1. UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
AREA OF STUDY 2
LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT

2. WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS?

3. WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS? PSYCHOTIC ILLNESS
Involves loss of contact with reality. Difficulty with making sense of thoughts, feelings or what is actually happening around them
NON-PSYCHOTIC ILLNESS
Remain touch with reality despite their dysfunctional thoughts, feelings and behaviour. They may experience intense and/or prolonged feelings of sadness, anxiety and fear to such an extent that they have difficulty coping with daily activities

4. INCIDENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN AUSTRALIA
Males:
More likely to experience substance abuse disorders such as alcohol and drug dependence
Females:
More likely to experience anxiety related disorders as well as depression

5. CLASSIFYING MENTAL ILLNESS
First developed in 1952 and revised a number of times
Classification system for mental disorders
Disorders are classified based on a set of recognised symptoms
A qualified mental health professional evaluates a clients condition on five separate scales of information

6. LABELLING SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS
GOOD
Helps clinical psychologists recognise and specifically describe a mental illness
Helpful when mental professionals communicate with one another, provides a common language

7. LABELLING SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS
BAD
Can influence individuals in how they feel about themselves, as well as how they are viewed by society
Once a label has been given to a person it may be there for life
ROSENHAN (1978)
SHOWED HOW LABELLING SOMEONE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS CAN INFLUENCE HOW WE VIEW THAT PERSON

8. HOMEWORK Learning Activity 6.1 (pg.250) Learning Activity 6.3 (pg.253)