Mental Health Odhrán Allen

Mental Health It is “a state of well-being in which the individual: It is “a state of well-being in which the individual: realises his or her abilities realises his or her abilities can cope with the normal stresses of life can cope with the normal stresses of life can work productively and fruitfully can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” Ref: World Health Organisation

European Pact for Mental Health & Well-Being 2008 Mental health is a human right Mental health is a human right It enables citizens to enjoy well-being, quality of life and health It enables citizens to enjoy well-being, quality of life and health It promotes learning, working and participation in society It promotes learning, working and participation in society

Mental Ill Health Mental ill health includes: Mental ill health includes: mental health problems and strain mental health problems and strain impaired functioning associated with distress impaired functioning associated with distress symptoms and diagnosable mental disorders such as schizophrenia and depression symptoms and diagnosable mental disorders such as schizophrenia and depression Ref: Green Paper. Improving the mental health of the population – towards a strategy on mental health for the European Union

Mental Ill Health More than 27% of adult Europeans are estimated to experience at least one form of mental ill health during any one year More than 27% of adult Europeans are estimated to experience at least one form of mental ill health during any one year Mental ill health can also lead to suicide, a cause of too many deaths Mental ill health can also lead to suicide, a cause of too many deaths Mental ill health causes significant losses and burdens to the economic, social, educational as well as criminal and justice systems Mental ill health causes significant losses and burdens to the economic, social, educational as well as criminal and justice systems

Facts About Mental Health Around 20% of the world's children and adolescents have mental health problems Around 20% of the world's children and adolescents have mental health problems Mental and substance use disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide Mental and substance use disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide There are approximately deaths by suicide globally every year There are approximately deaths by suicide globally every year War and disasters have a large impact on mental health and psychosocial well-being War and disasters have a large impact on mental health and psychosocial well-being

Facts About Mental Health Mental disorders are important risk factors for other diseases, as well as unintentional and intentional injury Mental disorders are important risk factors for other diseases, as well as unintentional and intentional injury Stigma and discrimination against patients and families prevent people from seeking mental health care Stigma and discrimination against patients and families prevent people from seeking mental health care Globally, there is huge inequity in the distribution of skilled human resources for mental health Globally, there is huge inequity in the distribution of skilled human resources for mental health Ref: WHO – 10 facts about mental health

MH Determinants People’s mental health is determined by a multiplicity of factors: People’s mental health is determined by a multiplicity of factors: Biological (e.g. genetics) Biological (e.g. genetics) Individual (e.g. personal experiences) Individual (e.g. personal experiences) Social (e.g. social support) Social (e.g. social support) Economic & Environmental (e.g. social status, living conditions) Economic & Environmental (e.g. social status, living conditions) Ref: EU Green Paper

MH Determinants Health promotion approaches to mental health examine the determinants of mental health to identify and target specific areas of everyday life. These determinants are the factors in the organisation of society and people’s living conditions and lifestyles that contribute to health or ill-health Health promotion approaches to mental health examine the determinants of mental health to identify and target specific areas of everyday life. These determinants are the factors in the organisation of society and people’s living conditions and lifestyles that contribute to health or ill-health Ref: Swedish National Institute of Public Health, 2005

MH Determinants Factors that determine mental health fall into three broad areas, personal, social and community. When these factors are minimal, there is increased likelihood of poor mental health: Factors that determine mental health fall into three broad areas, personal, social and community. When these factors are minimal, there is increased likelihood of poor mental health: Personal: each person’s ability to deal with thoughts and feelings, the management of life and emotional resilience; Personal: each person’s ability to deal with thoughts and feelings, the management of life and emotional resilience;

MH Determinants Social: each person’s ability to deal with the social world through skills like participating, tolerating diversity and mutual responsibility Social: each person’s ability to deal with the social world through skills like participating, tolerating diversity and mutual responsibility Community: the development and maintenance of healthy communities which includes safe and secure environments and housing, positive educational experiences, employment, community validation, social support and positive role models. Community: the development and maintenance of healthy communities which includes safe and secure environments and housing, positive educational experiences, employment, community validation, social support and positive role models.

Determinants of Mental Health

Minority Stress Developed by Ilan Meyer based on his research on mental health of LGBT people Developed by Ilan Meyer based on his research on mental health of LGBT people Describes the relationship of social stressors and LGBT mental health Describes the relationship of social stressors and LGBT mental health Identifies the mechanisms by which social stressors impact on health and well being of LGBT people Identifies the mechanisms by which social stressors impact on health and well being of LGBT people Describes the harm that prejudice and stigma do to LGBT people Describes the harm that prejudice and stigma do to LGBT people Theoretical lens for LGBT MH research Theoretical lens for LGBT MH research

Minority Stress Model 1. Unique – minority stress is additional to general stressors that are experienced by all people and members of minority groups require a stress adaptation effort above that required of non-minorities 2. Chronic – minority stress is related to enduring underlying social and cultural structures 3. Socially Based – minority stress stems from social processes, institutions and structures beyond the individual rather than particular life events or conditions that characterise general stressors or biological, genetic, or other non-social characteristics of the person or group Ref: Meyer, 2003