Mental Health (pg.447-449)

Question 1

What percentage of the population will experience a mental illness at some point in the lives?

Answer 1

20-30%

Question 2

Normal

Answer 2

When a behaviour helps a person to assimilate appropriately into their society and to function independently as expected for their age.

This means we regard mental illness as contributing to abnormality.

Question 3

Psychological dysfunction

Answer 3

Occurs when there is a breakdown in the way a person thinks, feels and behaves.

Question 4

Explain the functional approach to normality.

Answer 4

Assesses a person to determine if their thoughts, feelings and behaviours become so intense as to interfere with normal activities which would indicate that a mental illness may exist.

Question 5

Explain the medical approach to normality.

Answer 5

States that a person’s state of mental health is determined by a set of symptoms.
- If a mental illness is diagnosed, then treatment is required.

Question 6

Psychosis

Answer 6

Refers to situations when there is some loss of contact with reality (Eg. Schizophrenia, delusions etc.).

Question 7

Neurosis

Answer 7

Refers to any non-psychotic illness - difficulties with thoughts, feelings and behaviours/dysfunctional behaviours (Eg. Anxiety, depression etc.).

Question 8

Abnormal

Answer 8

Used to describe data that lie outside the normal range for the population; statistically the 2% at the extreme top and extreme bottom of the distribution.

Question 9

Mental health.

Answer 9

A state of emotional and social well-being in which individuals realise their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and can contribute to their community.

Question 10

Mental health problem

Answer 10

Refers to a problem that causes emotional, cognitive and behavioural difficulties that effect relationships and functioning in everyday life.

Question 11

Mental disorder

Answer 11

Implies that the existence of a clinically recognisable set of symptoms and behaviours that usually need to be alleviated.
- More severe and ongoing than a mental health problem.

Question 12

Mental illness.

Answer 12

A mental disorder that affects one or more functions of the mind, and can interfere with a person’s thoughts, emotions, perceptions and behaviours.

Question 13

Describe the mental health continuum.

Answer 13

1. Mental healthy (Eg. Nervous before exam).
2. Mental health problem (Eg. Short-term depression over death of a family member).
3. Mental illness (Eg. Hallucinations, depression).

Question 14

Explain the situational approach to normality.

Answer 14

Behaviour, thoughts and feelings that might be considered normal in one situation are not normal in another - normality depends on context.
(Eg. Normal to wear PJ’s to bed; abnormal to wear to work).

Question 15

Explain the statistical approach to normality.

Answer 15

If the statistical majority think, feel, or behave in a certain way - it is considered normal.
(Eg. It is normal to laugh when tickled because 75% of people do this).