Mental Health Awareness

By the end of the session students will be able to…. Describe the different categories of mental disorder Outlines a few strategies to promote mental health Discuss competing perspectives on the cause of mental distress

Small group exercise 1.Have a short discussion about how you would define the term ‘mental illness’. 2.What you feel to be the causes of psychological distress. You may wish to think about a client you’ve worked with or even a family member. Make list of your findings.

How we perceive mental illness Mental health (wellness) Mental Ill health (Illness)

Tudor (1996) Health Ill-health Coping Stress management Self concept & identity Self Esteem Self Development Autonomy Social support

Ten Elements of Mental Health Promotion Mental Health Promotion Environmental quality Self-Esteem Emotional processing Self-management skills Social Participation Mental Health Demotion Emotional deprivation Emotional abuse Emotional negligence Stress Social exclusion

Which mental illness is most common? Depression with anxiety affects 9.2% of the population 1 in 20 experience severe depression

How common are mental health problems? One in four people will experience mental health problems in their lifetime In every year 300 people per 1000 experience a mental health problem.

Group exercise Write down five factors that help you cope with the stress of life. How might you feel if you couldn’t rely on these strategies?

Classification and diagnosis Three types of functional mental illness PsychosisNeurosis Personality Disorder DSM iv / ICD 10

Psychotic Scale Otherwise referred to as severe and enduring mental illness Psychosis Bi polar illness Severe depression

Neurotic scale Generalized anxiety disorder Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) Post traumatic stress disorder Specific phobia Agoraphobia 8spZG8dAc&feature=relatedhttp:// 8spZG8dAc&feature=related

Organic Mental Illness Alzheimer's Vascular Dementia Acquired Brain Injury K7O14Ehttp:// K7O14E

Violence and Mental Health In 1996 – 46% of all national press coverage linked mental health to violence and criminality In fact only 8% of homicides are committed by people with mental illness 100 times more likely to kill themselves than another person. The link is constantly being made between mental illness and dangerous or unpredictable behaviour.

Stigma and mental health 2/3 of organisations setting up facilities said they faced resistance from the community Concerns were: 1. Fear for children’s safety 2. Fear of violence Concerns usually dissipate once services are up and running

Victimisation Kelly & McKenna (1997) – surveyed one hundred people with mental health problems: 15 had stones thrown at windows 14 were verbally abused 5 had offensive graffiti ( ‘peodo’, pervert) 12 harassed outside home

Socio cultural differences South Asian – lower rates of psychiatric morbidity, men identified feelings of powerlessness, women isolation. Chinese – report a degree of stigma attached to mental health services Vietnamese – research terms culturally inadequate.

Notable disparities between ethnic minority groups and majority populations in the rates of mental ill health, service experience and service outcome. ‘provision for patients from minority ethnic communities remains basic, insensitive and piecemeal, leading to patients feeling alienated and isolated’.

References ‘The art and science of mental health nursing’, Norman I and Ryman I