Jeopardy | squash-stigma

Purpose: This activity is meant to have youth think about the differences between myths and facts about mental health. A lot of times people tend to believe the myths associated with mental illness and do not make the effort to learn about the truth behind the myths. With this game, there are facts included for youth to have an idea of what mental health is about and to learn how common mental illness is; this way youth can feel comfortable being able to gain the help they need if they experience a mental illness and to help fight against the stigma and discrimination towards mental illness. This activity is meant to be done within a classroom setting or with a group of youth and to make this activity as interactive as possible.

Age Range: For this activity it can be done with student from the age of 12 years old or older.

Time Frame: Depending on size of participants, this activity should take 30 minutes to do.

Environment: This activity can be done within a classroom setting.

Jeopardy: Mental Health

Preparation: Cut out 9 even sized cards. On each card write the myths and the facts associated with the myth (this way the youth can know the actual fact as well as the myth) that were included in this activity. Have three categories of 100, 200, and 300 points on the board. Under each category, put three of the cards using sticky tack to hold the cards in place. As on option, keep track of the points and give the winning team an award of your choice or award all the youth for participating.

Statements that could be included on the cards (pick 9):

Myths:

Mental illness makes people crazy

FACT: This is a stimga media has created towards people with a mental illness. In fact, people with mental illness are just the same as everyone else.

Have no self-control

FACT: A person with mental illness has no control over how they act, some disorders, such as eating disorder, has no control over how much the eat due to the fact their brain manipulates how they preceive themselves.

Addicts have no willpower

FACT: The drug they become addicted to changes the way their brain senses pleasure.

Are not smart and are poor

FACT: It does not matter how old, how educated or how much they make; anyone can be affected by mental illness.

bad parenting

FACT: someone's parenting does not effect whether a person has a mental illness or not.

Are dangerous and violent

FACT: This is another stigma media has portrayed. Whenever a crime happens and is connected to someone who has a mental illness, the media will preceive it as a bigger issue then if it was done by someone who did not have a mental illness.

Once diagnosed, crazy for life

FACT: Mental illnesses are treatable with the right medicine and therapy.

Depression is apart of being old

FACT: Depression can effect any person at any age.

Can't keep a job

FACT: Many employers discriminate against a person with mental illness, believing they are unreliable and will either not hire them or terminate the person once the employer learns about the mental illness.

Facts:

Many people will not seek help if they have a mental illness due to the stigma associated with it.
Genetics, biology, personality and enviornment all play a role in mental illness
Approximately half of the people who experience mental illness will not admit they have a mental illness and will not get help.
Just under half of Canadians will be friends with someone who has a serious mental illness
Approximately, 25% of Canadians are afriad to be around someone who has a serious mental illness
3 million Canadians have experienced depression at some point in their life.
People with mental illness will not be approved for adequate homes to live in
People with mental illness may not receive appropriate health services.

Instructions:

Separate the group of youths into two to four groups, depending on the amount of youths involved. Explain to the youth they will be playing jeopardy and will each take turns picking a category. When the team picks a category, explain you will be reading off a statement and they are to deicde whether it was a myth or a fact. If they answer it correctly, they recieve that amount of points. Also, explain that if they get a statement as a myth, you will be explaining the myth farther and explain the fact behind the myth. If the team were to get the statement incorrect, allow the other team to answer the statement to get the points.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Where do you think the myths come from?

2. How do you think these myths keep stigma going?

BACK

Age Range: For this activity it can be done with student from the age of 12 years old or older.

Time Frame: Depending on size of participants, this activity should take 30 minutes to do.

Environment: This activity can be done within a classroom setting.

Jeopardy: Mental Health

Statements that could be included on the cards (pick 9):

Myths:

Mental illness makes people crazy

​ FACT: This is a stimga media has created towards people with a mental illness. In fact, people with mental illness are just the same as everyone else.

Have no self-control

​ FACT: A person with mental illness has no control over how they act, some disorders, such as eating disorder, has no control over how much the eat due to the fact their brain manipulates how they preceive themselves.

Addicts have no willpower

FACT: The drug they become addicted to changes the way their brain senses pleasure.

Are not smart and are poor

​ FACT: It does not matter how old, how educated or how much they make; anyone can be affected by mental illness.

bad parenting

​ FACT: someone's parenting does not effect whether a person has a mental illness or not.

Are dangerous and violent

FACT: This is another stigma media has portrayed. Whenever a crime happens and is connected to someone who has a mental illness, the media will preceive it as a bigger issue then if it was done by someone who did not have a mental illness.

Once diagnosed, crazy for life

​ FACT: Mental illnesses are treatable with the right medicine and therapy.

Depression is apart of being old

​ FACT: Depression can effect any person at any age.

Can't keep a job

​ FACT: Many employers discriminate against a person with mental illness, believing they are unreliable and will either not hire them or terminate the person once the employer learns about the mental illness.

Facts:

Many people will not seek help if they have a mental illness due to the stigma associated with it.

Genetics, biology, personality and enviornment all play a role in mental illness

Approximately half of the people who experience mental illness will not admit they have a mental illness and will not get help.

Just under half of Canadians will be friends with someone who has a serious mental illness

Approximately, 25% of Canadians are afriad to be around someone who has a serious mental illness

3 million Canadians have experienced depression at some point in their life.

People with mental illness will not be approved for adequate homes to live in

People with mental illness may not receive appropriate health services.

Instructions:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Where do you think the myths come from?

2. How do you think these myths keep stigma going?

FACT: This is a stimga media has created towards people with a mental illness. In fact, people with mental illness are just the same as everyone else.

FACT: A person with mental illness has no control over how they act, some disorders, such as eating disorder, has no control over how much the eat due to the fact their brain manipulates how they preceive themselves.

FACT: It does not matter how old, how educated or how much they make; anyone can be affected by mental illness.

FACT: someone's parenting does not effect whether a person has a mental illness or not.

FACT: Mental illnesses are treatable with the right medicine and therapy.

FACT: Depression can effect any person at any age.

FACT: Many employers discriminate against a person with mental illness, believing they are unreliable and will either not hire them or terminate the person once the employer learns about the mental illness.