sac 6 (mental health) Flashcards
mental health
a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises their own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to their community
what factors effect your mental health
many factors that can contribute to this, including biological, psychological, and social factors.
mental health problem
most often occurs as a result of a life stressor, and is
usually less severe and of a shorter duration than a mental disorder.
mental disorder
- involves a combination of thoughts, feelings and/or behaviours which impair the ability to function effectively in everyday life
- a diagnosed psychological state characterized by the presence of a severe disturbance, sense of distress, and thoughts feelings and/or behaviour that are atypical of the person and significantly impacts their ability to function independently.
continuum
Mental health can include many different kinds of mental health states that have different effects on our functioning. It is for this reason that mental health is often conceptualised as a continuum
mental disorder; essential characteristics
- disorder occurs within the individual and results from dysfunction within the individual.
- There is a clinically diagnosable dysfunction in thoughts, feelings and/or behaviour
- causes significant distress
- Actions and reactions are atypical of the person and inappropriate within their culture.
- is not a result of a personal conflict with society
The biopsychosocial model
- is a way of describing and explaining how biological,
psychological and social factors combine and interact to influence a person’s mental health. - Mental health and wellbeing depends on a combination of biological, social and psychological
factors
biological factors
- genes
- sex
- brain chemistry
- nervous system activity
- hormones
- immune system
psychological factors
- beliefs and attitudes
- personality traits
- ways of thinking
- learning and memory
- perceptions
- emotions
- coping skills
- psychological response to stress
social factors
- interpersonal relationships
- social networks
- lifestyle
- stressors
- access to health care
- poverty
- level of education
- risks of violence
- human rights violations
- cultural values/traditions
coping
being able to meet and overcome the challenges
and setbacks we may face. Coping with change and
challenges is a part of life.
internal factors
stem from within an individual and relate to biological or psychological functioning
external factors
stem from outside an individual and arise from their environment, such as social influences.
internal factors, example
- good sleep
- balanced diet
- exercise
- constructive thought patterns
external factors, example
- supportive family and friends
- community support groups
- education
classifying mental illness
Classifying Mental Illness helps scientists to create solutions when problems arise.
This done through labelling and categorising psychological disorders.
diagnosis
to create individual labels for disorders, mental health professionals have had to devise clear descriptions of what each disorder involves in terms of the typical thoughts, feelings, and behaviours an individual with the disorder presents.
Diagnosis occurs when the set criteria for a disorder are met by the individual.
benefits of classifying mental illness
- Can provide an individual with a sense of understanding and reassurance with regard to what
they have been feeling. - Can assist in devising targeted treatment
- Provides a common language for professionals and researchers to succinctly and accurately
communicate about psychological disorders.
Inter-rater reliability
Studies have shown that when mental health professionals use the same
diagnostic guideline to diagnose and label a psychological disorder, they often make the same
diagnosis
limitations of classifying mental illness
- stigmatisation
- self-stigma
- Categories for mental health disorders may be too culturally specific and therefore inaccurate when applied to certain populations.
- Underdiagnoses and overdiagnosis:
underdiagnoses
someone may not meet all the criteria for a certain disorder and therefore not receive the label
overdiagnoses
someone might fit too easily into a psychological disorder category, providing the label of ‘disordered’ when in fact they are highly functional despite demonstrating some symptoms.
DSM - 5
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- The most widely used system with categories of mental disorders that is used for diagnostic purposes
DSM - 5 uses
- has 21 categories of psychological disorders.
-The categories of each psychological disorder include information on the traits and behaviours common to that category. - Each individual and unique disorder has its own criteria which must be met by a patient in order for a diagnosis to occur.
comorbidity
if a disorder occurs simultaneously with another disorder
