Benefits of Good Nutrition for People with Mental Illness - Literature review Example

Discuss a small change in practice that you would like to see happen where you work Introduction In recent scenario, people are becoming increasinglyaware of healthy diet as an important factor for reducing critical health issues. In fact, recent observations have revealed that proper nutritional diet is a compulsory requirement for ensuring proper mental health conditions (Mental health foundation, 2007). It has been further observed that stress is a major reason for the cause of mental disorders. In this aspect, it has been determined that improper nutritional diet increases the chances of stress amid individuals (WebMD, 2014). Research have also revealed that eating well and having a balanced-healthy diet greatly helps an individual to avoid mental disorder problems, considering the fact that patients suffering from mental illness often tend to undergo weight problems (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2014). In accordance to the report of Mental Health Foundation (n.d.), evidence has been provided that numerous mental health conditions are greatly affected by dietary factors. Further observations have revealed that in the UK, a majority of the population consume more additives than other countries. As a consequence, in recent years, production of processed food has taken a greater height. Considering the need of the hour and importance of nutrition for the patients suffering from mental illness and learning disorder, change is required in the balanced nutritional diet chart. It is expected that food directly impose considerable impacts on the hormonal balance of humans. Therefore, patients suffering from mental illness and learning disorder requires a balanced diet for maintaining a hormonal balance and avoiding mental health risks to a certain extent. Emphasizing a similar notion, this study discusses about the change implementation needed to be undertaken for introducing a balanced nutritional diet for the patients suffering from mental illness and certain types of learning disorders. The study further discusses about the benefits associated with nutritional diet and application of Lewin’s change model for designing new diet menu for the patients. It also entails the leadership style to be implemented in the process and its implications on the change procedure. Literature Review Benefits of good nutrition for people with mental illness and learning disability In the current scenario, people possess a perception that nutritional diet is important for declining the fear of heart diseases, obesity and diabetes (Weyer, 2005). According to the report of World Health Organization (2006), it is worth mentioning that nutritional diet is also important for the maintenance of proper mental health and dealing with the problems of learning disability. According to the report of Dietitians of Canada (2012), nutritional diet plays a vital role in the faster recovery of specific mental illness, such as depressions, Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. It has also been reported that one of the major reasons for people suffering from mental illness is the lack of intake of proper nutritional diet. People with mental disorders must take the nutritional diet that comprises of unprocessed grains, mono saturated oils and margarine to increase the effectiveness of medication and help a faster recovery from the diagnosed illnesses. In accordance to the notion of Dietitians of Canada (2012), the report prepared by Gale Cengage Learning (n.d.) reveals that the human brain is highly affected by the food taken by the individual. The change in the nutritional diet of the people with mental illness or learning disability can therefore lead to disturbances in the brain nervous system also causing chemical imbalance in the human brain. Gale Cengage Learning (n.d.) also states that food items containing excessive fats and carbohydrates often lead to mental illness and learning disabilities. Usually, it is also found that the people with mental illnesses take a very less amount of nutritional diet, which eventually leads to the improper functioning of the brain. The intake of proper diet of food thus helps in maintaining the balance of brain functioning allowing the person to stay away from any kind of disabilities or illnesses. Gale Cengage Learning (n.d.) further revealed that the intake of nutritional diet with sufficient proportion of protein can provide human brain with required neurotransmitter dopamine made up of useful amino acids. If the level of neurotransmitter dopamine happens to fall within human body, it is believed that the mental illness will be affected largely (Research and Training Centre for Pathways, 2012). Due to this reason, Gale Cengage Learning (n.d.) concluded that the intake of nutritional diet is very much necessary for the proper functioning of the brain. Effects of poor nutrition on the people with mental illness and learning disability According to the analysis of Meletis & Barker (2004), too much intake of improper nutritional diet often leads to various disabilities such as learning problems and mental disorder. Emphasising a similar notion, analysis conducted by Meletis & Barker (2004) noted that often the poor nutritional food refers to that which contains metallic