Understanding the Development of Mental Disorders and Its Recovery Process - Case Study Example

Case study Case Study The study aims at understanding development of mental disorders and its recovery process. In explaining mental illness within the society, the study explores Mary’s mental health conditions. Mary, a 41 year old suffers from mental illness, which has led to her unproductiveness and lack of social wellbeing. Mental health disorder forces Mary to quit her Job. The paper relates Mary’s medical condition to physical health wellness. The paper also explains the influence of stigma on mental health. Mental health Mental health relates to a state of complete social and physical wellness of a person and not just the absence of a disease. Mental health has relation with promotion of well-being, treatment, rehabilitation, prevention of mental disorders among victim of poor mental health effects. Mental health as a state of well-being relates to the state in which a person can realize his or her abilities. It also lentils ability to manage normal stress of life, and have the capability of making potential contribution to the society. Persons of the right mental health also can work productively at work place. Mental health and well-being are imperative to our collective and individual capability as humans to think, interact, emote, enjoy life, and earn a living. Promotion of mental health programs is imperative in the society for collective well-being and development of the society. It is imperative to not that Mary’s behaviors lacks social wellbeing. She remains stressed and cannot initiate meaning thoughts by herself. She has lost productivity her workplace evidently form the vacation given. Interventions and management of the mental, physical social and cultural issues Determinants of Mental health Mental health of an individual within the society relies greatly on multiple social, biological, and psychological factors. Persistent socio-economic pressures results into mental health for individuals in the society. Poor mental health has association with rapid social change, gender discrimination, stressful work, unhealthy lifestyle, social exclusion, physical ill health, and social exclusion. Common causes of poor mental health remain poverty and illiteracy. Other factors that may make Mary vulnerable to mental health include her personality, biological, and psychological factors. Biological causes of mental health disorders include genetic factors that may furnish imbalances in brain chemicals network. It is imperative to note that Mary’s mental health may have resulted from genetic factors mainly because her mother experienced the same (Holmes, 2006). Mental Health Promotion and Protection Mental health promotion relates to strategies undertaken to form environments and conditions, which encourage mental health and allow individuals to maintain and adopt healthy lifestyles. Promotion strategies involve a range of actions taken by health professionals to increase chances of people experiencing better mental health. It is imperative to note that a society that defends political, socio-economic, civil, and cultural rights is essential to mental health promotion. Mental health promotion activities include anti-discrimination laws and campaigns that defend discriminative activities against persons with mental health issues. Anti-discrimination laws may also include promotion of opportunities, care, and rights of persons with mental disorders (Dillon-Wallace, McDonagh, and Fordham, L 2014). Governments may also get involved in a reduction of poverty and offer social protection to members of the society as a way of reducing poverty-related mental health issues. Government development projects may also encompass community improvement programs such as integrated rural development (Smith, and Gridley, 2006). In solving Mary’s mental health disorders, WHO recommends that government health programs should incorporate early childhood intervention strategies, support to children initiatives, and violence prevention plans. Early childhood intervention programs involve pre-school psychosocial activities, visiting and counseling pregnant women to help in dealing with infancy related mental health conditions. Support to children programs may include initiatives such as skills building and child and youth development initiatives. Mental health promotion programs may also encompass socio-economic empowerment of women and social support for the elderly populations. Government policies should ensure that women such as Mary with mental illness have access to education with the aim of solving illiteracy issues that may result into stress. The governments should also offer job opportunities and microcredit finances to women groups to help in solving money related issues. Local policies should also consider the implementation of policies that encourage support for the elderly population through counseling sessions and community and day centers. Mental Health Care Treatment Mental health care policies should not only address promotion or protection of mental well-being but also aim at meeting needs of the individuals with mental disorders. The health intervention strategies should relieve mental related stress problems of the victims. Besides, the interventions should also remain cost-effective, affordable, and feasible. The interventions relevant for treatment of Mary’s mental disorders include use of antiepileptic drugs to treat epilepsy, psychotherapy, and treatment of depression with antidepressant. Doctors may produce the antidepressant drugs through