Free Essay

Mental Health

In: Science

Submitted By mnait
Words 947
Pages 4
Name
Instructor
Course
Date
Paper 3 Mental health refers to a psychological, emotional, and social well-being of the human being. It determines how one relates to others, handles stress, and makes choices in life. Mental health is crucial at every stage of life, from childhood to adulthood. Factors that determine mental disorders include biological factors, family history of mental disorders, and life experience. I employ three current methods in solving mental problems. They include cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic therapy, and pharmacological techniques. Psychodynamic therapy relates to mental problem solving that is based on Freudian systems of psychoanalysis (Barry 17). It makes use of various techniques to discover tension within a person with a mental problem that makes them seek medical help. It is assumed that there is a tension that the patient is not aware of that needs to be identified and corrected. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is my second current mental problem solving method (Barry 19). I use it to treat mental disorders in most situations. The importance of this method is to correct the patient’s mental problems towards life events so that their perception, interactions, and responses towards the real world are applicable and appropriate (Barry 25). It helps the patient to create new ideas and explain their experiences to reflect reality in the real world. The idea is not to give the patient a new story to tell but to help the patient make changes to his or her own new story. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has two distinct parts that are developed separately. These include Pavlov’s and Skinner’s contributions. Behavioral research has clearly shown that certain responses, both emotional and physical, can be conditioned. Aaron Beck, who came up with CBT, argued that it is possible to change one’s thinking about things (Barry 34). Also, behavior that results from emotion responses can be changed by altering the way one thinks about tangible things. Psychopharmacology is the third current mental problem solving method. It makes use of drugs to change mental states. There are six major categories of drugs to correct mental disorders, namely mood stabilizers, antidepressants, stimulants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, and depressants. I use both psychotherapies and pharmacotherapy processes to solve problems. Psychotherapies relate to processes by which mental problems are solved without using drugs. On the other hand, the Pharmacotherapy process involves the use of drugs to solve mental problems. In Psychotherapies, I seek detailed history of the patient. I ask patient questions that would enable them to discover the unconscious tension within him or her. By analyzing answers to these questions, it is possible to learn the cause of the mental problem (Barry 65). On the other hand, pharmacotherapy involves use of six major categories of drugs to change brain chemical ratio and restore chemical imbalances in the brain. Both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy have proved effective methods of mental problem solving in different mental situations. For example, CBT is a valid, scientific solution to mental problems since it provides tests that are standard and practiced uniformly. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has an additional benefit in that it seeks to understand a patient’s experience in something rather than pointing to something that a patient cannot see (Barry 47). Additionally, I can easily study pharmacotherapy empirically because of simple standardization. In this method, one needs to write a list of symptoms to get a dispense pill. I also use Identification and Idealization as the current defense mechanisms. Both of them apply when I seek to correct mental problems by emulating other people’s qualities. The methods are appropriate to the situation in which one seeks to solve patients’ mental problems (Barry 72). I also employ the following stress control and reduction techniques: taking a break from the stressor, smile and laugh, exercises, seeking social support, and meditation. Application of these techniques in a stressful situation leads to the reduction or complete control over stress since one feels overwhelmed. For example, exercises bring about mental stimulation and I feel stress free (Barry 45). Mindful prayer and meditation help the body to relax and maintain a focused mind. The following is my ideal problem solving plan: 1. problem evaluation; 2. problem management; 3. decision making; 4. problem resolution; 5. result examination. Below is my stress management program:
|1. Examine the scope of stress. |2. Form a stress management team. |3. Implement a stress management system. |
|3. Create a collaborate working environment. |4. Provide an opportunity for social |
| |interaction. |

Depression is the leading emotional problem that I experience in people with a mental problem. It relates to an emotional disorder that affects how one feels, thinks or acts. The components of depression include gain or loss of weight, feeling restless, being tired all the time, memory problems and choices, thinking a lot about death or suicide, and either sleeping too much or loss of sleep (Barry 20). Depression may end up causing death to depressed patients since a depressed person always thinks of death and may end up committing suicide. As a result, depression cases may affect the economy of the country. Many professionals and experts have died as a result of it. It becomes difficult to receive another profession and fill the vacuum left. Using the problem solving model, one would have to examine the causes and the history of the depressed person, and then identify a team of psychologists to discuss and analyze this emotional problem. The next step would be to treat and counsel accordingly, as well as create for him or her a good working environment. Lastly, it is necessary to provide the depressed patient with an opportunity for social interaction.

