Test Your Knowledge

Questions, quizzes and answers for every chapter

Every question in this book is gathered here, in one place, so the chapters themselves stay free for reading. This volume is not for credit. It is for care: a way to check that an idea has landed, to practise saying it in your own words and to find the places that need a second look.

For each chapter you will find three questions to think about and write down, and five multiple-choice questions. The answers to the multiple-choice questions are in the table at the end of the volume. Try the questions first; look at the answers afterwards.

Written answers have no key. They are conversations with yourself, a friend, a teacher or a counsellor. If a question brings up distress, pause and turn to the crisis lines in Appendix E.

Chapter 1 What Is Mental Health?

Think and write

1. In simple language, how would you explain the difference between “mental health” and “mental disorder”? Give one example of each.
2. List any three early warning signs that someone’s mental health may be under strain. For each sign, write one sentence on how it might affect daily life.
3. Imagine a friend says, “Only weak people get depression.” Based on this chapter, how would you gently correct this myth using facts?

Multiple choice

1. Mental health mainly includes:

(a) Only intelligence and IQ

(b) Only job success and wealth

(c) Only physical fitness

(d) How we think, feel, behave, cope and relate to others

2. Which statement about mental health is TRUE?

(a) Mental health exists on a continuum and can change over time

(b) Only some people have mental health

(c) Mental health means being happy every day

(d) Mental illness is very rare

3. Which is a FACT (not a myth) about mental illness?

(a) Mental illness is a personal weakness

(b) People with mental illness are usually dangerous

(c) About 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime

(d) You can just "snap out of it" with willpower

4. Mental health exists on a continuum from:

(a) Only happy to sad

(b) Strong wellbeing to serious disorders

(c) Only rich to poor

(d) Only young to old

5. Early intervention in mental health leads to:

(a) Better outcomes

(b) Worse outcomes

(c) No difference

(d) Only temporary relief

Chapter 2 Psychology, Psychiatry and Counselling

Think and write

1. In your own words, explain the difference between a psychologist, a psychiatrist and a counsellor. Who would you approach first for each of: exam stress, persistent low mood with poor sleep, and hearing voices?
2. Why is it useful to know which professional can prescribe medicines and which cannot?
3. Describe one school of psychology from the chapter and how it would explain a person’s fear of speaking in public.

Multiple choice

1. Who can prescribe psychiatric medicines?

(a) Psychiatrist

(b) Counsellor

(c) Clinical psychologist

(d) Social worker

2. Psychology is best defined as:

(a) The scientific study of mind and behaviour

(b) The study of medicines for mental illness

(c) Only therapy and counselling

(d) The study of brain surgery

3. When should someone seek professional mental health help?

(a) Only when they are suicidal

(b) Only for severe schizophrenia

(c) Never, people should handle problems alone

(d) When experiencing persistent sadness, anxiety, or difficulty functioning for 2+ weeks

4. Clinical psychologists typically:

(a) Prescribe medicines

(b) Provide therapy and psychological testing

(c) Perform brain surgery

(d) Only give medical advice

5. Counselling is most helpful for:

(a) Life issues, emotions, choices and coping skills

(b) Severe psychotic disorders only

(c) Only physical health problems

(d) Only career decisions

Chapter 3 Human Brain and Nervous System

Think and write

1. Name three major regions of the brain and say, in one sentence each, what they do.
2. What is the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system? Give an everyday example of each.
3. What is brain plasticity, and why does it matter for recovery from depression or trauma?

Multiple choice

1. Which brain region is mainly responsible for planning, decision-making and self-control?

(a) Occipital lobe

(b) Brainstem

(c) Cerebellum

(d) Frontal lobe

2. The limbic system is primarily involved in:

(a) Emotions, memory and motivation

(b) Balance and coordination

(c) Vision and visual processing

(d) Breathing and heart rate

3. The "fight-or-flight" response is controlled by which part of the nervous system?

(a) Parasympathetic nervous system

(b) Occipital lobe

(c) Cerebellum

(d) Sympathetic nervous system

4. The occipital lobe is primarily responsible for:

(a) Hearing and memory

(b) Planning and decision-making

(c) Touch and spatial awareness

(d) Vision and visual processing

5. The brainstem controls:

(a) Vital functions like breathing and heart rate

(b) Only thoughts and emotions

(c) Only voluntary movements

(d) Only memory formation

Chapter 4 Hormones and Brain Chemicals

Think and write

1. What is a neurotransmitter? Name three and describe the mood or function each is linked with.
2. Why is it misleading to say that depression is “just a chemical imbalance”?
3. Explain how cortisol and adrenaline differ in speed and duration, and what long-term high cortisol may do to a person.

