Mental health

Question 1

Mental health as a continuum

Answer 1

Mentally healthy

Mental health problem

Mental disorder

Question 2

Mentally healthy

Answer 2

Having the ability to cope with and manage life’s challenges, working productively, and having a sense of connection to others and the community.

Question 3

Mental health problem

Answer 3

A mental health concern that interferes with functioning but is less severe and of a shorter duration than a mental disorder.

Question 4

Mental disorder

Answer 4

Involves a combination of thoughts, feelings and/or behaviours which are usually associated with significant personal distress and impairs the ability to function in everyday life.

Question 5

Characteristics of a mental disorder

Answer 5

• Causes significant personal distress or disability in functioning in everyday life
• Actions and reactions are atypical
• Disorder is not a result of a personal conflict with society

Question 6

Internal factors (biological & psychological factors)

Answer 6

An influence on behaviour or a mental process that originates inside or within a person.

Question 7

External factors (social factors)

Answer 7

An influence that originates outside a person.

Question 8

Biological factors

Answer 8

• genes
• sex
• response to medication
• substance abuse
• brain function
• NS activity
• immune system

Question 9

Psychological factors

Answer 9

• thoughts
• beliefs and attitudes
• learning and memory
• perceptions
• emotions
• coping skills

Question 10

Social factors

Answer 10

• relationships
• social support
• lifestyle
• access to healthcare
• stigma
• income
• education
• human rights violations
• environmental conditions
• cultural values & traditions

Question 11

Typical characteristics of a mentally person

Answer 11

• High levels of functioning
• High levels of social and emotional wellbeing
• Resilience

Question 12

High levels of functioning

Answer 12

• ability to interact with and get along with people
• staying productive
• engaging in sports or community activities
• participation in self-care and independent living activities
• cognitive skills
• regulation of emotions

Question 13

Resilience

Answer 13

The ability to bounce back from adversity.

Question 14

Social wellbeing

Answer 14

State of wellbeing based on how satisfied we feel about our relationships and interactions with others.

Question 15

Emotional wellbeing

Answer 15

Refers to how well we feel about out ability to control our emotions and express them appropriately and comfortably.

Question 16

Ethical implications in mental health study and research

Answer 16

Informed consent - The presence of a mental disorder can interfere with a person’s capacity to give genuine consent as it may prevent them from fully understanding some or all of the details of what it is they are consenting to.

Use of placebo treatments - It is ethically unacceptable to conduct a research study in which there is a known risk of significant harm in the absence of treatment. Withholding prescribed medications can result in symptoms reoccurring or worsening.