Works Cited
Barry, Patricia. Mental Health and Mental Illness. New York: LWW publisher, 2002. Print.

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Mental Health

...Work 30 (2008) 311–316 IOS Press 311 Disclosure of mental health Kathy Hatchard∗ Hatchard Rehabilitation, Penticton, British Columbia, Canada Abstract. As today’s workplaces strive toward a climate of inclusiveness for persons with disabilities, much work remains for employers in developing a process to achieve this ideal. While survivors of mental illness are encouraged to disclose related concerns to their employer, such sharing of personal information remains daunting. Similarly, employers attempting to assist the process are often awed by the extent of collaborations involved in integrating employees with mental health issues back to work as well as concern about compliance with human rights legislation. Needed accommodations in terms of approach to the work itself are often simple; however substantiating the need for adjustments is more complex. This case study introduces a model to support the development of shared goals and shared understandings for return to work (RTW) among workers with mental health concerns, employers, co-workers and therapists. The model of occupational competence is used as a basis to guide dialogue, identify challenges and generate solutions that take into consideration a worker’s preferences, sensitivities, culture and capacities in relationship to the occupational demands in a given workplace environment. A case study is used to demonstrate the potential utility of the model in assisting stakeholders to strengthen collaborations and...

Words: 4133 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Mental Health

...Mental Health Counseling The reason I chose to obtain a MS in Mental Health Counseling is because I have already obtained a MS in Criminal Justice and learned why individuals commit crimes and the different theorist that have studied to criminal mind to try to find an answer to this age old questions, why do individuals commit crimes? Which many has come to conclusions but the end results is many have been incarcerated when they needed medical attention. I have obtain many reasons as to why individuals commit crime but I want to get to point of knowing what influenences are there are mental health issues one of the reasons why our prison system is being overflowed and are these individuals being overlooked. These factors motivates me as an individual which I believe will prepare me to become a competent counselor. I feel as though we are not in the individuals life to judge but to motivate, to achieve a common goal of seeking and resolving a issues/problem that he/she is conflicted with. I intend continue to grow within the counseling field by continuing to research issues that effect society today, such as mental health and seeking solutions for these individuals to be able to live normal lives without the ridicule or label. Being able to write about mental issues and ways to resolve it is a lifelong dream but I feel as though with any profession comes experience and the more experience one has the more knowledgeable one becomes and it is at this point that I feel as though...

Words: 1193 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Mental Health

...Mental Health Abstract Introduction: Metabolic abnormalities, predominantly weight gain, are related with the use of Antipsychotic medications. Objectives: This paper will help us understand the underlying factors that cause metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities; and to advice interventions that would help improve the condition of mental health consumers. Background: The review articles used in this paper shows a high linkage between metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities with the use of Antipsychotic medications; which is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among metal health consumers. Approach: Selective Article Reviews are being used. Findings and Implications: Metabolic and cardiovascular side effects such as weight gain, diabetes and hypertension are some of the risks of Antipsychotic drugs; however, there are other underlying factors that cause this such abnormalities such as genetic factors, lifestyle, and other medications. Hence, education, early monitoring and lifestyle modification is highly recommended. Conclusion: Atypical drugs are the frequently used treatment for mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia; but despite of its metabolic and cardiovascular side effects still it’s used is increasing. Therefore, early intervention and monitoring must be implemented, with the promotions of education, lifestyle and diet management. Introduction It is well known that psychotropic drugs, in general and antipsychotic...