Multiple choice

1. Which neurotransmitter is mainly associated with mood regulation, sleep and appetite, and is often low in depression?

(a) Dopamine

(b) GABA

(c) Serotonin

(d) Glutamate

2. Chronic elevation of which hormone is linked to anxiety, depression and sleep problems?

(a) Cortisol

(b) Insulin

(c) Melatonin

(d) Testosterone

3. Dopamine is primarily involved in:

(a) Digestion and appetite only

(b) Only pain perception

(c) Only sleep regulation

(d) Reward, motivation, pleasure and movement

4. GABA is the brain's main:

(a) Excitatory neurotransmitter

(b) Hormone

(c) Calming neurotransmitter

(d) Digestive enzyme

5. Which hormone regulates the sleep-wake cycle?

(a) Cortisol

(b) Melatonin

(c) Insulin

(d) Adrenaline

Chapter 5 Emotions, Feelings, Thoughts and Moods

Think and write

1. Draw or describe the thought–feeling–behaviour triangle using an example from your own life.
2. Pick two common thinking distortions from the chapter and rewrite one distorted thought as a balanced thought.
3. List three healthy and three unhealthy ways of coping with a strong emotion. Why is the difference important?

Multiple choice

1. The Cognitive Triangle shows the interconnection between:

(a) Brain, heart and lungs

(b) Past, present and future

(c) Thoughts, feelings and behaviours

(d) Family, friends and colleagues

2. Which is an example of "all-or-nothing thinking" (a cognitive distortion)?

(a) "I made a mistake, but I can learn from it"

(b) "If I'm not perfect, I'm a complete failure"

(c) "Sometimes I do well, sometimes I struggle"

(d) "I'll try my best and see what happens"

3. Which is a HEALTHY emotional coping strategy?

(a) Exercise and talking to supportive people

(b) Isolation from others

(c) Substance abuse

(d) Denial and avoidance

4. Emotions are best described as:

(a) Long-lasting mood states

(b) Automatic, rapid responses to situations

(c) Only conscious thoughts

(d) Only physical sensations

5. Moods differ from emotions because moods are:

(a) Shorter and more intense

(b) Only negative feelings

(c) Only positive feelings

(d) Longer-lasting emotional states

Chapter 6 The Five Senses and Mental Health

Think and write

1. Choose any three senses. For each, name one type of sensory input that usually calms you and one that tends to overstimulate or disturb you.
2. How can excessive screen time and disturbing visual or audio content affect mental health? List at least two effects.
3. Describe one simple daily practice for each of the five senses that could support your mental wellbeing.

Multiple choice

1. Which sense has a direct pathway to the limbic system (emotion and memory centre)?

(a) Sight

(b) Hearing

(c) Smell

(d) Touch

2. Visual information from the eyes is primarily processed in which brain lobe?

(a) Frontal lobe

(b) Parietal lobe

(c) Temporal lobe

(d) Occipital lobe

3. Which statement about senses and mental health is TRUE?

(a) Senses have no connection to mental health

(b) Only sight and hearing affect mental health

(c) All five senses can influence mood, memories and emotional wellbeing

(d) Touch is the only sense that affects emotions

4. Auditory (hearing) information is primarily processed in the:

(a) Frontal lobe

(b) Temporal lobe

(c) Parietal lobe

(d) Occipital lobe

5. The sense of touch sends signals to which brain region?

(a) Parietal cortex (somatosensory area)

(b) Occipital lobe

(c) Frontal lobe

(d) Cerebellum only

Chapter 7 Stress and the Body

Think and write

1. Describe in simple terms what happens in the body during the fight-or-flight stress response. Name at least two physical changes.
2. How can chronic stress affect the brain (memory, anxiety) and the body (heart, digestion, sleep)? Give at least one example for brain and one for body.
3. List three healthy stress-management strategies from this chapter that you could realistically try. For each, write one line on how it might help you.

Multiple choice

1. The HPA axis involves which three structures?

(a) Heart, lungs and liver

(b) Hippocampus, parietal lobe and amygdala

(c) Hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands

(d) Stomach, intestines and pancreas

2. Which hormone is released during stress and is called the "stress hormone"?

(a) Insulin

(b) Cortisol

(c) Melatonin

(d) Estrogen

3. Chronic stress can lead to all of the following EXCEPT:

(a) Anxiety and depression

(b) Weakened immune system

(c) Improved memory and concentration

(d) High blood pressure

4. The sympathetic nervous system activates during:

(a) Rest and relaxation

(b) Sleep only

(c) Stress or danger (fight-or-flight)

(d) Digestion only

5. Healthy stress management includes all EXCEPT:

(a) Chronic sleep deprivation

(b) Adequate sleep

(c) Regular exercise

(d) Mindfulness and meditation

Chapter 8 Anxiety Disorders

Think and write

1. What is the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder? Give two signs that anxiety needs professional attention.
2. Describe the anxiety cycle and show where avoidance keeps it going.
3. Write a short script you could use to explain panic attacks to a worried parent.

