MODULE 1: Intro to the science of well-being, mental health and resiliency Flashcards
Well-being
Overall state of feeling comfortable, healthy, happy
Mental health
Psychological, emotional and social aspects of thinking, feeling and behaving; component of well-being
Analogy for mental health
Physical health
- physically healthy= body functioning
- good mental health= emotional system fucntioning
Analogy for well-being
Physical fitness
- physically fit= most out of body’s capabilities
- high well-being= living well and meaningful
Historical origins: African culture
Relationships with land and community members are imp to wellness
- Ubuntu- person cannot flourish in isolation but can grow in connection w others
Historical origins: Buddhism
Balance and harmony w self and environment
Components of overall well-being
- Mental health
- Physical health
- Supportive/secure environment
What is positive mental health made up of?
Emotional well-being, psychological functioning and social well-being
Emotional well being
Happy and satisfied w life
Psychological functioning
Positive functioning and self realization
Social well being
Positive social value
Factors that contribute to mental health
- Realizing your potential
- Emotional health
- Psychological health
- Social connectedness
Emotional health
Feelings and emotions
Ability to regulate your feelings across diff challenges, experiences and contexts
Psychological health
How you think about things and regulate your feelings
ex. self-reflect, problem solve
Social connectedness
Creating and maintaining good relationships w others and behaving in socially responsible and acceptable way
Mental health spectrum order (bottom top)
- Well
- Symptoms
- Concerns or problems
- Disorders or illness
Mental health spectrum: well
Feeling content, capable and happy
Mental health spectrum: symptoms
Experiences that may be associated with some distress but may be situational or transient
ie. anxiety, mood, sleep
Mental health spectrum: concerns or problems
Presence of symptoms that persist and are associated w distress or difficulty but not severe enough to be diagnosed
Mental health spectrum: Disorder or illness
Clinically diagnosed illness that require evidence based treatments; symptoms characterized by a disturbance in thought, feeling perception that negatively affects day-to-day functioning
Mental health and well-being- two parallel continuums
Can have a mental illness but have good well being OR may not have a mental illness but be experiencing significant distress
Importance of well-being and mental health in university students
Self reported rates of mental health problems have been increasing
Factors contributing to university students need for mental health services
- At risk age (transition to uni)
- Transition period (new academic, financial and social stressors)
- Vulnerable brain
- Lacking support
- Decrease in stigma
Factors that influence mental health and academic outcomes
- Family
- Personal (age, gender)
- Early environment
- Psychological (self awareness, compassion, resilience, mental health literacy, stigma)
- Lifestyle and behaviour
Goals of mental health and well-being
- Community
- Social
- Recreational
- Career
- Academic
- Relationships (meaningful)
- Cultural (overcoming stigma)
Five factors influenced by mental health
- Energy levels and motivation
- Concentration and cogniiton
- Self-efficacy
- Managing stressful situations
- Belongingness
Five concepts of mental health
- Risk factors
- Protective factors
- Stressors
- Resilience
- Signs and symptoms
Risk factors
Biological, psychological or sociological characteristic or exposure associated w a high likelihood of a neg outcome ex. lack of sleep
Protective factors
Characteristic or exposure that lowers the likelihood of negative outcomes or reduces impact of a risk factor
ex. healthy sleep schedule
Stressors
Person, place or situation that causes a state of psychological strain or tension ex. upcoming midterm
Resilience
Ability to adjust, adapt, overcome, cope
Signs and symptoms
Observable (signs) or experienced (symptoms) indicators of being under stress
Psychodynamic model
The processes of the mind involves the interplay of psychological forces and that distress arises bc the conscious interpretation of these forces (ie. sadness, distress, anxiety) masks their true unconscious origin (suppressed feelings from childhood)
Psychodynamic model treatment
No evidence that it is helpful
Medical/diseases model
Views problems of mental functioning from a disease perspective w a biological basis
Medical/diseases model treatment
Somatic treatment such as medication and brain stimulation
Behavioural model
How you behave day-to-day is conditioned due to the reinforcement you receive for your actions
Example of behavioural model
In anxiety disorders, maladaptive learning has taken place and a harmless stimulus has become linked to extreme fear
Aim of behaviour therapy
Create a diff, less negative association w harmless stimulus such as in anxiety disorders
Cognitive model
Mental disorders are the result of errors in thinking or biases
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): cognitive component
Identifying and correcting errors and biases in thinking such as distraction and overthinking
ex. anxiety and depression
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): behavioural component
Changing maladaptive behaviour and learning new behavioural responses such as exposure
Biopsychosocial model
Emphasizes interacting roles of biological, psychological, and social factors as contributors to mental illness and these factors don’t play an equal role
Biopsychosocial model: Biology
- physical health
- genetic vulnerabilities
- drug effects
Biopsychosocial model: Social
- peers
- family circumstance
- family relationships
Biopsychosocial model: Psychological
- coping skills
- family relationships
- self-esteem
- mental health
Osler medical humanistic model
An alternative to the biopsychosocial model
rather than adopting a singular reductionist approach we should take whole individual person into account when assessing for a diagnosis and developing treatment plan
Social and cultural models
Broader holistic and community based influences on mental health including social, cultural and environmental context
ex. providing support by addressing factors such as work conditions, housing etc.
Which model forms the basis of the psychological approaches that are most commonly used today?
Behavioural model
What factors does the social and cultural model aim to address?
Work/study conditions, nutrition, housing/living conditions, socioeconomic condition, education and health care services
Distal risk factors
Represents an indirect cause or underlying vulnerability for a particular condition
Proximal risk factor
Represents a direct cause or immediate vulnerability for a particular condition
Distal risk factors examples
- family environment during childhood and family history
- mental health problems
- early adversity (abuse, neglect, trauma)
Proximal risk factors examples
**Choices we make
- sleep problems
- hazardous substance use
- lack of exercise
- reduced social support
- low self-esteem
- high perceived stress
- anxiety and depressive symptoms
Terms used when discussing risk factors
- Genes
- Epigenetics
- Environment
- Stress diathesis model
- Culture
Risk factors and genes
Our predisposition to mental disorders is related to our genetic makeup and family history
Risk factors and epigenetics
Modification of gene activity or expression; can occur through certain exposures such as biological (hormonal), environmental (famine) and psychological (chronic stress, abuse, neglect) factors
Risk factors and environment
Physical, psychological and social surroundings
Risk factors and stress diathesis model
Model of mental illness based on interactions btwn genes and the environment and the effect of chronic risk exposures related to stress on mind and body
Risk factors and culture
The ways people view health and illness, treatment seeking patterns, nature of the therapeutic relationship and issues of racism and discrimination influences mental health practice
