Our sincere thanks to your enthusiastic responses to our Mental Health Challenge. We hope this challenge would enhance your mental health awareness. Prize winners will be notified by email.

 

Answers:

 

1. Which of the following is true about mental illness?

 

○  People with personality weaknesses or character flaws will experience mental health problems inevitably.

✔   People with mental illness can be an active and productive member of our communities.

○  People with mental health needs cannot tolerate any stress, even if they are seeking professional help.

○  Taking a pill is the most effective way to deal with mental health problems. Psychotherapy plays a minimal role in recovery.

 

 

2. Which of the following is true about mental health problems?

 

○  Suffering from physical health problems is definitely worse than suffering from mental health problems.

✔   Most people who suffer from mental health problems are not violent.

○  Having mental health problems is a sign of personality weakness.

○  Mental health problems are uncommon among Hong Kong population.

 

 

3. Which of the following is true about suicide?

 

○  Once an individual is suicidal, he or she will always remain suicidal.

○  Most suicides happen suddenly without warning.

✔   Suicide may happen to everyone, regardless of the presence of mental health problems.

○  Talking about suicide will lead to and encourage suicide.

 

 

4. Which of the following is true about emotions?

 

✔   There are no good and bad emotions.

○  There is a right way to feel in every situation.

○  Negative emotions must be destructive.

○  It is inauthentic to try to change my emotions.

 

 

5. Which of the following is NOT an adaptive relaxation method?

 

○  Conjuring up soothing scenes, places, or experiences in your mind to help you relax and focus.

○  Focusing on one part of the body or group of muscles at a time and mentally releasing any physical tension you feel there.

○  Taking long, slow and deep breaths so that your mind is gently disengaged from distracting thoughts and sensations.

✔   Drinking a large amount of alcohol to the extent that the distressing thoughts stop wandering in your mind.

 

 

6. Which of the following is true about depression?

 

○  Depression happens just because of a sad situation.

○  If your parents have depression, so will you.

✔   Taking antidepressants is not the only choice to cure depression.

○  Talking about depression only makes things worse.

 

 

7. Which of the following is true about anxiety?

 

✔   Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental disorders.

○  People with anxiety disorder need to avoid stressful situations that make them feel stressed.

○  Eat right, exercise, avoid caffeine and live a healthy lifestyle so your anxiety will go away. If the anxiety persists for a long time, just be patient and wait.

○  Some people are just in-born “worriers” or neurotic, and there is nothing that can really make a difference.

 

 

8. Which of the following is true about Psychosis and Schizophrenia?

 

○  Schizophrenia means split personality, and there is no way to control it.

✔   Drug abuse may contribute to the development of early psychosis in people who are at risk of developing schizophrenia.

○  Psychosis is a “cliff”; once you fall over it, there is no coming back.

○  You cannot do anything for a loved one with psychosis.

 

 

9. Which of the following is true about Eating disorders?

 

○  Men do not worry about having an eating disorder.

○  An individual sometimes overeats ice cream. He or she must have Binge Eating Disorder.

○  People with eating disorders are only focused on food.

✔   Eating disorders are serious problems that have a high death rate.

 

 

10. Which of the following is untrue about Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

 

○  A person with ASD experiences psychological distress immediately following a traumatic event, including symptoms of intrusion, negative mood, dissociation, avoidance and hypervigilance.

○  Unlike PTSD, ASD is a temporary condition, and symptoms typically persist for at least 3 to 30 days after the traumatic event. If a person experiences symptoms for longer than a month, a psychologist/psychiatrist will usually assess them for PTSD.

✔   Only psychiatric medications like mood stabilizers are effective for ASD and PTSD treatment.

○  A history of other mental health disorders can increase an individual's risk of developing ASD.