Psychosocial Health Overview

Psychosocial Health

• Psychosocial health encompasses mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
• Healthy individuals feel good about themselves and others.
• They manage tension and anxiety effectively.
• They meet life's demands and maintain a positive outlook.
• They help others and appreciate life's simple joys.
• They value diversity and respect nature.

Mental Health

• Mental health is the "thinking" aspect of well-being.
• It includes values, attitudes, and beliefs.
• A mentally healthy person responds positively even when things don't go as planned.

Emotional Health

• Emotional health is the "feeling" aspect of well-being.
• It involves emotional reactions to life events.
• Emotions stem from various experiences such as harm, loss, threats, benefits, hope, compassion, grief, disappointment, bewilderment, and curiosity.
• Emotionally healthy people respond to challenging situations without resorting to extreme or harmful reactions.

Social Health

• Social health involves interactions with others, adapting to social situations, and having strong social bonds.
• Socially healthy individuals build positive relationships and contribute positively to society.
• Socially healthy people interact with a wide range of people including family, friends, and acquaintances.
• They listen, express themselves effectively, and build meaningful connections.

Spiritual Health

• Spiritual health involves a belief in a unifying force that provides purpose and meaning in life.
• It entails a sense of belonging to something greater than oneself, potentially involving nature, other people, or a higher power.

Improving Psychosocial Health

• Key aspects for improving psychosocial health include developing and maintaining self-esteem.
• Also, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule.
• Managing stress, and exercising regularly.
• Considering a support system to help manage challenges.

Psychosocial Health Disorders

• Disorders include depression (persistent sadness), anxiety and panic attacks (feelings of threat), phobias (fear of specific objects/situations), and schizophrenia (irrational behavior).

Warning Signs of Suicide

• Warning signs indicate potential suicidal tendencies, such as recent loss, changes in personality or behavior, diminished interest in personal activities, sleeping and eating disturbances, direct/indirect statements about suicide, and preoccupation with death.

Actions to Prevent Suicide

• Individuals can prevent suicide attempts by monitoring possible warning signs.
• Taking threats seriously.
• Creating a supportive environment and asking direct questions.
• Assisting the individual to explore potential solutions with a suitable support provider.

Professionals

• Professionals trained to help people with psychosocial health concerns include psychiatrists (medical doctors), psychologists (Ph.D. in counseling or clinical psychology), psychoanalysts (specialized psychologists), social workers (degree in social work), counselors (degree in counseling, psychology, or educational psychology), and nurse specialists (registered nurses).