Unit 4: Area of Study 2 - What Influences Mental Wellbeing? Flashcards
Mental Health
Is a state of Wellbeing in which an individual realises their abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to their community
Mental Health as a Continuum (From Left to Right)
- Mentally Healthy (Left)
- Mental Health Problem (Middle)
- Mental Disorder (Right)
Mentally Healthy
Is when an individual is independent, function effectively within their everyday life and can cope with everyday demands of life without showing an excessive level of distress. Mentally healthy individuals still experience Stress, sadness and anger during their lives but can cope with these emotions and express them appropriately
Characteristics of a Mentally Healthy (List 3)
- High levels of functioning
- Able to cope with Stress
- Able to meet the demands of everyday life and be productive
- Displays resilience
- Maintains positive relationships with others
- Able to regulate emotions and express them appropriately
Mental Health Problem
Involves a degree of disturbance within an individual, which reduces their ability to function at an optimal level. Mental health problems can have a negative and considerable impact on an individual’s daily functioning. However, in comparison to a Mental Health Disorder, this impact is less profound and typically only experienced temporarily
Characteristics of a Mental Health Problem (List 2)
- Not functioning at an optimal level
- Temporary impact on Mental Health
- Experiencing amplified emotions and high levels of Stress
- Difficulty concentrating and experiencing irrational thought patterns
Mental Health Disorder
These cause severe and profound disturbances to an individual’s ability to function. When experiencing mental health disorders, individuals are not likely to be described as mentally healthy due to showing high levels of distress, being unable to independently complete tasks and meet the demands of their environment. Individuals with mental health disorders typically display behaviour which does not meet the norms of society and may be deemed as inappropriate.
Examples of Mental Health Disorder (List 2)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bipolar
- OCD
Internal Factors
Are factors that originate within a person and change over time. These factors have a profound impact on an individual’s placement on the Mental Health Continuum at different stages of their life. These factors are either Biological or Psychological.
External Factors
Are factors that influence an individual’s Mental Health and are directly linked to an individual’s environment. An individual can experience many fluctuations of their external factors due to the constant changes in their environment. These fluctuations may impact an individual’s position on the Mental Health Continuum, either moving closer towards or further away from being Mentally Healthy
Examples of Internal Factors that May Impact an Individual’s Mental Health (List 2)
- The amount of sleep they get
- Stress response
- Thought patterns
- Genetic Predisposition
Examples of External Factors that May Impact an Individual’s Mental Health (List 2)
- Loss of a significant relationship
- Level of education
- Experiencing difficult within certain environments, such as work or school
The Biopsychological Model
Is a framework that can be used to categorise the factors that contribute to the development and progression of mental illness. It proposes that Biological, Psychological and Social risk factors all interact and contribute to the development of a mental disorder, where biological risk factors relate specifically to the body
Characteristics of a Mentally Healthy Person
- High Level of Functioning
- High Level of Social Wellbeing
- High Level of Emotional Wellbeing
- Resilience to Life Stressors
High Level of Functioning
Is the individual’s ability to complete day-to-day tasks in an independent and effective way. It plays a role in increasing an individual’s sense of capability, prevents them from becoming easily overwhelmed, and allows them to function as a mentally healthy person within their environment
Examples of High Levels of Functioning Include the Ability to (List 3)
- Carry out everyday tasks, such as maintaining personal hygiene
- Communicate and maintain relationships with others
- Be productive in achieving tasks
- Set goals and take steps towards achieving them
- Be independent
- Adapt to changes in the environment
High Level of Social Wellbeing
Social Wellbeing involves forming strong relationships with others and communicating effectively. A Mentally Healthy person has a strong Social Wellbeing and is therefore able to develop a sense of connection to others. Social wellbeing is important, as interacting with others is essential in most environments, such as at school and at home. Strong social wellbeing helps individuals to have a level of confidence and create positive interactions in a social setting
Some Aspects of Strong Social Wellbeing Include (List 2)
- Having a strong support network
- Feeling valued by others
- An ability to form new relationships
- Having empathy for others
- An ability to effectively communicate
High Level of Emotional Wellbeing
Emotional Wellbeing involves appropriately controlling and expressing emotions. A Mentally Healthy person has strong Emotional Wellbeing as they can regulate their own emotions, express positive emotions at a suitable time and have empathy for others. Individuals with strong emotional wellbeing still experience negative emotions as they are an inevitable part of life. They are mentally healthy due to their ability to regulate these negative emotions and appropriately display them
Some Aspects of Strong Emotional Wellbeing Include (List 2)
- Being sensitive to the emotions of others
- Having a wide range of emotions
- Expressing emotions at an appropriate time
- Appropriately responding to and coping with stressors
Resilience to Stressors
Involves the ability to effectively adapt to Stressors that arise and recover from them. It is inevitable for stress to occur in everyday life. A Mentally Healthy person has the ability to overcome these stressors and recover from the challenges presented. This shows a high level of resilience as an individual is able to deal with difficulties presented and continue on with their lives without solely focusing on the cause of stress
High Levels of Resilience can Reflect and Lead to an Individual Having (List 2)
- High self-esteem
- More confidence in carrying out tasks
- Increased flexibility, therefore being able to cope with a range of stressors
Ethical Implications in Mental Health Study and Research
- Informed Consent
- The Use of Placebo Treatments
Informed Consent
Involves making participants aware of the procedures they are participating in. This includes a thorough understanding of the potential harms and risks they may face before agreeing to participate. Participants may become sensitive or distressed during the research, especially if they have a Mental Health Problem or Disorder. In order to protect the rights and safety of participants with mental health disorders, legal guardians are often required to give consent on their behalf. This ensures that participants are free from harm and participate willingly, as their guardian can understand the nature of the research and decide on their behalf whether it is safe for them to participate. Although the legal guardian can provide consent for the participant, the researcher still needs to ensure that the participant understands the nature, purpose and risks of the study to the best of their ability