mental health Flashcards
What is mental wellbeing?
refers to our mental health and the term is sometimes used interchangeably with mental health
- Mental wellbeing involves out state of mind, our enjoyment of life, and our ability to cope with the normal stresses of everyday life and develop to our potential (self-actualization)
- Mental health isn’t constant change over time according to our circumstances and stage of life.
- More than the absence of mental illness
Ways of considering mental wellbeing
(FRED WILL RISE)
- High level of functioning
- High levels of social and emotional wellbeing
- Resilience to life stressors
High level of functioning
- Refers to how well an individual independently performs or operates in their environment
- Functioning may vary and can be represented on a continuum (mentally healthy/mental health problem/mental disorder)
- Level of functioning depends on how ADAPTIVE the individual is in the following areas: school and work/interpersonal relationships/daily living skills/emotions/cognitive skills/leisure
- Adaptive means people can effectively carry out their usual everyday activities and can adapt to the demands of daily living. Whereas maladaptive means dysfunctional behavior that interferes with the persons ability to carry out their usual activities in an effective manner.
High levels of social and emotional wellbeing
- Wellbeing refers to how we feel about ourselves and our lives
- Social WB refers to the ability to have satisfying relationships and interactions with others
- Emotional WB is based on the ability to control emotions and express them appropriately and comfortably
Resilience to life stressors
- Resilience is the ability to cope with and adapt well to life stressors and restore positive functioning
- Bouncing back from difficult experiences that are stressors e.g. school
- They either adjust or overcome the stressor
- Characteristics include high self-esteem, being organized, and problem solving skills
Holistic perspective
- The term SEWB is used by aboriginal and torres strait islander ppl to describe the physical, social, emotional, spiritual and cultural wellbeing of a person.
- SEWB framework is; multidimensional (made up of different components) and holistic (reflects an approach for WB that considers the whole person, including their mental/physical/spiritual/social needs)
- In the SEWB framework, the term connection refers to the diverse ways in which ATI people experience and express various domains throughout their lives.
Indigenous vs western views of mental WB
- The holistic view focuses on the physical/social/emotional/spiritual/cultural WB of the individual, their family and the entire community to which they belong, thereby bringing about the total WB of their community
- Collectivist culture of ATI people that’s not evident in mainstream
Connection to body
Connection to the physical body and health in order to participate fully in all aspects of life.
e.g. maintaining a healthy weight, access to good nutrition, and managing illness/disability
Connection to mind and emotions
Ability to effectively manage thoughts and feelings e.g. maintaining self esteem/strong identity, high levels of confidence, and connecting to values/motivation
Connection to family and kinship
Connection to the immediate and wider family group and community e.g. sending time within family groups promoting feelings of connection and caring for the ill
Connection to community
Connection to wider social systems, providing individuals and families the ability to connect with and support each other e.g. Community services and support networks
Connection to culture
A strong sense of identity, values, tradition, and connection btwn the past, present and future that drives behavior and beliefs e.g. elders passing on info. And tradition to future generations, speaking local languages, attending cultural events
Connection to country
The traditional lands of a particular language or cultural group, both geographically and the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual connections to and within it e.g. ATI beliefs are tied heavily to the land and how one lives on it and one shouldn’t take more than they need in order for the land to continue to thrive,
and ATI people belong to the land instead of them owning the land
Connection to spirituality and ancestors
Spirituality refers to a concept that connects all things, and shapes beliefs, values, and behavior. It guides knowledge systems, culture, and all that is life for aboriginal people, including connections to ancestors, the past, the present and the future. Ancestors refer to a belief that a family and community ancestors are interconnected with creation spirits and country and watch over, guide and protect families and communities in the physical and spiritual world
Social determinants
the circumstances in which people grow, live, and work and the systems put in place to deal with illness.
e.g. SES, impact of poverty, unemployment, racial discrimination
Historical determinants
the ongoing influence of events, policies, and trauma on groups of people
e.g. colonization, impact of past government policies such as aboriginal child removal