Chapter 10A Flashcards
mental wellbeing
protective factors
a protective factor refers to any characteristic or event that reduces the likelihood of the occurence or reoccurrence of a mental disorder
biological protective factors
- adequate nutrition and hydration
- adequate sleep
adequate nutrition and hydration
this is vitally important for proper bodily functioning. When
we are eating well, we will have an adequate diet which will help with our sleep, energy, mood,
and consequently our mental wellbeing. This is because food provides us with certain vitamins and
nutrients that can be converted to the feel-good’ hormone serotonin, thereby enhancing our sense of
mood and wellbeing as well as ensuring we are physically healthy and have the energy to cope with
life’s stressors.
having an adequate diet involved
Having an adequate diet involves: eating a variety of foods, drinking lots of water, not
skipping breakfast, not relying on vitamin/mineral supplements or on drugs and alcohol, and receiving
enough nutrients.
adequate sleep
refers to waking up feeling rested, refreshed, and ready for the day, and feeling
positive about ourselves and our abilities. It is essential we receive adequate quantity and quality
of sleep, as sleep is an essential, naturally occurring, and involuntary process. Without adequate
sleep, we cannot function because a variety of maintenance processes, such as the repairing and
replenishing of resources depleted during waking time, occur when we are asleep.
having inadequate sleep may result in
Having inadequate
sleep may result in impairment of affective, behavioural, and cognitive functioning, lapses in memory,
and poor judgement.
bidirectional model
the bidirectional model proposes that sleep and mental health problems are closely
linked, meaning that people experiencing a mental health disorder can experience sleep problems.
and sleep problems can perpetuate a mental health disorder.
psychological protective factors
> cognitive behavioural strategies
- cognitive reconstructing
- behavioural techniques
cognitive behavioural strategies
this refers to techniques drawn from CBT to identify, assess,
and correct faulty patterns of thinking or problematic behaviours that may affect mental wellbeing.
Two key strategies are cognitive reconstructing and behavioural techniques.
cognitive reconstructing
involves replacing erroneous or dysfunctional thoughts with more
helpful ones. The five questions to be considered for a reconstruction are:
“What evidence do I have that this erroneous thought is actually going to happen?”
“What is the likelihood that this will happen?”
“What would you say to a friend who demonstrated this way of thinking?”
“Is there an alternative explanation?”
“Is there a more helpful way to think about this?”
Using these strategies will allow an individual to consider the issue from an outside perspective
and may allow them to overcome their erroneous way of thinking.
behavioural techniques
are used to maintain or improve mental wellbeing. For example,
mindfulness refers to a method of paying attention to the present moment through techniques
such as meditation and practised breathing. By practising mindfulness, individuals are able
to become more aware of their own thoughts, behaviours, and feelings in a controlled manner,
which means that instead of being overwhelmed by a situation, they are able to actively manage
them. Furthermore, by engaging with meditation that involves controlled breathing, individuals
can calm their body down and reduce the physiological responses associated with anxiety or
stress.
why are cognitive behavioural strategies a protective factor
They will promote mental wellbeing by acknowledging and changing thoughts and behaviours that impair mental wellbeing, it can help people develop resilience so that they have an increased capacity to cope in times of stress
social protective factors
> social support
- appraisal support
- emotional support
- tangible support
- informational support
social support
refers to the assistance, resources, care or empathy provided by people to each
other. This support can come from anyone who we have a relatively stable and ongoing relationship
with. There are four types of social support that can be provided:
- appraisal support
- emotional support
- tangible support
- informational support
appraisal support
refers to help from another person such as a family member or friend that
improves someone’s understanding of their mental health problem, available resources, and
coping strategies
