Concept of mental health and mental illness

It is importent to understand the concept of mental health and mental illness for every students who study in MSW, Nursing, Pschology etc.

1. Mental Health & Mental Illness
By
Mr. SHIV PRAKASH
PhD Research Scholar
Department of Psychiatry,
IMS, BHU, Varanasi

2. MentalHealth
Mentalhealthincludesouremotional,psychological,andsocial
well-being.Itaffectshowwethink,feel,andact.Italsohelps
determinehowwehandlestress,relatetoothers,andmake
choices.Mentalhealthisimportantateverystageoflife,from
childhoodandadolescencethroughadulthood.
WhatisHealth?
WorldHealthOrganization(WHO)definitionofhealthas
“astateofcompletephysical,mentalandsocialwell-being
andnotmerelytheabsenceofdiseaseorinfirmity”

3. •Mentalhealthisnotjustabsenceofthementalillness.
•Inmostcases,mentalhealthisastateofemotional,
psychological,andsocialwellnessevidencedbysatisfying
interpersonalrelationships,effectivebehaviorandcoping,
positiveself-concept,andemotionalstability.
AccordingtoWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)mental
healthincludes"subjectivewell-being,perceivedself-efficacy,
autonomy,competence,intergenerationaldependence,and
self-actualizationofone‟sintellectualandemotionalpotential,
amongothers.”

4. TheAmericanPsychiatricAssociation(APA1980)defines
mentalhealthas“Simultaneoussuccessatworking,lovingand
creatingwiththecapacityofmature&flexibleresolutionof
conflictsbetweeninstincts,conscience,importantotherpeople
&reality.”
Robinson(1983)definementalhealth:“Adynamicstatein
whichthethought,feelings,andbehaviourthatisage-
appropriateandcongruentwiththelocalandculturalnormis
demonstrated.”

5. AccordingtoWHO,Mentalhealthisdefinedasastateof
well-beinginwhicheveryindividualrealizeshisorherown
potential,cancopewiththenormalstressesoflife,canwork
productivelyandfruitfully,andisabletomakeacontribution
toherorhiscommunity.
The three core components of this definition are
(1)well-being,
(2)effective functioning of an individual, and
(3)effective functioning for a community.

6. Criteria for an Optimum Mental Health
•He has his own philosophy
of life
•A proper sense of Self
Evaluation
•A positive attitude towards
self and others
•With an open mind
•Emotionally mature
•A balance Self-regarding
sentiment
•Socially adjustable
•Intellectually sound
•Bravery facing failure
•Self Judgment
•Varied interests
•Sense of personal worth
•Sense of personal security
•Sense of responsibility
•Give and accept love
•Accept the reality
•Goal oriented
•Well Organized.

7. Mental Illness

8. Mental Illness or Disorder
Theactdefines“MentalIllness”as“asubstantialdisorderof
thinking,mood,perception,orientation,ormemorythatgrossly
impairsjudgment,behavior,capacitytorecognizerealityor
abilitytomeettheordinarydemandsoflife,mentalconditions
associatedwiththeabuseofalcoholanddrugs,butdoesnot
includementalretardationwhichisaconditionofarrestedor
incompletedevelopmentofmindofaperson,especially
characterizedbysubnormalityofintelligence.”

9. Mentalillnessismaladjustmentinliving.Itproducesa
disharmonyintheperson‟sabilitytomeethumanneeds
comfortablyoreffectively&functionwithinaculture.
Mental&behaviordisordersareunderstoodasclinically
significantconditionscharacterizedbyalterationsinthinking,
mood(emotions)orbehaviorassociatedwithpersonaldistress
orimpairedfunctioning.(WHO)
Amentaldisorderisasyndromecharacterizedbyclinically
significantdisturbanceinanindividual'scognition,emotion
regulation,orbehaviorthatreflectsadysfunctionin
thepsychological,biological,ordevelopmentalprocesses
underlyingmentalfunctioning.(DSM-5)