genetically enabled processes to assist Mary and her family in dealing with hereditary issues of the condition in their lineage. Other interventions include treatment of psychosis using older antipsychotic drugs and psychosocial support. Government may also intervene by enacting policies of taxation of all alcoholic beverages to increase prices of the products and reduce their accessibility to vulnerable population. Government may also intervene by restricting entry of alcoholic beverages into the market. Mental health gap programme (mhGAP) has remained essential in the management of mental health priority conditions. The program has applications for use with non-specialists in identification and prevention of mental health disorders. Other effective intervention programs for prevention of mental disorders in the society include prevention of suicide, early treatment of mental disorders in children, treatment of substance-use disorders, and treatment and prevention of dementia. Mental illness Mental illness entails a wide range of mental health disorders with the capacity to affect an individuals’ mood, behavior, interaction with others, and thinking. Mental illness includes anxiety disorders, bipolar and mood disorders, schizophrenia, depression, addictive behaviors, and eating disorders. Mental health problems in most cases also affect the manner in which human being think, but to a lesser extent than mental illness. Mary has a mental illness evidently form her depression, lack of bathing, unproductively, and poor social relations (Happell, B, Platania-Phung, and Scott, 2013). Causes of mental illness Mental illness condition normally results from an array of complex interactions between the human body, mind, and the environment. Factors such as long-term and acute stress greatly contribute to mental illness as in Mary’s case (Gomory, Cohen, and Kirk, 2013). It is imperative to note that biological factors such as genetics also greatly affect an individuals’ mental illness. Mary’s cognitive patterns led to her low esteem and negative thoughts that contributed to mental illness. It is also most likely that Mary suffered from social factors such as financial problems, isolation, and family breakdown. Principles of recovery from mental health disorders In mental health, there is no complete recovery in the same manner human beings can recover from physical health issues. Mental illness has no cure, and its treatment remains a continuous therapy. However, if members of the society can recognize the symptoms of mental illness and seek early medical attention, possibility exists of recovery. Mary ought to have gone for medical checkup early enough to help in the recovery process (Clarke, Oades, and Crowe, 2012). Mary and the family must also take responsibility in the recovery process by initiating and supporting medical professionals. The family should remain actively involved by providing a favorable environment and maintaining medical schedules such as adhering to medications as prescribed by the doctors. After adequate treatment of the disease, the patient and the doctor must constantly monitor the potential side effects. Recovery involves a variety of perspectives that includes a holistic process of traditional elements of medical health and aspects of observing medication. Recovery from mental illness also entails maintaining physical health as a supplement of wellness (Happell, Platania-Phung, & Scott, 2013). Recovery process is also individualized, and it is faster in some patients than others are. Nexus between Mental Health and Physical Health According to World Health organization, health relates to the complete mental, physical, and social well-being that is not merely the absence of disease. Based on WHO statistics, no health condition exists without concerns about mental health. Physical and mental health relates more in chronic conditions. In most cases, the association between physical health and mental health follows three main conditions as depicted by Mary’s case. Firstly, Mary’s poor mental health is normally a risk factor for chronic physical conditions. Secondly, Mary’s serious mental health condition makes her vulnerable to high risk of undergoing chronic physical conditions. Lastly, Mary’s chronic physical problems remain at risk of developing into poor mental health (Losoncz & Bortolotto, 2009). Prevention strategies for mental illness Fundamental aspects of preventing chronic mental and physical health conditions entail increasing physical activity and acquiring adequate income, access to nutritious foods. It also involves fostering social support and inclusion (Brumby, Chandrasekara, Kremer, Torres, McCoombe, and Lewandowski, 2013). The aspects foster opportunities for enhancement of protective factors and minimize the risks associated with physical and mental health. It is essential that health care providers to comprehend the connection between the body and mind as a way of developing mitigating strategies for reducing percentages of persons with mental and physical health conditions. Recognizing and responding to mental health Mental Health Literacy According to Mendenhall and Frauenholtz, 2013, p. 365, mental health literacy refers to beliefs and knowledge relating to mental health disorders information that is essential in managing, preventing, and recognition of the condition. Mental health literacy also involves the capacity to obtain relevant information regarding mental condition, knowledge of risks factors, causes of the illness, and individual attitudes that are imperative promote mental health