400773 Mental Health For Communities and Psychological Assets
Questions:
2. Analyse the influences of environment, culture, support systems and adaptive ability on community mental health issues;
3. Critique the nature of community responses to mental health concerns;
4. Explore a range of approaches and their application in mental health promotion;
5. Determine the risk factors for maintaining psychological well-being in vulnerable populations;
6. Critically analyse the extent to which selected issues related to mental health status impact across the lifespan.
Answers:
Positive Mental Health
Positive mental health is the absence of a mental illness or a mental condition (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). The WHO defines positive mental health as a state where an individual can work in a productive while also realizing their strengths. Positive mental health is the ability to deal with the challenges we face and involves a sense of positive wellbeing. Positive mental health involves positive psychology and the mental attributes, psychological assets and mental strengths of an individual (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). Positive emotions promote positive mental health. Having positive emotions does not necessarily imply that a person does not have negative emotions, but such positive emotions promote mental health. Mental health affects everyone just like physical health. Persons having mental health conditions or mental health issues can experience reduced positive mental health while those without a health condition can experience negative health. Therefore, mental health is static, and a range of factors influence mental health (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2014).
Mental health is a component of overall health which is shaped by a person’s environment, socio-economic characteristics and the physical environment (Lukat, Margraf, Lutz, van der Veld & Becker, 2015). Mental health can be thought of in many ways; one includes the models which promote the well-being of mental health, one continuum approach or the two continua approach of the intersection. Under the one continuum approach, we see mental health as if in a straight line, one end represents mental health problems, in the middle we see mental health which is less optimal and on the on the other end we see mental health disorders (O’Connor, Sanson, Toumbourou, Norrish & Olsson, 2016). This model has a limitation because it implies that a person with mental illness cannot experience positive mental health. The two intersecting continua approach ranges from lack of mental illness to acute symptoms of mental illness and mental health which is optimal to general mental illness. This model has a potential limitation in that one may see the ranges to appear to be in a quadrant.
There is also an approach to mental illness with the circular model which promotes the quality of life as well as the well-being of the patient (Lukat et al. 2015). With this approach, one side of the circle reflects the promotion of mental health which includes resilience, empowerment, and environments which promote mental wellness. The other part of the circle represents the treatment of mental problems, promotion of wellbeing and maintaining the necessary components in preventing mental illness.
Some approaches to mental health are also holistic sometimes. Mental wellness, flourishing and positive psychology are used to refer to positive mental health (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). These approaches focus more on positive mental well-being as opposed to focusing on mental illness. Positive psychology focuses on optimal functioning, well-being and strengths of a person. This opinion is of the view that the absence of a negative state does not necessarily imply well-being. Consequently, this point of view has led to the development happiness as a concept of well-being. Such concepts of happiness include having a pleasant life; happiness is measured by satisfaction and well-being. The other concept of happiness is engaged life or good life which focuses on strengths which people possess how they engage with their environment. Positive character traits reflect a good or engaged life. Such positive traits include courage, humility, spirituality and forgiveness. The languishing versus flourishing aspect focuses on the nature of mental health which includes psychological functioning and well-being in the social aspect.
Positive mental health can be operationalized by how we change and cope with challenges we face daily in life. The process of dealing, disengaging or distracting ourselves are the same, regardless of whether we deal as a group or individuals (Lukat et al. 2015). The above approaches mainly seek to reinforce the various factors that safeguard positive mental health, reduce the numerous risk elements for the poor mental health and addresses the various social determinants of health (Meyer, Castro-Schilo & Aguilar-Gaxiola, 2014). These plans focuses on the different social determinants of health and involves work across all the policy and sectors areas that include employment, settlement, housing and the social assistance (Fortinash & Worret, 2014).
Hanan’s life is influenced by many factors including culture, environment and support systems as well as the adaptive ability in her life. Mental illness is the cause of some of the most challenging illnesses in the society. It accounts for lost reproductively, disabilities and escalated suicide levels. Recently, a body of scientists have turned to cultural variables as being antecedents of health. These variables include race, gender, sex roles, social support, social environment and ethnicity. These factors are highlighted because they have been found to have a significant influence on health when they interact with inherited genes. According to scientists, the causes of mental illnesses are influenced by environmental factors and combinations of genes. Evidence shows that certain genetic composition predisposes individuals to the risk of conditions such as schizophrenia and depression (Blaze and Harnandez, 2006).
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors affect how a person copes with adverse conditions, how a person adopts to health promoting behaviors and how a person deals with certain circumstances. Prior to the onset of a disease, social variables are determinants on how a disease progresses. In the disease process, magnitude of social-environmental factors vary depending on the illness. An excellent example is that cancer was seen to be higher among groups with SES groups, due to the distribution of the risk factors in socio-economic environment. Comparatively, survival after cancer diagnosis favors high SES women due to access to effective treatment, early detection amongst other factors. Social environmental conditions also have impact on the health outcomes of an individual later in life. Notably, environmental conditions sometimes cumulate over the course of life of an individual. As we can say, poverty may be detrimental to health as opposed to transient poverty. Sick children are more likely to come from poor households. Also, how the environment and genes interact, eventually affects the outcomes of health across one’s life.