acid and thereby leads to the neurological impairment in the human body. The person affected by the excessive intake of metal toxic suffers from severe learning disabilities. This perception of Meletis & Barker (2004) have been supported by Nash (2010) stating that the main reason for the majority of population suffering from mental illness is the lack of proper diet and nutrition. Nash (2010) also affirmed that the micro nutrients obtained from the proper diet produces enzymes for growth and development of the body. In this case, if the required nutrients are not made available to the body, it will surely suffer from various disabilities. The same concern for the issue of poor nutrition on people with mental illness and learning disabilities were also supported by Komarek & Schroer (2013). To be specific, Komarek & Schroer (2013) states that the problem of mental illness and other disabilities can be improved to a large extent through the intake of proper and nutritious diet along with sufficient physical exercises. Komarek & Schroer (2013) refers that finding out the best possible ways for overcoming the problem of mental illnesses is not an easy and time efficient task. However, the intake of proper nutritious diet along with antipsychotic medication can recover the problem to certain extent and minimise chances of other disabilities (National Alliances on Mental Illness, 2014). It has also been observed in the report prepared by Press & Mwatsama (2004) of UK Department of Health that poor nutrition has a close relation with the lack of attention and behavioural problems observed within particular individuals. In the report of Press & Mwatsama (2004), UK Department of Health revealed that 30% of the people are suffering from mental illness and disabilities due to the improper nutritional diet. Arguably, proper nutritional food contains proteins and vitamins, which is useful for the balance of brain functions and nervous system of the body (Faculty of Public Health, 2010). Suggestions for change in nutritional menu for people with mental illness and learning disabilities In the report prepared by Press & Mwatsama (2004), it was identified that according to the estimation forwarded by the UK Department of Health, each year the total cost required for the nutritional diet of people with mental illness tantamount to approximately £2 billion. The high cost required also defines the importance of nutritious food for mentally ill people. The smaller resident homes looking after the people with mental illness and learning disability must be provided with the assistance of government and non- government organizations for providing with funds and grants for further improvement (Mental Health Foundation, n.d.). DiMascio & et al (2012) states that delivering education and training of nurses constitutes the preliminary step to be taken into consideration while planning for nutritious food for mental illness people. DiMascio & et al (2012) suggests that a special team of expert members in nutritional care giving must be appointed for the resident home. The team must be assigned with the task of ensuring that all the pre-requisites designed for the preparation of nutritional diet are running smoothly along with the undistorted implementation of effective communication channels between the staff and patients. The design of the nutritional menu must also be done not only in accordance to the therapeutic needs but also with the cultural and ethical preferences of the patients (Sovdi, 2012). Accordingly, Lakhan & Vieira (2008) suggests that the resident homes must not only take care of the nutritional food but also the other hygiene factors such as cleanliness of utensils, clean tablecloths and napkins. The team selected for taking care of the patients with mental illness must also be responsible to ensure that each patient is provided with sufficient time for eating the food. Apart from all the aforementioned conditions, the most important is the training of nurses and other medical staff members assigned to look after the people with mental illness and learning disability (Rao & et al, 2008). The nurses must be provided with training so that they can communicate with the patients regularly regarding the nutritional diet and care and support them to overcome the problem. From the previously mentioned analysis, it can be affirmed that if all the above mentioned criteria is to be implemented, it is quite obvious that the people with mental illness and learning disability can be treated effectively with the proper nutritional diet. Implementation of Change Management Although change is considered as an opportunity for few, many a time’s change has been viewed as threat for others. Management of the diversified responses is executed effectively, as it frames the base for the survival in the midst of competitive market scenario. Usually, change originates with respect to the external forces that include technological advances, economic pressure, social and political factors among others. Apart from the external sources, change also occurs from within the internal environment of an organization. From a generalized point of view, it can thus be stated that change management is considered as a process that incorporates well structured and planned for assisting an organization to execute the change (Sarayreh et al., 