Words: 937 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Mental Health

...professionals provides culturally competent treatment services such as medication management, individual and group psychotherapy and case management services to effectively decrease the prevalence of mental illness, emotional dysfunction and social disturbance in children, youth, adults and families. Substance Abuse: Substance Abuse Treatment services encompass a continuum of preventative and customized treatment regimens for adolescents and adults seeking help for alcohol and drug addictions. Clients receive treatment from their own primary care physician and counselor addressing all aspects of life including mental health, referrals for medication management and other community based support. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program: PRP services children, adolescents and adults by assigning each client a family service coordinator based upon the clients need and personality traits. The FSC provides one-on-one assistance via mobile treatment in the home, community or OMHC. The family service coordinator navigates the client through improving in areas such as social skills, coping skills, self sufficiency, academic success, anger management, family relationships and community integration, while consistently engaging the client in recreational activities. Expanded School Based Mental Health: ESMH programs augment the existing services provided by schools and help to ensure that a comprehensive range of services such as assessments, preventions, case management and treatment...

Words: 490 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Mental Health

...Leo Agbulos Current Mental Health Care Systems Health care is need around the world from the rich to the poor ranging from emergency services, general care, to vision, and even mental health. Mental health comes in many forms to accommodate a wide variety of mental health issue. Services are rendered in inpatient and outpatient setting, focusing on the patients needs and encouraging patients that can function in society. A care team of health care professionals are available to the patient along with the client’s families to reflect a fundamental change in the client’s attitude and behavior. Some Clients may not be able to afford to pay for these services so how can they receive treatment? Further developed countries offer mental health care coverage the some sort of insurance program private or as free to the community. Mental health is delivered in an outpatient and an inpatient care setting. People are admitted to an inpatient psychiatric care facility based upon need. The decision is based on the client’s severity of the problem, the level of dysfunction, willingness to cooperate, and ability to pay for treatment. Clients admitted will remain institutionalized for 24 hours a day focusing on therapeutic assistance providing safe and stable surroundings. The most important advantage is that inpatient care is it offers a place to focus in a safe and secure environment. Outpatient care is providing in the home environment. Here clients are more responsible for...

Words: 661 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Mental Health

...I currently work in the mental health field on a psychiatric unit and I can attest 100% that the mentally ill is very under served. There are not very many resources to help these types of patients in our community. Recently the VOA in Salt Lake City Has closed due to lack of funding. There is not enough resources to reach out to every single one of these patients that suffer from mental illness. After reading articles about the Presidents New Freedom Commission according to the 19th annual Rosalynn Carter Symposium on mental health policy. Half of the respondents reported that at least one change has been made in the organization in response to the commission’s report. The specific findings on successes and challenges suggest areas for ongoing efforts to transform mental health care. Respondents of organizations said that only 25% of them considered the transformation as a relevant and feasible goal for their organization. This discrepancy suggested that the first goal which is critical to transformation called for the New Freedom Commissions report, can’t be accomplished by mental health policy makes it will require everyone involved healthcare policy makers, health providers and the general public (1). As the future changes and the need for more psychiatric hospitals and substance abuse centers we are going to need a lot more providers and public support than we have in the past. It seems that a lot of our patients are substance abusers that are causing psychiatric...

Words: 399 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Mental Health Counselor

...to become a mental health counselor Counseling others is a difficult job that requires people to listen, take notes, and respond in ways that are positive and helpful. It is important that trust be built between the counselor and the patient so that the patient will feel comfortable speaking about issues that are private or embarrassing. There are many different types of counselors including drug counselors; marriage counselors, grief counselors, job counselors, diet and exercise counselors, and others that can help people improve their lives in different ways. Counselors are trained to offer advice and listen to issues that may be bothering other people. They are not allowed to prescribe medication or expected to provide medical advice. Approximately 25 percent of North Americans suffer from diagnosable mental health issues each year. With the increasing awareness of the related social, political and economic impacts of these problems, there is a greater need for professional mental health counselors. Additionally, health care insurance providers, driving the demand for more qualified professionals, recognize most mental health counseling. After earning a master's degree in mental health counseling, most people choose to get licensed or certified in a specialty such as: • Rehabilitation counseling • Substance abuse counseling • Marriage and family counseling Mental health counselors work with individuals, groups and communities on a variety of mental health issues: • Addiction...

