The Impact of Disorders Related to Mental Health - Essay Example

Promoting Mental Health and Well Being Essay Role of health promotion in addressing Stigmain mental health Mental health promotion set in community regeneration agendas throughout the UK is an opportunity to promote health for neighbourhoods and individuals. Mental health practitioners are increasing their competence in mental health promotion at individual and community levels and reducing structural barriers to accessing treatment and services because of such factors as discrimination (Department of health, 2006). Treatment for mental illnesses is normally available and effectual. However, majority of individuals with diagnosed mental disorders do not receive treatment, thus the need for increasing awareness for mental disorders and effectiveness of treatment, eradication of stigma associated with receiving treatment, improve access to mental health services for every individual, and more so among populations unduly affected, and eradicate health disparities (Biddle & Mutrie, 2001). Health promotion in mental health can result in improvement of physical health and well being, reduction and prevention of mental health problems such as behaviour disorders, substance abuse, depression and anxiety, and recovery from these problems, and equally weighty, deal with stigma which prevents people from acknowledging their own mental problems, much less, disclosing them to others. Stigma affects people while they are ill, on treatment, or healing (Cattan & Tilford , 2006). At a community level, stigma could affect how organizations, social service agencies, health care providers, employers, or schools, respond to individuals with mental illnesses and to their families. On a systemic level, stigma as a social occurrence can influence policies that govern access to, nature of, and finding for treatment and support (Mental health foundation, 2002). To address this issue of stigma and discrimination in mental health, the National Institute of Mental Health in England put in place a national programme known as SHiFT to reduce stigma amongst people with problems of mental health. The programme saw the setting of ‘speakers’ bureau’ with 40 individuals who have direct experiences of problems of mental health, receive training and support to talk publicly about their experiences. The initiative’s main objective is to create more awareness on mental disorders and help eradicate the stigma associated with it, which is mostly in the mindset of the people in society (Department of health, 2001). The SHiFT national programme also supported the Samaritan’s initiative aim of increasing awareness of mental health and reducing stigma and discrimination in secondary schools. The initiative entailed sending DVDs to every secondary school in England to achieve the above mentioned aim, in November 2006. In the same year, the programme saw the launching of ‘Action on Stigma’ aimed at employers; to assist them progress in the way they handle mental health issues (Department of health, 2001). Comprehensive health promotions approach is effective in stigma reduction. Frameworks such as development of supportive policies, social marketing programmes entailing increasing contact with individuals with personal experiences, research, and training, have been vital in addressing stigma in mental health. Supportive policies ensure the provision of income support, employment, housing, court diversion programmes and a treatment system that is accessible and comprehensive (Lester & Glasby, 2006). The national social marketing programmes and initiatives create greater acceptance for the conditions and their treatment. Public education through mass media, work place and school target programmes are effective in creating greater public understanding and reducing stigmatization. Training programmes provided for health practitioners, the police, educators, social staff assistants, and employers help in raising awareness of mental illnesses and create sensitization to stigmatizing behaviours, and provide direction to the creation of a more accommodating environment (Lowenstein, 2009). Role of health promotion in addressing common mental disorders Mental health is essential for well being, good health, and quality of life. Common mental illnesses such depression, anxiety, and depression-related issues are today among the most serious public health concerns in the UK. The World Health Organization (WHO) depicts that by the year 2020, depression will be the second largest problem of health worldwide, ahead of cancer and behind heart disease. In the UK, one third of lost working days are due to anxiety, stress, and depression (Mental health foundation, 2002). Health promotion programmes seeking to address common mental disorders such as anxiety, stress, and depression have seen their set up to assist in handling issues of mental health. The beyond blue National Workplace Programme (NWP), for instance, is an awareness programme, which has an early intervention, prevention approach aiming at increasing skills and knowledge for staff and managers to handle depression, anxiety, or stress at the work place. The NWP employs an evidence-based approach and puts focus on aspects such as how to recognize a colleague at work who may be experiencing anxiety or depression disorder, how to support an individual to access help, and good strategies of management such as making adjustments at the work place and return-to-work plans (beyondblue.org.au). The NWP saw its licensure in the UK in 2004, through the Centre of Mental Health. Its adaption has been successful as a model for mental health promotion tool to address the above mentioned common mental health disorders. The target audience for the programme include sectors of accounting, mining, legal, construction, police, professional sports and rural settings (beyondblue.org.au). The role of health promotion directed toward common mental disorders is to ultimately enable people to increase control over their mental health, so as to improve mental health and well being by curbing the adverse consequences of such disorders in health, socially, and economically. The health promotion helps in creating awareness on symptoms, causes, and remedies for common mental disorders (Prince et al, 2007). In efforts to address common mental disorders, the European Commission has worked jointly with WHO, to alleviate mental health and well being by combating the consequences of anxiety and depression among other mental illnesses. Through the actions, recognition of the rights of individuals having problems of mental health, and their full participation in society becomes a condition that ought to be met (Paton et al, 2001). Mental ill health is reportedly the largest single disability cause in the United Kingdom (dh.gov.uk). This has translated to massive social and economic costs. Promotion of mental health is, therefore, vital for awareness creation and information dissemination of causes of the disorders, signs and symptoms, measures for prevention, managing and treatment. Mental health promotion in schools, work places, and in the community would be platforms from which such objectives can be achieved (Lowenstein et al, 2009) The impact of disorders related to mental health cannot be overemphasized. The adverse effects on health, social and economic matters nationally are worth noting and taking appropriate measures to lessen or eliminate where possible the disorders. The employment of various national mental health promotion programs as tools for curbing common mental disorders has been effective (Paton et al, 2001). References Biddle SJH & Mutrie N, 2001, Psychology of Physical activity: Determinants, wellbeing and interventions. Routledge Pub., London. Cattan M & Tilford S, 2006, Mental Health Promotion: A Lifespan Approach. Open University Press, NY. Department of Health, 2001, making it Happen. A guide to delivering mental health promotion. DOH, London. Department of Health, 2011, Publication Policy and Guidance. DOH, London. Lester H & Glasby J, 2006, Mental Health Policy and Practice. Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire. Lowenstein, J, Foord-May, L, & Lomano, J, 2009, Teaching strategies for health education and health promotion: working with patients, families, and communities. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury. Mental Health Foundation, 2002, mental health promotion. Pavilion Pub. Ltd., Brighton, East Sussex. Paton J, Jenkins R, & Scott J, 2001, “Collective approaches for the control of depression in England.” Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, vol.36, pp423-8. Prince M, Patel V, Saxena S, Maj M, Maselko J, Phillips MR, & Rahman A, 2007, “No health without mental health.” Lancet, Vol.370, pp859-77. www.beyondblue.org.au, 2011, National Workplace Program. Accessed January 8th 2013, . Read More