Multiple choice

1. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterised by:

(a) Sudden panic attacks only

(b) Fear of social situations only

(c) Excessive worry about multiple things for 6+ months

(d) Fear of specific objects like heights or animals

2. Which is NOT a common symptom of panic attacks?

(a) Racing heart

(b) Sweating and trembling

(c) Feeling of doom or losing control

(d) Feeling calm and relaxed

3. First-line treatment for anxiety disorders typically includes:

(a) Avoidance of all stressful situations

(b) Only herbal supplements

(c) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and/or medications

(d) Complete isolation from others

4. Social Anxiety Disorder involves intense fear of:

(a) Heights

(b) Animals

(c) Social situations and being judged

(d) Enclosed spaces

5. Specific phobias are:

(a) Normal worries about daily life

(b) Intense fears of specific objects or situations

(c) Only related to social situations

(d) Only experienced by children

Chapter 9 Depression and Low Mood

Think and write

1. List at least four common symptoms of depression from emotional, cognitive, physical, or behavioural areas.
2. In simple terms, explain the difference between normal sadness and clinical depression. Give one example situation for each.
3. Someone says, "Depressed people are just lazy; they should work harder." Based on this chapter, what three points could you share to correct this myth?

Multiple choice

1. Which is a key symptom of depression?

(a) Increased energy and enthusiasm

(b) Need for less sleep than usual

(c) Excessive happiness

(d) Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed

2. Major Depressive Disorder requires symptoms to last at least:

(a) 2 days

(b) 2 weeks

(c) 2 months

(d) 2 years

3. Which treatment is commonly used for depression?

(a) Isolation from friends and family

(b) Only sleeping more

(c) Antidepressant medications (SSRIs) and psychotherapy

(d) Avoiding all physical activity

4. Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) is characterised by:

(a) Severe symptoms for 2 weeks

(b) Only postpartum symptoms

(c) Only seasonal symptoms

(d) Milder but chronic symptoms for 2+ years

5. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) typically occurs:

(a) In summer months

(b) In winter months with less sunlight

(c) Only during monsoon

(d) Only during festivals

Chapter 10 Trauma, Grief and Loss

Think and write

1. In your own words, explain the difference between a normal reaction to trauma and PTSD. Give at least two symptoms that suggest PTSD rather than a temporary reaction.
2. Name three common grief reactions (emotional, physical, or behavioural) after a major loss.
3. Someone says, "Trauma is in the past; just forget it and move on." What three points from this chapter explain why healing often needs time and support?

Multiple choice

1. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) symptoms must last more than:

(a) 1 day

(b) 1 week

(c) 1 year

(d) 1 month

2. Which is a common symptom of PTSD?

(a) No emotional response at all

(b) Complete memory loss of the traumatic event forever

(c) Increased energy and excitement

(d) Intrusive memories, flashbacks or nightmares about the trauma

3. About grief, which statement is TRUE?

(a) Grief has a fixed timeline and everyone grieves the same way

(b) Only death of a loved one causes grief

(c) Grief should be avoided and suppressed

(d) Grief has no set timeline and varies by person

4. Trauma can result from:

(a) Various events like accidents, assault, disasters, or abuse

(b) Only war experiences

(c) Only natural disasters

(d) Only childhood experiences

5. EMDR is a therapy specifically used for:

(a) Trauma and PTSD

(b) Only depression

(c) Only anxiety

(d) Only eating disorders

Chapter 11 Mood, Psychotic and Personality Conditions

Think and write

1. Choose one condition (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or a personality disorder). Describe two key features.
2. What is the difference between a delusion and a hallucination? Give one example of each.
3. Someone says, "People with schizophrenia are dangerous and cannot recover." What three points from this chapter correct that myth?

Multiple choice

1. Bipolar disorder involves episodes of:

(a) Both depression and mania/hypomania

(b) Only mania

(c) Only depression

(d) Only anxiety

2. Which is a symptom of mania in bipolar disorder?

(a) Slow speech and movement

(b) Constant fatigue

(c) Decreased need for sleep

(d) Lack of energy

3. Hallucinations and delusions are characteristic of:

(a) Anxiety disorders only

(b) Normal stress responses

(c) Depression only

(d) Psychotic disorders like schizophrenia

4. A hallucination is:

(a) A false belief despite evidence to the contrary

(b) Seeing or hearing things that are not there

(c) A normal dream

(d) A strong memory

5. Personality disorders involve:

(a) Temporary mood changes

(b) Enduring patterns of thinking and behaving that cause distress

(c) Only psychotic symptoms

(d) Only anxiety symptoms

Chapter 12 Child, Teen and Adult Mental Health

Think and write

1. Choose two life stages. For each, name one mental-health challenge that is particularly common or important at that stage.
2. How can depression in older adults be different from or similar to depression in younger adults? List at least two points.
3. A family says, "Old age means sadness and memory loss; nothing can be done." What three points from this chapter encourage them to seek help?

Multiple choice

1. ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is most commonly diagnosed in:

(a) Only adults

(b) Only elderly people

(c) Children and adolescents

(d) Only infants

2. Which is a warning sign of mental health issues in teenagers?

(a) Occasional mood swings

(b) Having friends

(c) Significant withdrawal, grade changes, or sleep changes

(d) Occasionally staying up late

3. Mental health in older adults is affected by all EXCEPT:

(a) Teenage brain development

(b) Grief and loss

(c) Cognitive decline

(d) Social isolation and loneliness

4. Eating disorders are most commonly diagnosed in:

(a) Only young children

(b) Adolescents and young adults

(c) Only elderly people

(d) Only middle-aged adults

5. Early intervention in child mental health is important because:

(a) It has no effect on outcomes

(b) Children will always outgrow problems

(c) It can prevent worsening and improve long-term outcomes

(d) Only adults need treatment

Chapter 13 Sleep, Food and Movement

Think and write

1. List three ways poor sleep can affect mental health (mood, thinking, or behaviour).
2. How can regular physical activity support mental health? Name at least two benefits.
3. Someone says only medicines treat depression; food and exercise do not matter. What three points from this chapter correct that view?

