Mental health Flashcards
Define: mental health?
see part 1
Mental health is more than
lack of mental illness
can mh be affected by many factors?
yes
mental illness is
broad term for a range of psychological conditions that significantly interfere with a person’s cognitive, emotional and/or social development
can mi be short or long term?
yes
mi is often caused by
chemical imbalance in the brain, which can alter how a person perceives the world
does mi often require treatment? what type?
yes, medication, therapy, hospitaliation
2 most common mi’s?
anxiety and dpressrsion
define: anxiety
characterised by feelings of worry/nervousness when faced with a threat, danger or stress. Involves physiological changes characteristic of the fight-flight response.
can anxiety be experienced by everyone from time to time and can be a good thing/
yes
when’s anxiety bad
when it causes irrationality/interference iwth daily life
types of anxiety?
GAD, OCD, PTSD, specific phobia, social phobia, panic disorder.
define: depression
more than just feeling sad – serious affective disorder caused by chemical imbalances in the brain that last for extended periods.
symptoms of dperession?
ongoing feelings of sadness, loss of weight and appetite, loss of interest and pleasure in normal activities, inability to concentrate
why is mental health an nhpa?
- Major contributor of BOD. Particularly, YLL as it can cause impairments in functioning.
- Risk factor for alcohol and drug misuse, and suicide.
- There is potential for significant improvements in mental health to be made. Prevention/treatment strategies eg. medication/therapy can be extremely effective in managing condition.
direct costs to indv?
- Copayments for medications eg antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication
- Copayments for counselling
direct costs to comm?
- Medicare contribution to doctors and psychologists(?).
- PBS contributions for antidepressants/anti-anxiety medication
- Health promotion programs such Headspace
indirect costs to indv?
- Paying for services if unable to do daily activities
* Lost income when unable to work
indirect costs to comm?
If not working
• Social security payments
• Loss of productivity
intangible costs to indv?
- Loss of participation in normal activities
* Hospitalisation loneliness and despair
intangible costs to comm?
- Taking time out too look after sufferer
- Children looking after parents – less time for school, friends and sport,
- Anxiety for related ones undergoing treatment
biological dets?
Chemical imbalance • Brain chemicals affect mood • Deficiency in serotonin depression Genetic predisposition: • more likely if another family member has Body weight • obesity mental illness • Mental illness eating obesity
behavioural dets?
Tobacco smoking
• More likely
• Experiencing mental illness in youth more likely
Alcohol misuse
• Problem drinks more likely, and vice versa
Drug misuse
• Higher rates of MI
• Drugs can alter chemical make up in the brain, which can trigger range of MI
Physical activity
• Produces endorphins less likely
physica environment dets?
Natural disasters
o Increase MI
Housing
o Overcrowding increased psychological distress
o Inadequate sleep/unsafe anxiety and stress
Access to recreational facilities
o If not, no exercise
Noise pollution
o Ongoing higher rates
Transport
o To stay in social contact/access employment/recreational facilities distress
social dets?
Socioeconomic status • Lower higher rates of MI • Affected by other SES dets Social exclusion o More likely Employment o Stress depression Unemployment o May cause stress, for not being able to provide for them or fam. Stress o Prolonged MI, as may not have coping skills Early life experiences • Loss of parent/divorce/adverse parenting styles MI
health promotion program?
headspace
who?
funded by fed gov and ran by National Youth Mental Health Foundation
aim?
Improve young people’s mental, social and emotional wellbeing through provision of high quality, integrated services when and where they are needed.
how?
Headspace centres
• Provide services to youth, such as counselling, and psychologists, GPs, youth workers etc. at low or no cost.
• Metro, regional and rural
Eheadspace: provides online and telephone sessions, 30-60 minutes each.
In partnership with Leo Burnett Melbourne, they created a program called “reword” – which is like a spellcheck for damaging words (red line appears). Aimed to reduce cyberbullying.