intervention programs. Mental health literacy, which is normally promoted by social health workers can improve access of mental health care based on the provided values and reduce stigma. Mental health literacy also assists in individual empowerment through education processes, which is imperative in the promotion of respect and self-determination mainly for persons facing mental health difficulties. Minimizing stigma remains crucial in increasing equal access towards enhancing individualized dignity and improving access to mental health care (Cheng, Poon, Nguyen, Woodman, and Parker, 2013). It is imperative that increased access to mental health literacy leads the empowerment of the society and recognition of active mental health care for prevention, enhanced social support and proactive interventions. Social workers must remain relevant in addressing societal needs for individuals with physical and mental health. Implications for the counseling profession Counseling acts as a central tool for managing mental health conditions and have the potential as a profession to provide particular messages concerning skills, attitude, and knowledge that can improve mental health of adults and children. Counseling professionals assists through training, advocacy, practice, research, and leadership. A new central focus exist for counselors that are imperative in mitigating factors leading to increased mental health disorders within the society. Counselors must adopt a new strategy to help in assessing and treating co-occurring disorders with the population. Counselors must also help families in gaining access to information regarding antipsychotic medications relevant for treatment of mental health disorders (Mellin, 2009 p. 503). Stigma or attitudes that can influence medical health care Stigma relates to perceived negative attribute that influences an individual to devaluate or imagine others as of less importance. Stigma has the potential of reducing an individual from the whole and usual personality to a tainted and discounted one. In addition, stigma is a mark of discredit or disgrace that separates an individual from others. Stigma plays a central role in the development of mental illness in the contemporary society. Society still believes that stigmatized individuals are an indulgence, shows signs of weakness, and brings shame to the society. The society shows stigma in ways such as isolation from the perceived stigmatized individuals, discrimination, social exclusion, stereotyping, secrecy, and blame. Dimensions of stigma There are six basic dimensions of stigma, which include course, peril, origin, conceivability, disruptiveness, and anesthetics. Other dimensions of stigma relate to controllability, stability, and pity. The dimensions can interact simultaneously or independently to create a stigma in individuals. It is imperative to understand that stigma results from the common structural framework within the society and not just a combination of the inherent dimensions. Peril Peril remains the most important aspect that leads to the stigma development. In the dimension of peril, members of the public believe that persons with mental disorders are frightening, strange, and frightening. The perceptions results into increase in fear and discomfort based on the social cues bestowed on includes awkward physical appearance and other psychiatric symptoms. Once the society bestows behaviors that do not conform to social norms on certain members of the society, great discomfort develops. The result is a generalization of understanding between mental illness and abnormal behavior that consequently contributes to avoidance. Origin Society believes that mental or behavioral disorders originate from genetic and biological factors. Believes on origin of mental disorders have immediate implications on the dimension of controllability. As a result, society perceives that the behavioral and mental disorders remain personally controllable. Society perceives its members who cannot control mental or physical disorders as weak and irresponsible. Concealability Concept of concealability parallels controllability dimension as aforementioned. Based on the concept, stigmatized attributes for instance, race remains identifiable and less concealable. The concept allows suggest that society stigmatizes individuals based on their visibility. For instance, schizophrenia that has more visual symptoms attracts increased stigmatization than depression that shows fewer symptoms. Course and stability dimensions seek to establish the possibility that persons with disability will benefit from mental treatments. The dimension of disruptiveness examines the extent to which behavioral or mental disorders influences success or relationship in the society. Most mental disorders remain associated with lower socioeconomic status, increased risk for poverty, and lower levels of education. Conditions that are as a result of disruptiveness implicates as to whether a person will hold a successful job have a successful relationship and contribute to his or her well-being. Levels of stigma The main levels of stigma exist which includes self-stigma, social stigma, and professional stigma. Social stigma Social stigma remains the most frequently discussed level as it involves the majority of the society members. Social stigma is always structural in nature and may lead to the creation of barriers for individuals with behavioral or mental disorders. In the structural sense, social stigma relates to the belief that majority of the society members with stigmatized condition are inferior and less