Multiple choice

1. How much sleep do most adults need for good mental health?

(a) 7-9 hours per night

(b) 5-6 hours per night

(c) 3-4 hours per night

(d) 10-12 hours per night

2. Regular physical exercise benefits mental health by:

(a) Only building muscle

(b) Making you too tired to think

(c) Releasing endorphins, reducing stress, and improving mood

(d) Only helping with weight loss

3. Which dietary pattern is associated with better mental health?

(a) Balanced nutrition with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein

(b) High sugar, processed foods only

(c) Skipping meals regularly

(d) Only drinking energy drinks

4. Poor sleep can contribute to:

(a) Only physical fatigue

(b) Only weight gain

(c) Anxiety, depression, and cognitive problems

(d) Only physical health issues

5. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for:

(a) Only physical health

(b) Brain health and may support mental wellbeing

(c) Only skin health

(d) Only digestion

Chapter 14 Counselling and Psychotherapy

Think and write

1. Explain the difference between counselling and psychotherapy. Are they always completely separate?
2. Name any two types of therapy from this chapter. For each, write one line about what it focuses on.
3. Someone says therapy is just talking and cannot change anything. What three points from this chapter correct that?

Multiple choice

1. CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) focuses on:

(a) Only discussing childhood memories

(b) Avoiding all problems

(c) Only prescribing medications

(d) Changing negative thought patterns and behaviours

2. Which is TRUE about psychotherapy?

(a) It can help with various issues from life stress to serious conditions

(b) It is only for severe mental illness

(c) It is the same as talking to friends

(d) It always requires medication

3. A key benefit of therapy is:

(a) Learning coping skills and gaining insight in a safe, confidential space

(b) Getting advice on what to do

(c) Having someone make decisions for you

(d) Avoiding all difficult emotions

4. Confidentiality in therapy means:

(a) What is discussed stays private (with safety exceptions)

(b) Therapist can share everything with family

(c) Everything is recorded and published

(d) Nothing is private in therapy

5. Which is a common type of psychotherapy?

(a) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, psychodynamic therapy

(b) Only medication management

(c) Only hypnosis

(d) Only group exercise

Chapter 15 Medicines and Medical Treatment

Think and write

1. Name three main classes of psychiatric medicines. For each, write one condition they are commonly used for.
2. What is one common myth about psychiatric medicines, and what is the factual correction?
3. Someone says if I start antidepressants I will become addicted and need them forever. What three points from this chapter address that fear?

Multiple choice

1. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) are commonly used to treat:

(a) Only physical pain

(b) Only high blood pressure

(c) Only sleep problems

(d) Depression and anxiety disorders

2. Who should prescribe psychiatric medications?

(a) Any family member

(b) Only qualified medical doctors (psychiatrists or physicians)

(c) Friends who have taken similar medications

(d) Online sources without consultation

3. Which statement about psychiatric medications is TRUE?

(a) They work immediately within hours

(b) They often take 2-6 weeks to show full effect

(c) They should be stopped abruptly when feeling better

(d) They are addictive in all cases

4. Benzodiazepines are typically used for:

(a) Long-term daily treatment of all conditions

(b) Only depression treatment

(c) Short-term relief of severe anxiety or panic

(d) Only psychotic disorders

5. Medication compliance means:

(a) Taking medications only when you feel like it

(b) Sharing medications with family members

(c) Taking medications as prescribed by the doctor

(d) Stopping medications whenever you want

Chapter 16 Daily Mental-Wellbeing Routine

Think and write

1. List four pillars of a mental-wellbeing routine.
2. If your current routine is very irregular, what is one small change you could start tomorrow in any one pillar?
3. How can a daily routine specifically help someone with a mental disorder? Give at least two ways.

Multiple choice

1. Which is part of a healthy daily routine for mental wellbeing?

(a) Irregular sleep schedule

(b) Skipping breakfast daily

(c) Consistent sleep, meals, exercise, and stress management

(d) No physical activity

2. Mindfulness and meditation practices help with:

(a) Reducing stress, improving focus and emotional regulation

(b) Increasing stress and anxiety

(c) Making you forget all problems

(d) Only physical fitness

3. Social connection and relationships are important because:

(a) They have no effect on mental health

(b) They always cause stress

(c) They provide support, reduce isolation, and improve wellbeing

(d) They are only important for children

4. A healthy morning routine might include:

(a) Immediately checking social media for hours

(b) Consistent wake time, light exposure, and healthy breakfast

(c) Skipping breakfast and rushing

(d) No exposure to natural light

5. Work-life balance is important for:

(a) Preventing burnout and maintaining mental health

(b) Only career success

(c) Only financial gain

(d) Only physical health

Chapter 17 Helping a Family Member

Think and write

1. List three supportive things a family member can say or do.
2. What are two unhelpful responses or phrases families should avoid?
3. A family says if we take her to a psychiatrist, people will call us mad. What three points from this chapter encourage professional help?