Social Relationships and Social Factors
Secondly, social support affects the mental health of Hanan because social support is an independent determinant of health coupled with the social connections she has with others. Social relationships ensure that a person feels secure, warm and love. Secure attachments are not only necessary to ensure one has food, material resources or warmth, but also for one’s well-being. Different stages of life and relationships may lead to attachment and close bonds. Consequently, this leads to social bonds and social connections (Blaze and Harnandez, 2006). A body of epidomiogical evidence has linked such social network and to positive mental and physical health. Social connectedness confers the host a range of positive outcomes including mortality, functional outcomes and mortality outcomes. Social support have been seen to be predictors of specific-mortality rates, effects of stress and seen to affect the onset of particular disorders of psychiatry. Social support and social networks are linked to survival following an illness and better prognosis to an individual. Therefore, different forms of support, which include emotional, tangible or material support which makes one feel loved, generally promotes mental health and well-being.
Cultural Factors
Finally, cultural factors affect health in that it bears upon what a person takes to a clinical setting. Culture includes beliefs, norms and values of a person (US department of Health and Human Services, 2006). Culture determines what people report and what they bring, thus determine whether certain illnesses are reported in the first place. In the case of Hanan, culture affects what meaning a person imparts to their illnesses. Culture varies from group to group and such diversity is directly taken to the clinical setup. Culture also shapes the interactions between consumers and clinicians. Therefore, social contexts and culture shapes the types of mental services a person uses. Cultural differences deter patients like Hanan from accessing and utilizing mental health services.
Adaptive Ability and Support Systems
Hanan lacks the ability to change her behavior, lifestyle and other factors in her life that negatively affects her emotions hence leading to the development of the mental illness. The individual is supposed to change the nonconstructive behaviors, thoughts and feelings to the more constructive ones (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2014). Although she has moved to Sydney, she is still troubled by the past experiences that she had in Syria due to the conflict. Hanan is also not able to cooperate and adopt to the new environment hence she feels lonely and she finds it difficult to attend the meetings held by families with similar problems and other support systems offered by the community. Although the community has support systems to help individuals like Hanan, these are not fully operational hence does not serve the purpose as she develops the risk of a mental illness.
There are a variety of factors that contribute to the onset of a mental disorder. These causes for mental illness can be psychological, environmental, physical and social. According to the case study, Hanan has various risk factors that predispose her to a mental disorder.
Social and environmental Causes
The environment in which a person lives, their living conditions, family and community support systems play an important role in the development of a mental illness (World Health Organization, 2017). The social factors for mental illness revolve around social exclusion and discrimination, life experiences, unemployment, poor access to medical care, poverty neighborhood deprivation (American Psychiatric Association, 2017). Hanan is bound to develop a mental illness due to the troubles and hardships she encountered in Syria as the continued conflict threatened violence against her and her entire family. When they lived in Syria. Hanan also has troubling thoughts as she is not willing to return to Syria due to the increasing conflict. She is also feeling weak and lacks energy to attend the meetings where other families in the local community center with similar social problems meet. The female gender and the antisocial behavior are also a risk of mental illness (Featured Grant Opportunity, 2016).
Psychological Factors
Coping with various current or past disturbing experiences like divorce, bereavement or abuse strongly influences the person’s emotional and mental state that has many effects on the mental health (Mayo Clinic, 2017). Hanan is at a risk of developing a mental illness due to the numerous psychological factors such as the worry that she might be having breast cancer, the death of her husband three months ago and the psychological stress associated with worrying about her family that she left in the war torn Syria. Hanan is troubled with her nine year old son behavior at school due to the increased aggression with his peers as well as the teachers. In Sydney, life for Hanan is very difficult due to the loneliness, grief and the ongoing worries that she might be having cancer of the breast.
Economic Factors
The fact that Hanan has no family in Sydney and the husband has died suggests that she might be experiencing financial problems and she has nobody to help her. This is a factor that could lead to the development of a mental condition. Financial crisis always influence persons negatively hence leads to the development of distress (Rogers & Pilgrim, 2014).
Physical and health Factors
These can also be said to be biological factors and health factors. Each person’s genetic make-up usually contributes to the risk of developing mental illnesses (Schwab, 2013). The presence of a terminal disease usually causes depression among the patients (Uher, 2014). The fact that Hanan has fears that she might be having cancer may have adverse effects that could lead to the development of a mental illness.
The various protective factors reduce the probability of developing mental health problems (Layous, Chancellor & Lyubomirsky, 2014). The protective factors do not all work in the same manner. Some of the protective factors help the individual to shield themselves from experiencing any risk factor. For instance, a person with an easy temperament which is a protective factor cannot instantaneously possess a difficult personality which is a risk factor. The protective factors are aimed at reducing the patient’s exposure to risk (Rogers & Pilgrim, 2014). If Hanan has good emotional and social skills she can be able to meet new friends hence this ensures less likelihood to experience the risk factor for social isolation
Positive Connections between Hanan and the community should exist which would lead to the reduction of the probability of the various problems that she faces (Kukla, Lysaker, & Roe, 2014). The other protective factors also reduce the impact of the risk factors as it will help her cope with difficulties.
