1.1 mental health

Question 1

what is a psychologist?

Answer 1

professional train in the science of how people think, feel and behave

Question 2

what is a psychiatrist?

Answer 2

qualified medical doctor who has obtained additional qualifications to become a specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses.

Psychiatrists are doctors who specialise in mental health.

Question 3

how many years of study (psychologist)?

Answer 3

minimum 6 years of university training and supervised practical experience

Question 4

how many years of study (psychiatrist)?

Answer 4

involves at least 11 years of study, usually more.

Question 5

psychologists must be registered by

Answer 5

the Psychology Board of Australia (PBA) and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

Question 6

how do other mental health workers work with psychologists and other professionals and team members?

Answer 6

providing treatment, info, support, care

Question 7

well known and non-profit mental health organisations?

Answer 7

headspace
kids helpline
beyond blue
SANE
Black dog institute

Question 8

what is assessment?

Answer 8

collecting and interpreting information about how a person, thinks, feels and behaves in order to make a diagnosis so that appropriate treatment can be provided

Question 9

what does assessment include

Answer 9

may include information about
- the individual’s psychological development
- and whatever else may be of relevance to the issues and concerns that are presented.

Overall, biological, psychological and social factors will be considered.

Question 10

what is assessment known as?

Answer 10

formally referred to as aclinical assessment

Question 11

why is assessment referred to as clinical assessment?

Answer 11

to distinguish it from other types of assessments which people experience in other settings

Question 12

what is diagnosis?

Answer 12

the process of identifying the type of disorder affecting an individual on the basis of its signs and symptoms, through the use of assessment techniques and other available evidence

the classification of the individual on the basis of a specific disorder or set of characteristics.

The term diagnosis also refers to the decision resulting from the identification or classification process

Question 13

what does DSM stand for?

Answer 13

theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of MentalDisorders

Question 14

what is the DSM?

Answer 14

The most widely adopted system with categories of disorders that is used for diagnostic purposes in Australia

provides a system for classifying and diagnosing mental disorders based on recognisable signs and symptoms.

Question 15

when was the DSM first developed?

Answer 15

It was first developed by the American Psychiatric Association in 1952

Question 16

what is the current edition of the DSM?

Answer 16

fifth edition, called DSM‑5-TR.

Question 17

in the DSM, for each disorder, there is a description of:

Answer 17

• essential features and associated features
• its typical course, i.e. how the disorder is likely to progress
• age of onset, i.e. age at which people are more likely to develop the disorder
• the degree of impairment
• the prevalence of the disorder ie. how commonly it occurs
• familial pattern, i.e. whether the disorder runs in families
• the relationship of the disorder to gender, age and culture
• differential diagnosis, i.e. how to distinguish the disorder from others with common symptoms.

Question 18

what is mental health?

Answer 18

the current state of a person’s psychological wellbeing and functioning.

Question 19

what is good mental health?

Answer 19

a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community

More than the absence of mental ill-health

Question 20

how is good mental health reflected?

Answer 20

reflected in how well we deal with the positive and negative emotions associated with the various events in our lives

Question 21

how does a mental health problem occur?

Answer 21

often occurs as a result of a life stressor

Question 22

what is a mental health disorder?

Answer 22

diagnosed psychological state characterised by the presence of a severe disturbance, sense of distress, and thoughts, feelings and/or behaviours that are atypical to the person and significantly impact their ability to function independently

Question 23

difference between a mental health problem and disorder?

Answer 23

mental health problems are
- usually less severe and of a shorter duration than a mental disorder.
- will often resolve with time or when the stressor changes or passes.

BUT IF IT PERSISTS OR INCREASES IN SEVERITY, may develop into a mental disorder.

Question 24

what is labelling?

Answer 24

used to describe the process of classifying and naming a mental disorder following a diagnosis.

Question 25

what is stigma?

Answer 25

a sign of social unacceptability or undesirability, often involving shame or disgrace

Question 26

what is social stigma?

Answer 26

the negative attitudes and beliefs held in the wider community that lead people to fear, reject, avoid and discriminate against people with a mental disorder

Question 27

what is self-stigma?

Answer 27

when an individual accepts the negative views and reactions of others, internalises them, and applies them to themselves, thereby affecting how they feel about themselves and leading to low self-esteem and low self-confidence in their abilities

Question 28

why is labelling useful?

Answer 28

• assists in identifying symptoms associated with a disorder
• assists in classifying a person with/as having a specific disorder
• assists in identifying appropriate treatment and management of a disorder
• enables a common understanding of the person’s condition when health professionals communicate about the person
• useful when reporting research on a disorder.