Multiple choice

1. When helping someone with mental health issues, you should:

(a) Tell them to "just snap out of it"

(b) Listen without judgement and encourage professional help

(c) Avoid talking about their problems

(d) Make all decisions for them

2. Which is a helpful way to support someone struggling?

(a) "You're overreacting"

(b) "Others have it worse"

(c) "I'm here for you. How can I help?"

(d) "Just think positive"

3. Caregivers should also:

(a) Neglect their own mental health

(b) Take care of their own wellbeing and seek support

(c) Handle everything alone without help

(d) Avoid learning about the condition

4. When someone refuses help, you should:

(a) Force them immediately

(b) Ignore the problem

(c) Give up completely

(d) Express concern, provide information, and be patient

5. Setting boundaries as a caregiver means:

(a) Protecting your own wellbeing while still being supportive

(b) Abandoning the person completely

(c) Never helping at all

(d) Doing everything for them

Chapter 18 Mental-Health Emergency and Safety

Think and write

1. List four warning signs that someone may be at risk of suicide.
2. If you suspect someone is suicidal, what are three immediate actions you should take?
3. A family says asking about suicide will put the idea in his head. What three points from this chapter correct that myth?

Multiple choice

1. If someone expresses suicidal thoughts, you should:

(a) Take it seriously, stay with them, and seek emergency help

(b) Ignore it and hope it goes away

(c) Tell them to stop being dramatic

(d) Leave them alone to think about it

2. In a mental health crisis, you should contact:

(a) Only social media friends

(b) No one, handle it yourself

(c) Emergency services or a trusted professional

(d) Only wait and see

3. Which is a warning sign of immediate risk?

(a) Talking about suicide, giving away possessions, saying goodbye

(b) Occasional sadness

(c) Having a bad day

(d) Feeling stressed about work

4. If someone is having a panic attack, you should:

(a) Tell them to calm down immediately

(b) Stay calm, speak slowly, and help them breathe

(c) Leave them alone

(d) Ignore them completely

5. Safety planning includes:

(a) Only emergency contact numbers

(b) Only therapist contact information

(c) Only medication lists

(d) Removing dangerous items, identifying support people, and a safe place to go

Chapter 19 How Five Senses Actually Work

Think and write

1. Trace the path of one sense, from the outside world to the brain.
2. Why can a smell bring back a memory more strongly than a sight?
3. How can understanding sensory overload help a teacher or a parent respond kindly to a child?

Multiple choice

1. Visual signals from the eyes travel to the brain via the:

(a) Auditory nerve

(b) Spinal cord

(c) Olfactory bulb

(d) Optic nerve

2. Sound waves are converted to neural signals in the:

(a) Eyes

(b) Skin

(c) Nose

(d) Inner ear (cochlea)

3. Which sense bypasses the thalamus and goes directly to the limbic system?

(a) Smell

(b) Hearing

(c) Sight

(d) Touch

4. Taste information is processed primarily in the:

(a) Occipital lobe

(b) Insula (part of cerebral cortex)

(c) Cerebellum

(d) Brainstem only

5. The retina in the eye contains:

(a) Only blood vessels

(b) Only muscle tissue

(c) Only nerve endings for pain

(d) Photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) that detect light

Chapter 20 Five Senses and Five Elements

Think and write

1. Name the five elements of the classical map and the sense linked with each.
2. What does the chapter mean when it says the elements are “a map, not a diagnosis”?
3. Describe one practical way to use the map for a day’s routine without replacing medical care.

Multiple choice

1. In traditional Hindu philosophy, which element is associated with the sense of smell?

(a) Fire (Agni)

(b) Water (Jala)

(c) Earth (Prithvi)

(d) Air (Vayu)

2. The element Akasha (space/ether) is associated with which sense?

(a) Touch

(b) Taste

(c) Sight

(d) Hearing

3. Which sense is associated with the fire element (Agni)?

(a) Sight

(b) Smell

(c) Touch

(d) Taste

4. The water element (Jala) is associated with which sense?

(a) Sight

(b) Hearing

(c) Touch

(d) Taste

5. The air element (Vayu) is associated with which sense?

(a) Smell

(b) Hearing

(c) Sight

(d) Touch

Chapter 21 Body Chemistry and Mental Health

Think and write

1. Name three physical conditions or deficiencies that can look like a mental disorder. Why do blood tests matter?
2. Explain the gut–brain axis in simple language.
3. Why should a person ask a doctor before starting supplements?

