2009 study guide Flashcards
what is mental health, what does it consider and what does it include?
a component of wellbeing
a dynamic state
The ability to cope with and bounce back from adversity, to solve problems in everyday life, manage when things are difficult, and cope with everyday stressors.
Mental health is made possible by supportive social, friendship and family environments, work-life balance, physical health and in many instances, reduces stress and trauma.
Having good mental health, or being mentally healthy, is more than just the absence of illness, rather it’s a state of overall wellbeing.
considers:
>how we feel about ourselves
>how we interact with others and the world around us
>personal growth and development
includes:
>being able to work productively and contribute to community life
>interacting with others and the environment in ways that promote subjective wellbeing and optimise development and use mental abilities
what is wellbeing, what does it incorporate, what are it’s aspects and what is it influenced by?
Judging life positively and feeling good.
The balance point between an individual’s resource pool and the challenges faced
incorporates:
>enjorment of life
>ability to cope with and bounce back from stress and sadness
>being able to set and fulfill goals
>capability to build and maintain relationships
aspects:
- evaluative wellbeing or life satisfaction
- hedonic wellbeing - feelings of happiness, sadness etc
- eudemonic wellbeing - sense of purpose or meaning of life
influenced by:
>culture
>living conditions
>sociaio-political context
what is mental illness, how is it diagnosed, what do they include?
a health condition that has a negative effect on the way an individual >thinks >feels >behaves >interacts
a general term that refers to a group of illnesses
diagnosed based on standardized criteria
include: >mood and anxiety disorders >eating disorders >psychotic disorders >personality disorders >PTSD >substance use disorders
what is the biopsychosocial model of health?
a model that presumes that it is important to consider these 3 factors together then understanding and managing the problems
- biological
>physical health, neurochemistry, metabolic disorders, genetic vulnerability, immune/stress response, comorbidity - social and environmental
>peer groups, work, school, culture, socio-economic status, family circumstances - psychological
>self-esteem, attitudes/beliefs, perceptions, temperament, social skills, coping skills
what is entailed in the socio-ecological understandings of health?
from 1-4 from most difficult to change to the easiest
- the person
>individual skills and circumstances - immediate environment
>connection, context, practical resources
>who is the individual directly connected to - eg. family, close friends, the house you live in, the school you go to, access to food and water etc. - indirect environment
>addressing stigma, social mobilisation
>the attitudes and stigma in the community that impacts you
>we promote health by addressing stigma and social mobilisation - wider context
>advocacy and activism
>government policies (access to childcare), subsidised medication, available resources, global warming
what is a therapeutic relationship and its key aspects?
the relationship between a healthcare professional and a client or patient.
the means by which a therapist and a client hope to engage with each other and effect beneficial change in the client.
key aspects include: >understanding and empathy >being there >individuality >providing support >demonstrating respect >clear boundaries >self awareness >beinggenuine >promoting equality
why is a therapeutic relationship relevant to mental health and wellbeing?
therapeutic relationships are at the core of mental health nursing.
is required to: >perform assessment >provide non-judgemental care >encourage therapeutic engagement >implement therapeutic interventions >increase the efficacy of any nursing intervention in the acute mental health setting
what is the difference between mental health and wellbeing?
mental health is a component of wellbeing that exists in the context of overall wellbeing. they can impact each other and there are also times where there are distinctions.
mental health is about the psyche only, wellbeing is about the whole body.
what are risk and protective factors?
risk factors - things that increase the likelihood of illness or decrease health
> individual - disability, loss, genetics
family - expose to trauma, conflict, isolation
community - unemployment, discrimination, poverty
structural - social disadvantage, inequitable policies, war
protective factors - things that enhance people’s ability to cope, reduce exposure to risk or lessen the impact of disadvantage
> individual - personal resilience, temperament, self-esteem
family - supportive relationships
acceptance
positive attachment
community - access to education, sense of belonging, engagement in meaningful activity
structural - access to resources, cultural belonging, supportive government policies
how do nurses use therapeutic relationships?
> develop self-awareness and using aspects of our personality, values, feelings and perceptions to establish relationships with patients
> engagement with people as a human, listening, connection a supporting
what are some techniques to help develop a therapeutic relationship?
> establish shared goals
> devlop positive mutual trust, confidence and acceptance
> validation
> speak the patient’s language
> be respectful, curious, honest, and transparent
how do we promote wellbeing?
by following health promotion principals
>provide people with skills and knowledge required to empower them to take control over their own health
how do we enact self-compassion?
> not being too critical when you make a mistake - acknowledge that everyone makes them
> take time off for reflection/mindfulness - focus on the here and now
> recognize that there is more to life than what you’re thinking about
> pressure hobbies/interests that you enjoy - exercise, reading, cooking, eating, watching TV
> set small goals
what is self-compassion?
