Prevention of mental illnesses

role of nurses in prevention of mental illnesses

1. ROLE OF NURSE IN PREVENTION OF MENTAL ILLNESS Sandeep Avasthi Govt. nursing college, Alwar

2. 1. Care of Antenatal mothers Advise her not to be tense Develop positive attitude towards expected baby Emphasize on importance of balanced diet- Don’t bother about sex of the baby

3. 2 . Well planned obstetrical care during natal period Plan where to go for delivery, prefer institutional care Take decision for LSCS timely Care of new born especially cases of forcep delivery, prolonged labour, NNJ, Birth Asphyxia, congenital anomalies like-cleft lip & palate, T.E.Fistula etc.

4. 3. Post natal management Psychological Care of mother especially those who are anxious, worried or not satisfied with the outcome to prevent possibility of post partum depression. Timely vaccination of under five babies Exclusively breast feeding up to 6 months Adequate love and affection to child to make him physically and mentally healthy Be watchful to assess developmental delays-like –delay in speaking, delay in neck holding, delay in standing & walking.

5. Psychological Support to Those having physically and mentally handicapped children – like-mentally retarded, cerebral palsy, skyphosis, poliomyelitis, Blindness, Hearing impaired etc. Listen to them, acknowledge their feelings Suggest them correctional services available like –speech therapist, physiotherapist, clinical psychologist, counsellor etc.

6. 5. Care of elderly people Listen to them Identify their needs physical and mental and plan accordingly Assess support system available to them Utilize their usefulness to society like-teaching skills, legal knowledge, clerical knowledge, marketing, social relationship etc.

7. 6. Identify population experiencing situational crisis Like- failure in exam or business, unemployment, marital conflict, divorced, death of loved one or bread earner of family, drug addicts, rape victims, women at menopause, divorced and cases of marital conflict Plan counselling services for these people to assist them in coping the situation and refer to psychiatrist if it is needed.

8. 7. Detect cases of severe mental illnesses and mental retardation . Prepare the family to take care of such cases with positive attitude and guide them how to look after the patient at home when he is discharged. Help family members and mentally retarded to make suitable adjustment in the community .

9. Maintain regular follow up of these cases Advice them to consult with psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, social worker, special educator etc. Tell them about the services available like- NGO”s working in these areas, facilities available for MR cases, special educational schools available.

10. 8 . Participation in School Mental Health Program Identify behavioural abnormalities of children-nail biting, thumb sucking, autism, ADHD Observe early signs of learning difficulties like-dyslexia, receptive language disorder, expressive language disorder, specific reading disorder etc. Regular interaction between parents and teacher Provide guidance and counselling services

11. 9. Counselling services to needy population Adolescents Victims of natural calamities –flood, drought, war affected people, terrorist attack, riots affected victims etc People with prolonged illness like-blood cancer, colon cancer, Thalassemia, Renal Failure, bed ridden patients –(paralysed, vertebral column injuries, head injuries), Those who are undergoing surgical intervention to help them cope the situation

12. 10. Society centred program for promoting social development Collection of data related to mental illnesses. Utilization of crisis intervention services available Organize Health Education program related to mental illness –causes, sign and symptoms, treatment available, prognosis

13. Continue…… Plan regular discussion with community on current issues like-female foeticide, dowry, sex determination, child marriage, widow marriage, child abuse, drug abuse and addictions- crime gender biasness, girls education etc.

14. Continue….. Plan program for children for character building and inculcate good habits like –no smoking, respect for elders, no tobacco, exercise, yoga and meditation, deep breathing and relaxation exercises, good eating habits etc.

15. 1. Increase Public Awareness--- Educate the public and prominent persons who are in close touch with community like-PHN, teachers, Religious leaders, retired persons etc in how to recognize early symptoms of mental illness.

16. 2. Refer to Right Place at right time - - The public should also be educated to refer these cases of abnormal behaviour to right hospital or right professional as early as possible when they acknowledge instead of referring them to Tantrilk or quacks or any other religious places.

17. 3. Organize screening camps Develop simple questionnaires on mental illnesses in easy and local languages and administer them in the community or schools, colleges, offices, factories, business houses etc for early identification and reference.

18. 4 . Organize mental health and psychiatric training to health personnel- doctors, nurses, and social workers etc to increase human

19. 5. Mental health education to public to increase awareness

20. 6. Provide Health Education to newly diagnose patients and their family on drugs – It is essential to discuss side effects or physical complaints associated with psychotropic drugs. This will be helpful in compliance of drugs because we know a psychiatric patient needs to take medication for a long time sometime life long.

21. Prevention at tertiary level

22. Dr. Cameron in 1946 .

23. Staffing pattern 1. Psychiatrist 2. Psychiatric nurse 3. PSW and 4. Therapists. This facility provides relief and some time to get relaxed to the family of mentally ill. It also reduces unnecessary burden or workload in state or district mental hospital. It also helps the patient in developing discipline and routine.

24. 2 . Half-way homes— This facility is useful for those patients who don’t require all the services of a mental hospital but are not yet ready to be discharged for complete independent living at home. They need less supervised care for medication and carrying out daily activities. In a half way home medical facilities are also available.

25. 3. Foster Homes --- it is a structured homelike environment made available to a patient recovering from mental illness. It is provided by a family which is authorized by a registered social agency for family care. The family is paid by the agency.

26. 4.

27. 5. Group-Home

28. 6. Self-help Groups