Multiple choice

1. Thyroid hormone imbalances can cause:

(a) Mood changes, fatigue, anxiety or depression

(b) Only weight changes

(c) Only hair loss

(d) No mental health effects

2. Blood sugar imbalances can affect:

(a) Only physical energy

(b) Mood, energy, concentration and irritability

(c) Only appetite

(d) Only sleep

3. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to:

(a) Only bone problems

(b) Increased risk of depression and mood disorders

(c) Only skin issues

(d) No mental health effects

4. B vitamins (especially B12 and folate) are important for:

(a) Only physical energy

(b) Only skin health

(c) Only digestion

(d) Brain function and neurotransmitter production

5. Dehydration can cause:

(a) Only thirst

(b) Fatigue, confusion, irritability, and worsened mood

(c) Only dry skin

(d) Only headaches

Chapter 22 Advanced Psychological Issues

Think and write

1. In plain words, what is dissociation, and how is it different from ordinary daydreaming?
2. Describe the obsession–compulsion cycle in OCD and why reassurance does not cure it.
3. Why is it important to use the name of a condition as a door to the right help, and not as a label for a person?

Multiple choice

1. Dissociation involves:

(a) Heightened awareness of surroundings

(b) Better memory formation

(c) Increased energy and motivation

(d) Feeling disconnected from oneself, body, or reality

2. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves:

(a) Intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviours (compulsions)

(b) Only cleanliness

(c) Only organising things

(d) Normal worry about daily tasks

3. Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia are:

(a) Just about food choices

(b) Serious mental health conditions with physical and psychological components

(c) Only teenage phases

(d) Simple lifestyle choices

4. Borderline Personality Disorder is characterised by:

(a) Only mood swings

(b) Instability in emotions, relationships, self-image, and impulsivity

(c) Only psychotic symptoms

(d) Only anxiety symptoms

5. Substance use disorders involve:

(a) Only occasional use

(b) Compulsive use despite negative consequences

(c) Only physical dependence

(d) Only psychological dependence

Chapter 23 Integrating Mind, Body and Spirit

Think and write

1. What does “holistic mental health” mean? List the parts of the whole person described in the chapter.
2. How can a spiritual or meaning-giving practice support treatment without replacing it?
3. Describe one daily integration practice you could start this week.

Multiple choice

1. Holistic mental health care addresses:

(a) Only thoughts and emotions

(b) Mind, body, relationships, lifestyle, and spiritual/existential needs

(c) Only medications

(d) Only therapy sessions

2. Practices like yoga and meditation can help with:

(a) Only physical flexibility

(b) Only weight loss

(c) Stress reduction, emotional regulation, and mind-body connection

(d) Only sleep improvement

3. Finding meaning and purpose in life contributes to:

(a) Only career success

(b) Only social status

(c) Only financial gain

(d) Overall wellbeing, resilience, and mental health

4. Spiritual wellbeing can include:

(a) Only religious beliefs

(b) Only temple/church attendance

(c) Connection to something greater, values, meaning, and purpose

(d) Only meditation practice

5. Mind-body practices include all EXCEPT:

(a) Yoga

(b) Tai Chi

(c) Qigong

(d) Chronic sleep deprivation

Chapter 24 Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and Hindu Traditions on Mind and Mental Health

Think and write

1. Choose one Gītā teaching from the chapter and explain how it relates to anxiety, anger or grief.
2. Why does the chapter say that scripture sits beside a clinic and never replaces one?
3. According to the section on vidyā-dāna, why is this book offered as a gift and not sold? Say it in your own words.

Multiple choice

1. According to Bhagavad Gita 6.5, the self (atman) can be:

(a) Only one's enemy

(b) Neither friend nor enemy

(c) Both one's friend and enemy depending on self-control

(d) Only a friend

2. In Bhagavad Gita 6.34, Arjuna compares the mind to:

(a) The wind (restless and hard to control)

(b) A calm lake

(c) A solid mountain

(d) A bright sun

3. Bhagavad Gita 2.48 teaches:

(a) Focus only on results of actions

(b) Avoid all action

(c) Act with equanimity in success and failure (this balance is yoga)

(d) Only pursue personal gain

4. The concept of "Sthita Prajna" in the Gita refers to:

(a) A person of unstable mind

(b) A person of steady wisdom and balanced mind

(c) Only a warrior

(d) Only a king

5. Hindu traditions emphasize mental balance through:

(a) Only physical practices

(b) Dharma (righteous living), meditation, self-discipline, and devotion

(c) Only ritual worship

(d) Only philosophical study

Chapter 25 Addiction and Substance Use

Think and write

1. What is addiction, and how is it different from using a substance?
2. Explain the “loop” by which the brain learns to want a substance. Where can the loop be interrupted?
3. What is the difference between supporting someone with addiction and enabling them?

Multiple choice

1. The loop named is best captured as:

(a) A vitamin lack

(b) A moral failure only

(c) A single drink

(d) Wanting without liking; cue, use, relief, shame, cue

2. A substance use disorder includes:

(a) Using once at a wedding

(b) Any coffee

(c) A pattern with impairment — craving, tolerance, withdrawal, failed cut-down

(d) Family history alone

3. Alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal can be:

(a) Always safe at home

(b) Medically dangerous — seizures possible

(c) Cured by willpower overnight

(d) Ignored if the person is young

4. Medication-assisted treatment is:

(a) Care for some opioid and alcohol patterns, when a clinician chooses it

(b) A moral defeat

(c) Required for cannabis

(d) The same as detox alone

5. Support without enabling means:

(a) Paying every fine and hiding bottles

(b) Staying, naming danger, offering a clinic ride, refusing the lie

(c) Abandoning the person

(d) Arguing them into virtue

Chapter 26 Eating Disorders

Think and write

1. Name three eating disorders and one warning sign for each.
2. Why is an eating disorder not simply a problem about food?
3. What are three principles of treatment, and how can a family help?