Words: 1282 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Mental Health

...Chapter 10 Mental Health * “Social workers are the nation’s largest providers of mental health services.” * Assessment: the process of determining the nature, cause, progression and prognosis of a problem and the personalities and situations involved. * The information obtained in the assessment process determines the requirements and direction of the helping process. * A mental health social worker “gathers information about the present situation, elicits history about the past, and anticipates service expectations for the future.” * A source for information about the client mostly comes from the client directly, family members, significant others, but another source may be medical records and health care providers. * Clients, especially with mental health problems, often have feelings of being lost, alone, and ineffective in what they have done or tried to do. * This clouded judgment is one reason social workers aim to empower the client, by using a strengths-based assessment. * This identifies positive behaviors and accomplishments. * Finding client’s strengths may help to empower the client to make changes in her life * Person-in-Environment Classification System- (the PIE) a coding of the client’s problems and the client’s ability to accomplish the activities necessary for daily living. The process is built upon two major premises that are basic to all social work practice: recognition of social considerations...

Words: 365 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Mental Health in Ethnic Minority

...STaCS Submission Front Sheet | | | |STUDENT/ REG No | | |33267992 | | | | | |PROGRAMME | | |NAME & YEAR | | |BA Social Work 2013/2014 | | | | | |MODULE CODE: | | |SW51020A | | | | ...

Words: 2489 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Mental Health

...Mental health is known as the psychological well being and satisfactory adjustment to society and to the ordinary demands of life. Mental health is linked to disorders that are generally characterized by dysregulation (impairment of a physiological regulatory mechanism) of mood, thought, and/or behavior (CDC Mental Illness). When people hear that a person has a mental illness they tend to treat them as if they have a disease. People with mental illnesses are treated like outcast of society. This stigma, whish is defined as a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person; needs to be addressed in the American society. If people are afraid to speak out about the possibility of having mental illnesses than they will never be treated for them. Mental illnesses can lead tragedies like suicides or homicides, which could have been prevented with the right treatments and medications. According to the National Institute of Mental Health back in 2012 there was an estimated 43.7 million adults with a mental illness the equivalent of 18.6 percent United States adults. In the same year there were an estimated 9.6 million adults with a serious mental illness the equivalent to 4.1 percent of United States adults (National Institute of Mental Health). This is a large percent of American citizens with a mental illness. Imagine how many citizens there is that we do not know about because they do not have the resources for help or they are embarrassed to speak...

Words: 1130 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Mental Health Policy

...Social Policy: Texas Mental Health Elizabeth Awad University of Texas at Arlington Social Policy: Texas Mental Health Historical Background A recent change in the Texas law was passed for the Code of Criminal Procedure under the 84th Legislature, Under Texas Law Article 46B.102. CIVIL COMMITMENT HEARING: MENTAL ILLNESS is covered when (a) the court determines that the defendant may be a victim of mental illness, then the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the defendant should be court-ordered by the state of Texas to mental health services under Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code. And (b) Proceedings from the committed defendant determine that they should be court ordered mental health services that are governed by Subtitle C, Title 7, Health and Safety Code. “Mental Health does not respect zip codes, mental health affects everybody and formed the Texas State of Mind to ensure that Texans can have access to mental health help when they need it” states Tom Luce, Chief Executive Officer of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute who decided to advocate for court ordered and non-court ordered state funded mental health treatment for all Texans (Texas State of Mind., 2015, March 24). Texas Mental Health has been a longstanding concern for Texans and Americans altogether. In 2014, The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute initiated to help serve Texans. Back in July and August of 2012, The Meadows conducted a quantitative research project to its previous...

