Question 1

Which statement reflects a better current understanding among health care providers of mental health and mental illness?&#10;A) Substance use disorders are not a common concern for mental illness.&#10;B) Historical trauma is generally unlikely to be an underlying factor for mental illness.&#10;C) Positive mental health can include having a diagnosed mental illness.&#10;D) The inability to cope with the normal stresses of life is not a common occurrence.

Accepted Answer

Unlike in the past, today it is understood that mental health is not merely the absence of mental health ailments; it is possible for someone to have a mental health condition (mental illness) but still experience positive mental health.

Question 2

Which of the following actions reduces stigma toward people who have a mental illness and supports recovery-oriented models of care?&#10;A) Being clear about addictive behaviour patterns&#10;B) General use of disease-oriented labelling with patients&#10;C) Understanding that diagnosis is always a positive experience&#10;D) Understanding that illnesses are not a person

Accepted Answer

Recovery-oriented approaches to care are holistic (addressing multiple needs of clients), self-directed, and person-centred. These approaches promote the values of community health, including empowerment and collaboration. Another important aspect of recovery-oriented care involves reducing stigma by avoiding the use of labels such as "schizophrenic," "injection drug user," and "addict" and understanding that individuals are not a disease but rather are persons who have a disease, a mental illness, or a substance use disorder.

Question 3

During which life stage does a mental illness commonly emerge?&#10;A) Early school age years&#10;B) Older adult years&#10;C) Adolescence and young adult years&#10;D) Middle adult years

Accepted Answer

Many mental illnesses begin to occur during adolescence and young adulthood; however, treatment often is not initiated until many years later.

Question 4

What concerning outcome can result from previous stigmatizing experiences or from the anticipation of unfair treatment while receiving health care?&#10;A) Stereotyping&#10;B) Delays in seeking care&#10;C) Indigenous bias&#10;D) Enhanced care-provider attitudes

Accepted Answer

DIF: The impact of stigma can manifest itself in different ways, including individuals not seeking care or delaying seeking care because they fear being treated differently.

Question 5

During the last few decades, which of the following scenarios has caused a significant shift in responsibility for the care of individuals living with a mental illness while also shifting the economic burden of care?

A) Government funding has now increased to family members of patients who have a mental illness.
B) There has been substantial economic improvement experienced by many persons who have a mental illness.
C) The contribution of community agencies is now being acknowledged in mental health care.
D) Patients now often receive their care from relational caregivers rather than in hospitals.

Accepted Answer

In the past several decades, there has been a shift of responsibility for care of individuals who have a mental illness from hospitals to relational caregivers in the community, such as a spouse or partner, child, parent, extended family, or friend.

Question 6

Why is methamphetamine use disorder being described by some experts as &#34;the silent crisis&#34;?&#10;A) School-aged youth are mostly affected.&#10;B) Illegal imports of methamphetamines have increased.&#10;C) Methamphetamine use has been overshadowed by the opioid epidemic.&#10;D) Methamphetamine use is not obvious because it occurs largely among working adults.

Accepted Answer

Methamphetamine use disorders are increasing, particularly in British Columbia and Alberta, with many experts calling it is a silent crisis, because use is hidden by the increasing concerns over and deaths caused by the opioid epidemic.

Question 7

Which substance, when introduced at a young age and used frequently, increases the risk of developing a mental health problem such as schizophrenia, mood disorders, and/or anxiety disorders?&#10;A) Alcohol&#10;B) Cannabis&#10;C) Tobacco&#10;D) Social media

Accepted Answer

People who start using cannabis at a young age and use it frequently have been shown to have higher rates of mental health problems, including schizophrenia, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders.

Question 8

Why do education campaigns that alter social norms over time offer limited value as a population-level action to address substance use?&#10;A) Discrimination may occur through social media.&#10;B) Low literacy levels may reduce campaign impact.&#10;C) They do not alter the environment and context of use.&#10;D) Campaign costs often limit message distribution.

Accepted Answer

Education campaigns alone are of limited value for addressing substance use, even though they may work to shift social norms over time. To be effective, education campaigns must be coupled with other regulatory approaches (e.g., prohibition, decriminalization, or legalization) that alter the environment and context of drug use.

Question 9

What are the major mental illnesses in Canada? (Select all that apply.)&#10;A) Anxiety disorders&#10;B) Schizophrenia&#10;C) Suicidal behaviour&#10;D) Personality disorders&#10;E) Mood disorders

Accepted Answer

The major mental illnesses in Canada are mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. Suicide and suicidal behaviour are a serious consequence of mental illness; however, they are not a mental illness themselves.

Question 10

What are the most common risk factors for developing a mental illness in Canada? (Select all that apply.)&#10;A) Migration&#10;B) Toxic stress&#10;C) Family history&#10;D) Adverse childhood experiences&#10;E) Substance use

Accepted Answer

While there are varied risks for specific mental illnesses, some of the more common factors include adverse childhood experiences (i.e., trauma), toxic stress, substance use (including specific risks related to cannabis use), and family history of mental illness, particularly for schizophrenia.

Deck 9: Mental Health and Substance Use