Multiple choice

1. Eating disorders:

(a) Are only vanity

(b) Involve disturbed eating and body concern and can be life-threatening

(c) Never affect the heart

(d) Are always visible as low weight

2. Anorexia nervosa includes:

(a) Only skipping dessert

(b) Fear of weight gain and often a distorted body image

(c) High weight by definition

(d) No medical risk

3. Bulimia may occur at:

(a) Only extremely low weight

(b) Infancy only

(c) Normal or above-normal weight

(d) Men only

4. ARFID is driven mainly by:

(a) Lack of interest, sensory issues, or fear of consequences — not body image

(b) A thinness ideal

(c) Wealth

(d) A single skipped meal

5. OSFED:

(a) Is mild and can be ignored

(b) Still causes distress and needs treatment

(c) Is not an eating problem

(d) Is only a child’s phase

Chapter 27 ADHD and Neurodiversity

Think and write

1. Describe the differences between ADHD and autism in two or three sentences each.
2. Why is neurodiversity a helpful word, and where does it fall short?
3. List three ways a school or a workplace can support a neurodivergent person.

Multiple choice

1. ADHD is:

(a) Neurodevelopmental difference with inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity that impair life

(b) Simple naughtiness

(c) Caused only by screens

(d) Cured by shouting

2. Autism includes:

(a) Only poor manners

(b) Low intelligence by definition

(c) Social-communication difference, restricted interests, sensory sensitivity

(d) A parenting style

3. Dyslexia is:

(a) Low intelligence

(b) Always ADHD

(c) Laziness

(d) A reading difficulty despite adequate teaching and intelligence

4. Sharing ADHD stimulant tablets is:

(a) A study hack

(b) Misuse — Chapter 22 listed those medicines among stimulants

(c) Required by school

(d) Harmless

5. Neurodiversity means:

(a) Brains vary — respect the wiring and still treat impairment

(b) Every difficulty is only a gift

(c) No support is needed

(d) Adults cannot have ADHD

Chapter 28 Digital and Social-Media Mental Health

Think and write

1. Describe two ways screens can affect sleep and attention.
2. What does the chapter mean by “a usable day, not a purity test”?
3. List three warning signs that a person’s online life is harming them, and what to do.

Multiple choice

1. Night screens:

(a) Improve melatonin

(b) Are required for rest

(c) Can disturb sleep and lift anxiety and low mood

(d) Have no effect

2. Social-media comparison can:

(a) Worsen self-esteem and body image

(b) Only raise confidence

(c) Replace meals

(d) Diagnose illness

3. Self-diagnosis from the internet is:

(a) Reliable

(b) Required

(c) Better than a clinic

(d) Not reliable — Chapter 8

4. Searching online for means of suicide is:

(a) A private hobby

(b) Proof of curiosity only

(c) A Chapter 18 emergency

(d) Cured by a new app

5. A usable digital rule:

(a) Phone in bed all night

(b) More notifications

(c) Charge the phone outside the bedroom; no feed as first and last light

(d) Screens at every meal

Chapter 29 Workplace and Academic Stress

Think and write

1. List three causes of academic or workplace stress and one practical response for each.
2. How would you recognise burnout in a colleague, and what would you say to them?
3. Design a short plan for a student with exam anxiety.

Multiple choice

1. Short-term exam stress:

(a) Is always illness

(b) Never uses the body alarm

(c) Can help performance; prolonged stress without recovery is the problem

(d) Should be ignored forever

2. Burnout is closest to:

(a) A weak character

(b) Chronic load without recovery and meaning gone

(c) One busy Monday

(d) A vitamin

3. A positive workplace in your list includes:

(a) Harassment as motivation

(b) No leave

(c) Reasonable workload, respect, balance, EAP, anti-harassment policy

(d) Unclear roles

4. Taking mental-health leave is:

(a) Weakness

(b) Responsibility, not weakness — from Chapter 12

(c) Always illegal

(d) Only for physical injury

5. Harassment at work is:

(a) A resilience exercise

(b) A rights problem as well as a mood problem

(c) The employee’s fault

(d) Cured by longer hours

Chapter 30 Perinatal Mental Health

Think and write

1. What is the difference between the “baby blues” and postnatal depression?
2. Who else should be involved in a new mother’s care, apart from the doctor?
3. Why is it important to speak with a doctor before stopping or starting medicine in pregnancy or breastfeeding?