Words: 1324 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Mental Health Worksheet

...MHF Module: Investing In Mental Health Mental Health Worksheet Part 1 Research mental health in a a country other than the United States. An example of a mental heath problem is provided below. |Example: | |According to the World Health Organization (2005) Botswana, Africa, spends only 1% of the country’s health budget on mental health. The | |country does offer locations in communities for the training of mental health nurses. There are also community care facilities for | |patients suffering from mental disorders. However; due to a lack of psychiatrists in the country, the mental health trained nurses are | |responsible for all aspects of mental health services for the population. These nurses are also responsible for training others in mental | |health. According to the World Health Organization there are only 1.1 psychiatric beds per 10,000 people and only .7 beds in mental | |hospitals, the rest being in general hospitals. In 2005, there were only .3 psychologists and 3 social workers per 100,000 people, the | |country did not have any neurologists and doctors had to come from neighboring countries to help with the mental health needs of Botswana. | Select a country and a mental health issues within that contry. Then compose a 150- to 200- word description of the probem (...

Words: 792 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Stigma Of Mental Health

...When someone breaks their arm or has the flu they go to the doctor. The doctor will then prescribe them medicine or guide them to the path of recovery. This, however, is not the case when it comes to mental illness. It is not widely accepted or talked about to get treatment for a mental illness, but mental health is just as important as physical health. In today’s society, those with disorders like depression are told to simply “get over it”, to “stop being so sensitive”, or that they are simply seeking attention. There is a major negative stigma surrounding mental illness that leads to more harmful effects, and it needs to be eradicated. One of my close friends has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, depression, and has quite...

Words: 510 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Mental Health and Violence

...Neuroscience has long fascinated Psychologists as they look for explanations into mental health issues, aspiring to understand the relationship between the human mind and behaviour. The purpose of this essay is to address the issues of misperceptions in the link between mental health problems and violence. It will be argued that various factors contribute to violent behaviour while noting the limitations in studies which contribute to mental health labelling. A summary of the categorisation in positive and negative psychological health will be reviewed, followed by examining any relationship between violent behaviour and emotional well-being. A discussion of the academic findings around this relationship will be explored while identifying and discussing the various external factors that contribute to the risk of committing violence. There are two main organisations that have produced clarifications of mental disorders which are used throughout Western culture, Chapter V of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) which was constructed by the World Health Organisation and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-S) constructed by the American Psychiatric Association; however concepts of mental disorder vary depending on culture and country. The World Health Organisation and National Surveys report there is no single agreement in the classification of mental illness and phrasing depends on the social, cultural, economic and legal context (Scheffler...

Words: 2900 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Mental Health and Illness

...Mental Illness Ellen is a 35 year old laboratory technician, she is happily married and has a beautiful three-year-old daughter Emily. Unfortunately in the last three years she has been unable to enjoy her life or her family as well as she wants to. She has been suffering from a severe form of Postnatal Depression which has forced her to leave her job and spend eleven months in a psychiatric hospital. While now on the road to recovery, Ellen admits that the hardest part of her illness is coping with the attitude of others: "I had no history of mental illness prior to my daughter being born. I was happy and successful in life but now I find myself being treated as an alien. People, including family and friends, seem not to know what to say to me - so they say nothing. Little is known by the majority of folk about "clinical depression", so you're treated as an outcast". 1) Poor mental health is something which will probably affect everyone of us to some degree, either directly or indirectly, at sometime during our lives. 2) But despite the fact that mental disorder is classified as an "illness" which can be "treated" just like physical illness, many psychiatric patients can identify with Ellen's experience of feeling like an outcast. 3) Society can be very uncomfortable around those with mental health problems and as a result, there is a general reluctance among people to admit to mental distress or to reveal that one has been hospitalised, taken medication or had...

Words: 2367 - Pages: 10