2013; Darwin & Proust, n.d.). In this study, a comparative analysis with Kotter’s change model will be conducted to determine the application of Kurt Lewin’s change model as an appropriate strategy. According to Lewin, the change process involves three basic steps, viz., unfreezing, moving and refreezing. Unfreezing reflects the first stage that considers human behavior as an equilibrium, which is supported by complex forces. This particular stage discusses about the adaptation of a new change, discarding the prevalent strategy, wherein the equilibrium is required to unfreeze. In accordance to the second stage, i.e. moving, Lewin’s change management model takes into account the various forces prevalent at work. These forces are accordingly identified and evaluated, to select the appropriate strategies from the available options. The last stage, i.e. refreezing, incorporates strategies to stabilize the workforce. In this respect, refreezing is regarded as quite useful in order to ensure that the execution of the new working behavior is free from regression. It is likewise taken into concern that the behavior being executed is aligned with the traditional behaviors and is not clashing with the personality of any workforce (Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications, 2014; Sarayreh et al., 2013; Darwin & Proust, n.d.). Concerning the Kotter’s change model, it involves eight steps for fostering a change within the corporate sector. As per this model, the change process commences with the creation of urgency amidst the employees. Following this stage is considered the formation of a powerful coalition that further creates a vision pertaining to the upcoming change. The next step is communication, in which it is the responsibility of the management to convey the organizational vision to the employees. Subsequently, the removal of the obstacles is taken into account next, with an intention to predetermine and eradicate chances of hurdle in the change implementation process. Creation of short-term wins, building of strategies associated with change and anchoring the change within the corporate culture are the other stages suggested through the Kotter’s change model (Weick & Quinn, 1999; Honey et al., 2007). Processes Involved In Application of Change Implementation As mentioned above, acceleration of malnutrition in recent scenario has led to higher risk for the society in the UK. It has therefore been comprehended that improper or poor nutrition greatly contributes to heart diseases among others. Further observations have revealed that around £2 billion within UK is invested annually on an average in order to provide treatment for diet related health issues. The nutritional diet being taken by humans greatly determines mental health conditions. . In case of the people suffering from mental illness, nutrition plays the same vital role in controlling their hormones and indirectly laying an impact on their physical condition (Sarayreh et al., 2013; Darwin & Proust, n.d.) As compared to Kotter’s change model, Lewin’s has been adapted as the appropriate and suitable change implementation method in bringing change within the health care setting. Health care sector entails diversified range of departments that makes the operations being undertaken quite complex. As Kotter also has a multi-dimensional approach towards the change model, its implementation to manage a particular change within the health care sector is likely to raise the complexity challenges rather than reducing it. In comparison to Kotter’s change model, Lewin’s designed model entails three simple and objective-oriented stages, which will ease the entire implementation procedure. In order to initiate change as per Lewin’s model, strong leadership quality is required in the entire processes being executed. To be specific, concerning the unfreezing state, there is a high tendency of resistance from the employees towards the change. Nursing department can accordingly be considered as the dedicated unit for providing nutritional diet to the patients. Transformational leadership style is greatly practiced in the healthcare environment, as it demands effective leadership for providing inspiration to others by depicting vision of the goal to be accomplished (Negussie & Demissie, 2013). In this scenario, it is the responsibility of the manger to convey importance of balanced nutrition for patients suffering from mental illness and learning disorder. They must be effectively communicated about the increase of processed food in recent scenario and the risk caused by it in the UK society. It is worth mentioning in this context that the country has seen an accelerated rate in the production of processed food in the last 50 years. Change within the British food scenario also shows a greater toll on nation’s health. Furthermore, the nurses must also be communicated about few severe diseases that are greatly impacted by imbalanced nutritional diet. These diseases are commonly witnessed in the form of depression, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease among others (Nutritionist Resource, 2014; Wagner, 2013). These can be reflected as the vital reasons for the requirement of change within the balanced nutrition menu. Subsequent to the unfreezing stage, in the moving stage, the managers are required to frame strategies for