Multiple choice

1. Postpartum depression is:

(a) The same as baby blues

(b) A gratitude problem

(c) Always harmless

(d) Depression after birth beyond baby blues — needs professional attention

2. Baby blues usually:

(a) Pass in days; still watch the parent

(b) Last years untreated

(c) Include voices commanding harm

(d) Never involve tears

3. Traumatic childbirth:

(a) Cannot be trauma if the infant lives

(b) Is only a legal issue

(c) Was listed in Chapter 10 as medical trauma

(d) Needs no care

4. Psychiatric medicine in pregnancy:

(a) Some are safer than others; untreated severe illness also risks mother and baby — decide with psychiatrist and obstetrician

(b) Must always be stopped at home

(c) Is never used

(d) Is decided on a forum

5. Thoughts of harming the infant:

(a) Are a private mood

(b) Are an emergency the same day

(c) Mean the parent is unfit forever

(d) Should be kept secret

Chapter 31 Later-Life and Dementia-Related Care

Think and write

1. Why is depression not “normal ageing”? Give two signs to watch for.
2. How are early dementia and depression different, and why can they be confused?
3. List three practical ways to support a person living with dementia.

Multiple choice

1. Late-life depression is:

(a) Treatable and often missed

(b) Normal ageing

(c) Always dementia

(d) Untreatable

2. Dementia is:

(a) Progressive decline in memory and thinking severe enough to affect daily life

(b) Any forgotten name

(c) Only sadness

(d) Always reversible

3. Depression can:

(a) Mimic dementia — proper assessment matters

(b) Never look like dementia

(c) Only happen before forty

(d) Be ignored in pain

4. Ramesh’s family learned:

(a) Retirement is always despair

(b) They had mistaken depression for ageing

(c) Temple visits cause illness

(d) Medicine is never used after sixty

5. Caregivers need:

(a) Only instructions

(b) To hide the person

(c) Support and respite

(d) To stop all activity

Chapter 32 Rights, Stigma and Suicide Prevention

Think and write

1. What is stigma, and how does it harm a person who is already unwell?
2. Describe three rights of a person receiving mental-health care.
3. What can a family do in the first hour when someone talks about suicide?

Multiple choice

1. Stigma often:

(a) Speeds help

(b) Is required by WHO

(c) Cures illness

(d) Stops people seeking help

2. WHO-style rights include:

(a) Long confinement as first line

(b) No autonomy

(c) Community care, consent, protection from abuse, integration

(d) Hiding the person

3. Asking about suicide:

(a) Plants the idea

(b) Replaces emergency care

(c) Is illegal

(d) Does not plant the idea; it can open a path to help

4. A locked starved room at home is:

(a) Culture

(b) A private right with no limit

(c) Treatment

(d) Harm — seek help outside the house

5. If someone may be suicidal:

(a) Leave them to rest alone with means

(b) Argue only

(c) Stay, ask, remove means if safe, call

(d) Wait a month

Chapter 33 How Mental Health Conditions Are Assessed and Diagnosed

Think and write

1. Explain, in simple words, why a diagnosis is a “map, not a verdict”.
2. Describe the steps of a typical assessment: the interview, the mental state examination and the information from others.
3. What is the difference between screening and diagnosis, and why does it matter?

Multiple choice

1. A diagnosis is best described as:

(a) A final verdict on a person’s worth

(b) A prediction that treatment will fail

(c) A permanent label that cannot change

(d) A map that helps guide care, not a definition of who you are

2. A mental-health assessment usually includes:

(a) Only a blood test

(b) A guess made in one minute

(c) Only a questionnaire from the internet

(d) A careful interview, observation, information from others where appropriate and physical checks where needed

3. Why do doctors sometimes order physical tests during an assessment?

(a) To make the process longer

(b) To avoid talking to the patient

(c) Because mental illness is always physical

(d) To look for physical illnesses that can mimic mental health conditions

4. Screening tools such as short questionnaires:

(a) Always give a diagnosis

(b) Flag who needs a fuller assessment; they do not diagnose by themselves

(c) Are never useful

(d) Replace the clinician

5. Having two or more conditions at the same time, such as anxiety and depression, is called:

(a) Comorbidity

(b) Remission

(c) Screening

(d) Plasticity

Chapter 34 Relationships and Communication

Think and write

1. What is the difference between being alone and being lonely, and why is loneliness a health risk?
2. Practise one “I” statement for a situation in your own life.
3. Describe two warning signs of an unhealthy or abusive relationship, and where a person can find help.

Multiple choice

1. Which of these helps most in listening?

(a) Planning your reply while the other person talks

(b) Looking at your phone

(c) Giving advice at once

(d) Giving full attention and reflecting back what you heard

2. An assertive message usually:

(a) Blames the other person

(b) Shouts to win

(c) Avoids saying anything

(d) States your needs and feelings clearly and respectfully, often using “I” statements

3. A healthy boundary is:

(a) A wall that keeps everyone out

(b) A sign that you do not care

(c) A punishment

(d) A limit that protects your time, energy, body and values and respects the relationship

4. Loneliness differs from being alone because loneliness is:

(a) Always chosen

(b) The painful feeling of lacking connection, which can occur even in a crowd

(c) The same as introversion

(d) A physical disease

5. Which is a serious warning sign of an unhealthy relationship?

(a) Control, threats or fear of the other person

(b) Occasional disagreements

(c) Different hobbies

(d) Spending some time with friends

Answer key

Multiple-choice answers by chapter. Question numbers run across.

This book is for education and general awareness. It does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a qualified professional. If anyone is in danger, contact your local emergency services.