equal. Therefore, stigma remains enclosed within the social framework to create inferiority. The belief that persons with mental or behavioral disorders are inferior, results into unequal access to medical services or policies. Social stigma also results into disparities in accessing social amenities such as renting or employment (Reavley, and Jorm, 2011). Social psychology researchers explain three common forms of public stigmatization have influence on mental health disorders. The models include motivation, socio-cultural, and social cognitive. Within socio-cultural model, researchers believe that stigma development is because of the need to justify social injustices and identify society members with mental illness as unequal. Motivational model explains the common psychological requirements of persons with mental illness. The model affirms the aforementioned notion that individuals with mental or behavioral illness relates to lower socio-economic class due to their inferiority. Social stigma Self-stigma relates to the condition where an individual discredit himself or herself based on societal influence. In most occasions, societal influence makes mentally ill individuals to feel guilty of their condition. It is important to understand that individuals can acquire self-stigma based on the prior knowledge of the existence of the condition within the society. Individuals may get stigmatized mainly due to fear of how a society treats persons with mental illness even if they do not experience the valid symptoms of the condition. Knowledge of mental illness within the society can also have deleterious effects on an individuals self-efficacy and self-esteem that would contribute to the development of mental illness. The manner in which Mary and her family perceive development of mental illness would have consequential effects on their personal esteem. It is imperative to understand that fear of being stigmatized and expectations of becoming stigmatized greatly influences individuals psychosocial wellbeing within the society. In addition, stigmatization beliefs also provoke an individuals emotional development. The afflicted society member develops the feeling of stigmatization and emotionally responds through anger, isolation, and embarrassment. Health professional stigma Majority of health professionals such as a pharmacist has biased beliefs about mentally ill individuals in the same manner other society members believes. The social workers also have negative attitudes towards stigmatized individuals (Knox, Fejzic, Mey, Fowler, Kelly, McConnell, Hattingh, and Wheeler, 2014). Implications for nursing Stigma may have greater influence on many aspects of individuals life. It is essential to understand that brief effects of mental illness on individuals can have greater repercussions on the well-being of families, work, social interactions, and relationships. The effects may have further repercussions such as psychiatric problems of depression or anxiety. Normally, stigma may also be a barrier for seeking medical treatment. In most cases, individuals with mental illness do not seek medical advice until their condition worsens. Some members of the society also disengage themselves from therapeutic interventions or cease taking medications, which consequently leads the decline in recovery. Mental health assessment Mental health assessment is a psychological evaluation or screening that entails gathering of the necessary information about an individual with psychiatric problems with the main aim of making a diagnosis. In normal circumstances occupational therapists, mental health nurse, social worker, or psychologist accomplishes mental health assessment. Process of mental health assessment Psychiatric evaluation process entails development of initial impressions and hypothesis before the actual assessment. The medical professional then initiates a medical interview based on the patients past records, diagnostic test results, and patient’s interaction. The assessment follows a clinical formulation process, diagnosis tests, initial treatment plans, and further systems issues. Systems issues relate to information gathered from families, peer networks, and other relevant support systems necessary for successful psychiatric evaluation (Gouda, and Powles, 2014). Reasons for mental health assessment Mental health assessment is imperative in establishing a therapeutic alliance between the health care provider and the patient. It is also through the assessment that medical professionals can gather valid data pertinent to the patient mental health condition. The data is imperative in conducting feasible formulations on the patient’s disease. The medical professional would also have a platform to understand his or her patients well. Besides, the professionals would easily develop a management or treatment plan in collaboration with the mentally ill patient. Lastly, it is important to have health assessment to decrease the influence of psychiatric symptoms for the patient. Mental health assessments are also imperative in establishing the difference between physical and mental health problems. Moreover, the medical professionals would also comprehend the mental health problems such as schizophrenia, anorexia, nervosa, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, or anxiety. It is imperative that Mary’s medical assessors evaluate her condition for sustainable management. The medical assessors should also recommend for counseling to help Mary develop positive attitude on the possibility of recovery. 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