executing the change. Assessment along with care planning is therefore required to be conducted in order to execute the change. Assessment of the requirement for food that involves carbohydrates, proteins and fat for quicker recovery must also be conducted on a regular basis for executing the change. Additionally, training sessions for the nurses needs to be conducted in order to train them regarding the nutritional requirements for differentiated patients as per their differing nutrition needs. Furthermore, apart from training facilities, changed nutritional menu can be framed for the mental illness patients. Moreover, other nutritional facilities need to be framed for the patients (DiMascio et al., 2012). In this change implementation process, various government bodies regulating the deliverance procedure of healthcare facilities will be included for farming provisions associated with introduction of balanced nutritional diet. National Occupational Standards has provided a nutritional therapy framework, which suggests updated policies and practices related to balanced nutritional diet, proven highly beneficial for patients of mental illness. Policies being provided in here must be included when designing of balanced diet (British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy, 2012). According to recent policies being undertaken by Department of Health, it has been ascertained that mental health provisions require a change with greater stress on nutritional dietary practices. Therefore, in the change implementation process, apart from observing the mentioned policies and regulations in the department, focus will also be rendered on the various dimensions of health care practice to assist a faster recovery of the patients. In accordance with government regulations, it has been observed that guidance provided within the Care Quality Commission will also be considered, while framing new set of policies associated with balanced nutritional menu chart (Care Quality Commission, 2014; Department of Health, 2013). According to the last stage of Lewin’s change model, refreezing of the new sets of policies and regulations will be conducted. The work-process of nursing department will thus be kept under strict supervision for ensuring effective implementation of the changed nutritional menu for the patients suffering from mental illness and learning disorder. As expected, by applying the change model of Lewin, it will become easier to avoid any complexities that will ultimately ease the entire implementation processes along with the aid of the transformational leadership practices. Conclusion The essay has been prepared with an intention of gaining knowledge of the nutritional food values for the people with mental illness and learning disability. The literature study of the topic of nutritional diet explains the huge impact of food on the mental illness. Observably, nutritional food provides essential fats, amino acids, carbohydrates and vitamins, which affect the health of the mental illness people. Above all, it is stated that the intake of nutritional diet prevents several diseases and promotes healthy life. Intake of poor nutritional food is one of the major reasons of mental illness as illustrated through the report of the UK Department of Health. Accordingly, to identify and rectify the mental disorder problems, change must be implemented and for this purpose, Kurt Lewin’s change model has been considered as the best approach. The change will be implemented under three steps as described in Lewin’s model i.e. unfreezing of human behavior, moving towards the change and refreezing of the change with due significance to the practice of effective leadership strategies. Kotter’s change model is also the other effective approach of change in mental health. However, in this course, Lewin’s change model has been selected as it has been considered as the best in health care setting. It has also been studied that in order to initiate change as per Lewin’s model, transformational leadership style would be best suited as it is the most commonly practiced style in the health care sector and is suitable enough for the implementation of the various phases as suggested in the Lewin’s model. Additionally, all these changes can be initiated with the arrangement of training sessions for the nurses on the nutritional requirements of the patients on an individual basis. All these practices have been widely adopted by various modern health organizations of the UK namely Department of Health, National Occupational Standards and in adherence to the CQC Regulations, and General Social Care Council, which can also be considered as a guiding principle of best practices. References British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy. (2012). National Occupational Standards (NOS). Retrieved from http://www.bant.org.uk/bant/jsp/NOS.faces Care Quality Commission. (2014). The essential standards. Retrieved from http://www.cqc.org.uk/organisations-we-regulate/registering-first-time/essential-standards Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications. (2014). Theories and models of organizational change. Retrieved from http://aled.tamu.edu/440/READ%20-%20Change%20Theory%20Article.pdf Department of Health. (2013). Mental health: priorities for change. 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