Personal Protective factors
There are individual protective factors that would help Hanan reduce the risk of developing a mental illness. The individual protective factors include an easy temperament, optimistic view of life, healthy emotional and social skills, proper attachment to her child, carers and the community as a whole and development of an active coping style (Layous et al. 2014).
The Family Protective Factors
Hanan has to get in touch with the family members who were left in the war-torn Syria. This will ensure family stability and harmony. There should be supportive relationships between Hanan and her family members and availability of their support at all times (Layous et al. 2014). The family members in Syria and also the family members in Sydney should be supportive towards Hanan hence will lead to the development of strong family values which will reduce the risk of mental illness (Power, Goodyear, Maybery, Reupert, O’Hanlon, Cuff & Perlesz, 2016).
Societal and community Protective Factors
Hanan has to be involved and participate in the community networks which would allow her access to the support services, economic security as well as the development of a strong cultural identity and pride (Allen, Balfour, Bell & Marmot, 2014). Hanan should be able to access various support services like mental health care and community support as well as economic support that exists in a safe and inclusive society. The society has a significant influence on people’s lives hence these societal protective factors will reduce the risk of development of a mental illness (Allen et al. 2014).
Life Events and Environmental Protective Factors
Involvement in various life events in the community and having caring individuals in the community will decrease the risk of development of mental illness for Hanan (Layous et al. 2014). The availability of support for Hanan from different parties will significantly reduce the risk of occurrence of a mental disease. A favorable environment that consists of caring neighbors and community members will positively influence a sense of belonging and connectedness of Hanan and her new surrounding hence reducing the risk of a mental disturbance (Layous et al. 2014).
References
Allen, J., Balfour, R., Bell, R., & Marmot, M. (2014). Social determinants of mental health. International Review of Psychiatry, 26(4), 392-407.
American Psychiatric Association, (2017).The social Determinants of Health. Available Online At: https://www.appi.org/Social_Determinants_of_Mental_Health/ Accessed 21 May 21, 2017
Blazer, D. G., & Hernandez, L. M. (Eds.). (2006). Genes, behavior, and the social environment: Moving beyond the nature/nurture debate. National Academies Press.
Canadian Mental Health Association, (2017). Positive Mental Health and Well-Being. Available Online At: https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/positive-mental-health-and-well-being/ Accessed 21 May 21, 2017
Featured Grant Opportunity, (2016). Risk and Protective Factors. Available Online At: https://youth.gov/youth-topics/youth-mental-health/risk-and-protective-factors-youth/ Accessed 21 May 21, 2017
Fortinash, K. M., & Worret, P. A. H. (2014). Psychiatric mental health nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Kukla, M., Lysaker, P. H., & Roe, D. (2014). Strong subjective recovery as a protective factor against the effects of positive symptoms on quality of life outcomes in schizophrenia. Comprehensive psychiatry, 55(6), 1363-1368.
Layous, K., Chancellor, J., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2014). Positive activities as protective factors against mental health conditions. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 123(1), 3.
Lukat, J., Margraf, J., Lutz, R., van der Veld, W., & Becker, E. S. (2015). Positive mental health scale (PMH): A short scale for assessing positive mental health. Manuscript submitted.
Mayo Clinic, (2017). Mental Illness Risk Factors. Available Online At: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/basics/risk-factors/con-20033813/ Accessed 21 May 21, 2017
Meyer, O. L., Castro-Schilo, L., & Aguilar-Gaxiola, S. (2014). Determinants of mental health and self-rated health: a model of socioeconomic status, neighborhood safety, and physical activity. American journal of public health, 104(9), 1734-1741.
O’Connor, M., Sanson, A. V., Toumbourou, J. W., Norrish, J., & Olsson, C. A. (2016). Does Positive Mental Health in Adolescence Longitudinally Predict Healthy Transitions in Young Adulthood?. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1-22.
Power, J., Goodyear, M., Maybery, D., Reupert, A., O’Hanlon, B., Cuff, R., & Perlesz, A. (2016). Family resilience in families where a parent has a mental illness. Journal of Social Work, 16(1), 66-82.
Rogers, A., & Pilgrim, D. (2014). A sociology of mental health and illness. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Rogers, A., & Pilgrim, D. (2014). A sociology of mental health and illness. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Schwab, J. (2013). Sociocultural roots of mental illness: An epidemiologic survey. Springer Science & Business Media.
Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2014). Positive psychology: An introduction (pp. 279-298). Springer Netherlands.
Uher, R. (2014). Gene–environment interactions in severe mental illness. Frontiers in psychiatry, 5, 48.
US Department of Health and Human Services. (2001). Chapter 2: Culture counts: The influence of culture and society on mental health. Mental health: Culture, race, and ethnicity—A supplement to mental health: A report of the surgeon general. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services.
World Health Organization, (2017). Social Determinants of Mental Health. Available Online At: https://www.who.int/mental_health/publications/gulbenkian_paper_social_determinants_of_mental_health/en/ Accessed 21 May 21, 2017
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