Mental Health and mental illness
Health: is not merely the absence of disease or infirmity – it is a condition of
physical, Mental and social well being.
Mental wellness is generally viewed as a positive attribute, such that a person can reach
enhanced levels of mental health, even if they do not have any diagnosable mental health
condition
Mental health is a term used to describe either a level of cognitive or emotional wellbeing or an absence of mental illness. From perspectives of the discipline of positive
psychology or holism mental health may include an individual’s ability to enjoy life,
procure a balance between life activities, and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.
Mental Health: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as: a
state of balance between the individual and the surrounding world, a state of
harmony between oneself and others, a co-existence between the realities of the self and
that of other people and that of the environment
Or: The successful adaptation to stressors from the internal or external environment,
evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are age-appropriate and congruent
with local and cultural norms.
Or: Full and harmonies functioning of a whole personality.
Aspects of mental health:
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Emotional Intelligence- Emotions are skills for living.
Important to recognize our emotions-know ourselves.
Have emotional self control.
Recognize emotions in others.
Handle relationships.
Resiliency- emerge and grow from negative life events
Criteria of mental Health:1- Positive attitudes to ward self include acceptance of self and self – awareness. A
healthy person also must have a sense of identity, wholeness, belongingness,
security , and meaning fullness
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2- Growth development and self actualization: - The individual seeks new experiences
to more fully explore aspects of one self, also can interact freely and openly with the
environment, share freely and openly with the people and grow from such
experiences.
3- The ability of the person to plan for his future, to use his potentialities and
capabilities success full in the achievement of tasks associated with each stage of
development.
4- Integration: - is a balance between what is expressed and what is repressed, between
outer and inner conflicts. It is the person’s ability to with stand stress and copes with
anxiety.
5- Autonomy; - involves self- determination, a balance between dependence and
independence and acceptance of the consequences of one’s action. It implies that the
person is self- responsible for decisions. Actions, thoughts, and feelings. As a result
the person can respect autonomy and freedom in others.
6- Reality perception: - The mentally healthy person can change perception in light of
new information – This includes empathy of social sensitivity, a respect for the
feeling and attitudes of others.
7- Environmental mastery: - The person can deal effectively with the world, work out
personal problems and obtain satisfaction from life the person should cope with
loneliness, aggression, and frustration with out being over whelmed, can respond to
other, love and be loved, build new friend ship.
Characteristics of a mentally healthy person:1- He is free from internal conflicts. He is not at war with himself.
2- He is well adjusted. He is able to get along well with others.
3-He is able to form effective relation ship.
3- He is accept criticism and is not easily upset.
4- He has a strong sense of self –esteem.
5- He knows himself, his need. Problems and goals (self actualization).
6- He has good control over his behavior.
7- He is productive.
8- He faces problems and tries to solve them intelligently. (cope with stress- anxiety)
9- Clear and realistic thinking
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Three factors influencing mental health include:
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Biological factors
Psychological factors
Social factors
Mental illness:Defined as “Maladaptive responses to stressors from the internal or external
environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are incongruent with
the local and cultural norms and interfere with the individual’s social, occupational, or
physical functioning
This means that someone have trouble coping with emotions, stress and anger, for
instance, and trouble handling such thing as daily activities, family responsibilities,
relationships, or work responsibilities. Or is a disorder of the brain that results in a
disruption in a persons thinking, feeling, moods, and ability to relate to others.
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In medical the distinction between health and illness or normality and abnormality is
not difficult in psychological science it is often difficult to distinguish normality from
abnormality.
Mental illness can begin suddenly or emerge slowly over a period of months or
even years.
Mental illness is the result of:
1- dissatisfaction with one’s characteristics, abilities and accomplishments
2- Ineffective or unsatisfying interpersonal relationships.
3- In effective coping or adaptation to the events in one’s life as well as lack of
flexibility.
The characteristics of mental illness:1- When a person’s behavior is causing distress and suffering to the individual or
others around him.
2- Abnormal changes in one’s thinking, feeling memory, perceptions and judgment,
resulting in change in talk and behavior.
3- Abnormal behavior causes disturb bancs in the person’s day to activities, job and
interpersonal relation ship.
Causes of Mental Illness:
Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming clear
through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of biological,
psychological and environmental factors.
 Biological Factors Are Involved in Mental Illness.
Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of special chemicals in
the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain
communicate with each other. If these chemicals are out of balance or are not working
properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of
mental illness. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain have also been
linked to some mental conditions.
Other biological factors that may be involved in the development of mental illness
include:
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Genetics (heredity): Many mental illnesses run in families, suggesting that people
who have a family member with a mental illness are more susceptible (have a
greater likelihood of being affected) to developing a mental illness. Susceptibility is
passed on in families through genes.
Experts believe many mental illnesses are linked to abnormalities in many genes ,
not just one. That is why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental illness and
doesn't necessarily develop the illness. Mental illness itself occurs from the
interaction of multiple genes and other factors --such as stress, abuse or a traumatic
event -- which can influence, or trigger, an illness in a person who has an inherited
susceptibility to it.
Infections: Certain infections have been linked to brain damage and the
development of mental illness or the worsening of its symptoms. For example, a
condition known as pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDA)
associated with the Streptococcus bacteria has been linked to the development of
obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental illnesses in children.
Brain defects or injury: Defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain has also
been linked to some mental illnesses.
Prenatal damage: Some evidence suggests that a disruption of early fetal brain
development or trauma that occurs at the time of birth -- for example, loss of
oxygen to the brain -- may be a factor in the development of certain conditions, such
as autism.
Other factors: Poor nutrition and exposure to toxins, such as lead, may play a role
in the development of mental illnesses.
 Psychological Factors Contribute to Mental Illness.
Psychological factors that may contribute to mental illness include:
• Severe psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as emotional, physical or
sexual abuse
• An important early loss, such as the loss of a parent
• Neglect
• Poor ability to relate to others
 Environmental Factors Contribute to Mental Illness.
Certain stressors can trigger an illness in a person who is susceptible to mental illness.
These stressors include:
• Death or divorce
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A dysfunctional family life
Living in poverty
Feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, anxiety, anger or loneliness
Changing jobs or schools
Social or cultural expectations (For example, a society that associates beauty with
thinness can be a factor in the development of eating disorders.)
• Substance abuse by the person or the person's parents
Dr, Saja Hashem Mohammed
Psychiatric Nursing /Nursing College /University of Babylon.
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