10. TheclinicaldescriptionsanddiagnosticguidelinesforICD-10
mentalandbehaviouraldisorders3defineamental
disorderas“aclinicallyrecognizablesetofsymptomsor
behavioursassociatedinmostcaseswithdistressandwith
interferencewithpersonalfunctions.
Anillnesswithpsychologicalorbehavioralmanifestation
and/orimpairmentinfunctioning,duetosocial,psychological,
genetic,physicalorbiologicaldisturbances.”
(AmericanPsychiatricAssociation)

11. Causes of Mental Illness
There are some types of factors of mental illness such as:
•Predisposing factors are those factors which might mean that a person
is vulnerable to developing a problem. (Example: genetics factor, family
history of mental illness)
•Precipitatingfactorsarethosefactorswhichleadtotheproblem
occurringatthetimeitdid.Theyanswerthequestion,„Whynow?
•Perpetuatingfactorsarethosewhichleadtoaproblemorcircumstance
persisting.Theyanswerthequestion,„Whyisn‟titgoingaway?‟
•Protectivefactorsarethosewhichmightacttoattenuateordiminishthe
overallimpactoftheproblem.(Ex:supportivefamilynetwork)
•Individualfactorsrefertothosethingsthatarespecifictothatperson
andarepartofthatperson‟sindividualmake‐up.
•Externalfactorsmightincludeaspectsoftheircurrentrelationships,
familyupbringingandcurrentfamilyfunctioning,their
occupational/schoolfunctioning,theirsocialworld,andcultural
influences.

12. Biological Causes of Metal Illness
•Heredity:Goddard(1913)haddescribedthatheredityplaysanimportantrole
intheprevalenceofmentalillness.Monozygotictwinshave86.2%chanceof
beingaffected,ifoneofthemarementallyill.Indizygotic(14.5%),Sibling
(14.2%)andcosines(7.1%).
•Genetic factor: Imbalance in Chromosomes(ex: Mongolism or Down Syndrome)
•ImbalanceinNeurotransmitters:Suchasnorepinephrine,dopamine,serotonin,
glutamate,andgammaaminobutyric.(Ex:Depresion,Mania,Schizophrenia,Anxiety)
•Imbalance in Hormones
•Physical Constitutions: Sheldon (1954) had classified personality in three types;
Endomorphic, Ectomorphicand Mesomorphic.
•Physical Handicaps
•Physical Deprivation (Nutritional and Sleep disturbance)

13. Psychological Causes of Mental Illness
The Psychodynamic Perspective
•Role of Conscious, Sub Conscious and Unconscious Mind
•Role of Id, Ego and Super Ego
•Stages of Psychosexual development
•Role of Ego defense mechanism
•Object-relationstheory:Itfocusonindividuals‟interactionswithrealand
imaginedotherpeople(externalandinternalobjects)andontherelationshipsthat
peopleexperiencebetweentheirexternalandinternalobjects.
•ThePsychosocialDevelopmentalProspective
•TheBehavioralProspective
•TheCognitiveBehavioralProspective

14. Common Psychological Factors of mental illness
Maternal Deprivation
Institutionalization and Deprivation
Deprivation in Home
Pathogenic Family Pattern
Rejection
Overprotection
Over permissiveness and Indulgence
Faulty Discipline
Faulty communication
Faulty parental model
Factor Related to the family structure
Inadequate Family
Disturbed Family
Antisocial Family
Broken Family

15. Early Psychic Trauma
Inadequate Preparation for Adolescents
Pathogenic Interpersonal Relationships
Severe Stressors
•Severe Biological Stresses
•Severe Psychological Stresses
Frustration Leading to Self Devaluation
Failure
Losses
Personal Limitations
Feelings of Guilt
Loneliness
Conflicts
Pressure

16. Social and Cultural Factors of Mental Illness
•War and Violence
•Racial Discrimination
•Pressure of Social Norms
•Unemployment
•Poverty or economical crises
•Marital Conflict
•Divorce
•Loosing of Love one
•Gender Roles