> accepting that we are all failable and capable of making mistakes and being able o acknowledge and accept that
> higher levels of self-compassion are related to better wellbeing. being overly self-critical can negatively impact wellbeing
what are the principles of health promotion?
components:
1. healthy public policies
>remove structural barriers and inequalities
>equitable distribution of resources
- creating a healthy environment
>safe and enabling spaces, free from violence and discrimination
>promotion of connection, growth, and wellbeing - strengthening community action
>collaborative action
>supportive stakeholder engagement - reorienting health services
>focusing on prevention, and socioecological approaches to mental health, diversity roles and settings - developing personal skills
>education, information, early identification and health literacy
consider nursing strategies that promote health to prevent illness
?
how do we promote health in infants?
- the person
>infants are linked to the parent/caregiver context
>ensuring access to universal health screening and antenatal/postnatal care
>immunisation and health screening - immediate environment
>promoting attachment, responsive parenting and play
>ensuring access to safe places to sleep and play as well as adequate food and nutrition
>reducing exposure to adversity within the familial unit
>promoting breastfeeding, safe sleep and clean air
3. indirect environment >community campaigns >accessible services >professional collaboration >social cohesion and community connection
- wider context
>recognition of parenting and children in policy (childcare, paid leave, family support etc.)
>cultural and social beliefs about families, parents and child rights
how do we promote health in children?
1. person >immunisation >screening >emotinoal regulation >coping skills >resillience programs >attachement >sleep and nutrition
2. immediate environment >family support >kinship >parenting support >child safety in the home and family > neighborhood watch >DV screening >protective factors >exposure to danger
3. indirect environment >access to parks, transport, preschool, school, OOSH, health screening >teacher training and support >community nurses, appropriate services >school curriculum and programs >cross sectoral collaboration >bullying campaigns
4. wider context >child rights >climate >national policy >education >pollution and environments >child protection systems
how do we promote health in adolescents?
1. person >social media >slef esteem programs >alcohol, drugs safe sex info >emotional regulation strategies >identity acceptance and expression >exercise, diet, sleep >psychoeducational >screening
2. immediate environment >family support >responding to emotions >support during transitions >peer influences >trusted adults >boundaries and safety >freedom/limits >access to education
3. indirect environment: >psychology/therapy services >social media regulation and safety >school climates and culture >bullying programs >multimodal support services
4. wider context >safe communities >policies to promote agency >lack of violence and crime >accessto education and employment pathways
how do we promote health in adults?
- person
>what are their roles within the family/community
2. immediate environment >psychology/therapy services >social media regulation and safety >school climates and culture >bullying programs >multimodal support services
- wider context
>access to employment, health care and welfare
how do we promote health in older people?
1. person >screening >sleep >diet >phsyical health >meaningful activity >cognitive support
2. immediate environment >family connection >grief and loss support >changin roles >values and individuality respected >sharing of story >self determination and control
3. indirect environment >appropriate care >skilled workers >awareness of mental health >meaningful activities >community and social activities >cultural and religious awareness
4. wider context >stigma >respect >social policy >aged care systems (funding/nurse availability) >access to natural environments
what are the contemporary understandings/theories of resilience?
> the ability to cope with adversity, to “bounce back” or to positively adapt to stress adversity
often used to refer to things individuals can do when they experience challenges
>implies that some people have characteristics that make them more resilient than others
theories:
>innate resilience theory - some are and some aren’t
>toughen up theory - resilient is a bi-product of adversity. moderate exposure facilitates resource but too much can overwhelm
>back in my day theory - something to be taught and learnt. developmental process. learnt over time
>return to normal theory - resilience is a form of coping and a way of getting back to usual functioning
>continuum theory - resilience is at one end and vulnerability is at the other.
why is self compassion important for nurses?
> vital to avoid burnout - a consequence of someone feeling their abilities to create positive change or have a positive role is diminished
> ability to be compassionate is diminished without self-compasion - people become cruel and sarcastic when talking about patients, colleagues, themselves and their job
>the nurse’s whole role is to show compassion!!
> lack of self compassion causes a lack of drive for achievement, resulting in feelings of frustration and lack of patience
what is the nurse’s role in relation to health, wellbeing and illness?
> A nurse is a caregiver for patients and helps to manage physical needs, prevent illness, and treat health conditions. To do this, they need to observe and monitor the patient, recording any relevant information to aid in treatment decision-making.
