pieta.ie
National LGBT Helpline: 1890 929 539
www.stpatsfoundation.ie
www.walkinmyshoes.ie
www.walkinmyshoes.ie
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TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IS IMPORTANT