Mental Health Continuum and Influences

Question 1

What is Mental Health and Wellbeing?

Answer 1

A beneficial emotional state in which a person realizes their abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively and contributes to their community.

Question 2

Mental Health and Wellbeing Continuum

Answer 2

Ranges from High (mentally healthy), Moderate (mental health problem), to Low (mental disorder).

Each person is at a unique point on the spectrum or continuum and this will change throughout their life, depending on the experiences they have and their resilience.

Question 3

Internal Factors (Biological)

Answer 3

Originate within a person, referring to the functioning of a person’s body.

Factors Include:
- Genetics
- Sex
- Neurotransmitter functioning (Gaba- Inhibitory)
- Hormones
- Immune Function
- Nervous System Activity
- Physical Health.

Question 4

Internal Factors (Psychological)

Answer 4

Originate within a person, referring to influences that come from mental processes and may relate to prior learning and memory.

Factors Include:
- Styles of thinking
- Beliefs and Attitudes
- Emotions
- Learning and memory
- Personality Traits

Question 5

External Factors (Social)

Answer 5

Originate outside the person and refer to the conditions in which a person lives and grows.

Factors Include:
- Relationships
- Early life experiences
- Education level
- Income
- Social support
- Stability of accommodation
- Cultural values
- Employment
- Discrimination

Question 6

The Distinction Between Stress, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorder and Phobias

Answer 6

Stress: is the physical (biological) response to internal or external sources of tension (stressors)

Anxiety: involves feelings of worry, apprehension and unease, usually directed towards something in the future.

Anxiety Disorder: when anxiety becomes excessive, and persistent over a longer period of time and disrupts daily functioning.

Specific Phobia: is an anxiety disorder characterized by a persistent, irrational, and excessive fear of a particular object or event/stimulus.

Question 7

Stress

Answer 7

A state of mental or emotional and physiological tension, resulting from factors that are perceived to challenge or threaten our ability to cope.

Subjective (based on our personal appraisal of the situation)

Therefore, a stressful situation may decrease our sense of mental wellbeing but once it passes, we return to optimal functioning and feeling. If this stress is severe or long-lasting it may put us at risk of being in danger of a mental health problem or disorder.

Question 8

Anxiety

Answer 8

Involves feelings of worry, apprehension and unease, usually directed towards something in the future (e.g. what might happen).

It is an emotion akin to worrying and uneasiness that something is wrong or something bad is going to happen, and is usually accompanied by physiological signs.
Feelings of fear, worry, dread and uneasiness due to a heightened sympathetic nervous system, causing faster breathing and heart rate, and increased muscle tension and sweating.

Feeling mildly or moderately anxious is a normal emotional response when we anticipate an upcoming stressful event. In moderate dosages anxiety can help increase performance levels (increasing focus).