> encourage patients and their families to participate in decision-making related to treatment or to discuss and express their feelings about situations associated with serious illness
what is coping?
cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage external and/or internal situations that exceed or overwhelm individual resources thus helping to achieve wellbeing
>ie. things we do to overcome adversity
- we can modify the problems (active)
- we can regulate our responses (passive)
how can nurses promote resilience?
- view people as resilient - how we think about people affects how we talk to them and about them
- identify and work with strengths within the individual and within their wider context
- cultivate positive emotions
- support hope - more important for adolescents upwards
- identify coping strategies and frame them as such
- try gentle cognitive reframing
- fostering connection
- support holistic health
- with children - positive relationships with adults, support parenting, self-regulation skills and coping, connection and belonging, engagement with things
what is mental health promotion and its components?
thinking about why someone is doing something and what strengths and weaknesses they have as well as what resources they have access to and what motivates them to improve their mental health
the enhancement of the capacity of individuals, families, groups, or communities to strengthen or support positive emotional, cognitive, and related experiences.
how is mental health promotion different from mental health treatment?
mental health promotion is a largely preventative approach to increasing protective factors and reducing risk factors that may otherwise impact negatively on one’s mental health whilst mental health treatment occurs secondary to diagnosis
mental health treatment is a component of mental health promotion (secondary prevention where in which primary prevention has lead to early diagnosis of a mental illness and treatment can be commenced to prevent more serious problems from developing)
why are engagement and connection important?
> engagement provides the meaningful purpose and a sense of connectedness throughout the life course
> remaining engaged in the present through connections with family and friends and pursuing an interest
>mediates sadness through bereavement
>provides access to supportive informal social networks
> strong intergenerational connections provided a sense pf being valued
what is empathy and how do we display it?
> putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. the ability to understand other people’s emotions. skills that you learn and develop over time affected by personally/emotional intelligence
> in order to display empathy, you need to be able to listen actively and be self-aware.
- don’t always offer answers of telling people what to do,
- repeat back what we’re hearing
- perspective-taking
- staying out of judgment
- recognizing emotions in other people
- communicating emotion
how do we build therapeutic relationships?
> will assist the nurse in understanding the patient’s preferences regarding their environment, enabling them to feel safe and to trust in the care being provided
what is cultural safety and how can nurse practice it?
the effective nursing practice of nursing a person or family from another culture; it is determined by that person or family.
- respecting the culture of the community by using appropriate language and behavior
- never doing anything that causes the person to feel shame
- supporting the persons right to make decisions about seeking culturally based care
what is humility?
> the quality of being humble
what is recovery?
> gaining and retaining hope, understanding of ones abilities and disabilities, engagement in an active life, personal autonomy, social identity, meaning and purpose in life, and a positive sense of self.
what are the relationships between recovery, nursing, and family?
> working with family can improve outcomes for clients and decrease stress for family members
> mental health is embedded with wellbeing and see of self. it is not possible to treat someone’s mind without recognizing how this affects and is affected by their context
what do service users identify as desirable qualities of a mental health nurse?
> emoathy
> compassion
> effective communication
> knowledge of other health services
> hopeful
> non-judgemental
> fostering hope
why is empathy important?
> it is essential to effective treatment in recovery-oriented practice
> essential to facilitate engagement and build trust in therapeutic relationships
how might a nurse display cultural safety and humility/what do they need to think about?
cultural safety:
>respecting the culture of the community by using the appropriate language and behavior
>never doing anything that causes the person to feel shame
>supporting the person’s right to make decisions about seeking culturally based care
humility:
>Ask for assistance when needed.
>View support as an opportunity to gain new knowledge.
>Admit when you make a mistake
what is relational recovery?
> a social process occurring through relationships particularly those with family
> an intrinsically social and relational process founded on people’s independence on each other
> people are relational beings and their lives cannot be separated from the social contexts they are in
how can nurses engage with families?
> recognize the importance of relationships, roles and family in people’s lives
> be welcoming, greet family and ask ho they are
> ask if they need any information - about how the service works if they know who to contact for one information, about the illness, etc.
> ask if they know about family/carer support organizations - offer to facilitate contact
> talk to consumers about their family. find out who they identify as important, who is supportive, and who is not
> remember that consumers and family may have disagreements/conflicts and. that consumers may not want the family to know information about them
how do we engage with people?
> be open
> non-judgemental
> ask for patient opinions
> acknowledge patient experiences
> enoucrga patients to share their experiences and knowledge
> adopt a partnership approach
> ask questions and be curious but also respect boundaries
what is a mental illness?
> a general term that refers to a group of illnesses
> a health problem that significantly affects how a person thinks, feels, behaves, and interacts with other people
> encompasses a wide range of signs. symptoms, experiences, and disorders
> dian=gnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental Disorders
