INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTHSTUDY UNIT 14

By C. Settley

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the term Mental Health

• Discuss the characteristics of a Mentally Health Person

• Explore the criteria of mental health for a person in relationship with:

• - self

• - others

• - environment

Explain the term ‘Mental Health’

• Mental health is a state of well-being in which a person understands his or her own abilities:

• - can cope with the normal stresses of life

• - can work productively and fruitfully

• - is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

Explain the term ‘Mental Health’

• Both physical and mental health are the result of a complex interplay between many individual and environmental factors, including:

• family history of illness and disease/genetics• lifestyle and health behaviours (e.g., smoking, exercise, substance use)• levels of personal stress• workplace stress• exposure to toxins• exposure to trauma• personal life circumstances and history• access to support structures (e.g., timely healthcare, social supports)• coping skills

Explain the term ‘Mental Health’

• When the demands placed on someone exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health will be negatively affected.

• Two examples of common demands are: • i) working long hours under difficult circumstances, and • ii) caring for a chronically ill relative.

• Economic hardship, unemployment, underemployment and poverty also have the potential to harm mental health.

What is mental illness?

• Mental illness is a recognized Medically diagnosable illness • Results in the significant impairment of an individual's cognitive,

affective or relational abilities. • Mental disorders result from biological, developmental and/or

psychosocial factors • Can be managed using approaches comparable to those applied to

physical disease (i.e., prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation).

What do you think about the following statement?

Differences between mental health and mental illness

Mental HealthSee figure 2.1 Tree of Mental Health (in reader)

• Being comfortable with yourself

• Feeling good about your relationships with others

• Being able to meet the demands of life

Mental illnessSee figure 2.2 Tree of Mental illness (in reader)

• Having a low self-esteem and self concept

• Being unable to relate to others

• Being incapable of coping with personal problems

• Having difficulty distinguishing between reality, fantasy and imagination

Video:

Mental Health- The Basics

6 Characteristics of a Mentally Healthy Person

• 1. Effective Self-Perception• Attitude towards one self• Observation of own behaviour• Noticing what causes the perceived negative behaviour • Work is then done to change negative perceptions, to positive ones

• 2. Self-esteem and Acceptance (which is realistic)• Respect and love for one self • Self-esteem is a set of attitudes, perceptions, feelings, evaluations,

opinions and actions directed toward yourself which influences your behaviour

• Views him/herself in a positive light and acceptance of things you cannot change

6 Characteristics of a Mentally Healthy Person

• 3. Control of behaviour• Behavioural awareness

• 4. True perception of the world• Perceptions you have of the world and your place in it. • Negatively• Positively• Realistic

Characteristics of a Mentally Healthy Person

• 5. Sustains relationships and gives affection• Healthy, sustainable relationships with friends and significant

others. • Workplace this is also very important

• 6. Self directed and productive• Ability to direct oneself to life path

Characteristics of a mentally healthy person

(see handouts)

Video: Mental Health & Mental illness

Well- being

• Positive outcome

• Meaningful

• Good life

• How people perceive their lives

• Good living conditions, employment, housing

• Relationships, emotions, realisation of potential, life satisfaction

Why is well- being useful for public health?

• Integration of mental health (mind) and physical health (body)

• Results in holistic approaches to nursing care• Disease prevention• Health promotion• Valid population outcome- morbidity, mortality, economic

status. Research: self perceived health, longevity, behaviour, mental and physical heath, social connectedness, productivity

• Meaningful to public

NON PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESSES

• Psychoanalysis, Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Psychotherapy and Behavioral therapyBehavioral therapy

• Approaches to addressing mental health issues using Approaches to addressing mental health issues using methods other than pharmacological treatmentmethods other than pharmacological treatment

• Nurses working in mental health settings and with Nurses working in mental health settings and with patients with diverse medical backgrounds should patients with diverse medical backgrounds should familiarise themselves with these practices as the familiarise themselves with these practices as the nursing process engages with individuals with different nursing process engages with individuals with different and unique mental healthand unique mental health

NON PHARMACOLOGICAL TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESSES

• DIVIDE INTO 3 GROUPS. Each group will DIVIDE INTO 3 GROUPS. Each group will be responsible for presenting the following be responsible for presenting the following three methods of non pharmacological three methods of non pharmacological treatment:treatment:

• GROUP 1: PsychoanalysisGROUP 1: Psychoanalysis

• GROUP 2: Psychotherapy GROUP 2: Psychotherapy

• GROUP 3: Behavioral therapyGROUP 3: Behavioral therapy

• Definition, uses in medical field, examples

• Presentation; role play, group discussions, case studies, refer to assignments done, PowerPoint presentation

• Be creative

• Groups will assess one another

• Assessment: Each group member will be evaluated by rest of the group

References

• Kreigh, H.Z. AND Perko, J.E., (1998). Psychiatric Health Nursing. Pg 8. United States of America. Prentice Hall International

• Clarke, M. (2012). Executive Coaching, Goal Setting and tagged coaching, Executive Coaching, Jahoda, mental health, wellbeing. Available at: http://motivcoach.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/6-characteristics-of-the-mentally-healthy-person/