Mental Health Cheat Sheet

earning Objectives:\ 1. Describe the two conceptualizations of mental\ health and mental illness. Mental health has long been defined as the absence of psychopathologies, such as depression and anxiety. The absence of mental illness, however, is a minimal outcome from a psychological perspective on...

earning Objectives:\ 1. Describe the two conceptualizations of mental\ health and mental illness. Mental health has long been defined as the absence of psychopathologies, such as depression and anxiety. The absence of mental illness, however, is a minimal outcome from a psychological perspective on lifespan development.  **How does positive mental health relate to mental illness?** Now that the concept of positive mental health has been clarified, an important question is how positive mental health relates to mental illness. The World Health Organization (WHO (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2866965/#CR43), p. 2) has recently defined mental health as "a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community". The three core components of this definition are (1) well-being, (2) effective functioning of an individual, and (3) effective functioning for a community (WHO (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2866965/#CR43), p. 2). The *two continua model* of mental illness and health holds that both are related, but distinct dimensions: one continuum indicates the presence or absence of mental health, the other the presence or absence of mental illness.  Mental health is therefore best viewed as a complete state, i.e., not merely the absence of mental illness but also the presence of mental health.  Together these six elements make up what she calls *psychological well-being* (Ryff (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2866965/#CR35); Ryff and Keyes (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2866965/#CR37)). Each of them is important in the striving to become a better person and to realize one's potential: 1. *Self-acceptance*: a positive and acceptant attitude toward aspects of self in past and present; 2. *Purpose in life*: goals and beliefs that affirm a sense of direction and meaning in life; 3. *Autonomy*: self-direction as guided by one's own socially accepted internal standards; 4. *Positive relations with others*: having satisfying personal relationships in which empathy and intimacy are expressed; 5. *Environmental mastery*: the capability to manage the complex environment according to one's own needs; 6. *Personal growth*: the insight into one's own potential for self-development. There is of course a social aspect to mental health to consider: 1. *Social coherence*: being able to make meaning of what is happening in society; 2. *Social acceptance*: a positive attitude toward others while acknowledging their difficulties; 3. *Social actualization*: the belief that the community has potential and can evolve positively; 4. *Social contribution*: the feeling that one's activities contribute to and are valued by society; 5. *Social integration*: a sense of belonging to a community. 2\. Explore the role of resilience in the prevention\ of and recovery from mental illness and\ consider your own resilience in response to\ stress. What is Resilience? What is resilience? - Resilience is the ability to keep going after something bad happens.  - It\'s a dynamic process that involves preventing or reducing health problems after adversity.  - It\'s not just about being able to endure hardship, but also about being able to reach out for support.  How can resilience help prevent mental illness? - Resilience can help people cope with stressful events that might otherwise trigger mental illness.  - It can help people deal with things that increase the risk of mental illness, such as bullying or trauma.  - Resilience can help people recover from adversity-related mental ill health How can people improve their resilience?  - Build strong relationships with loved ones and friends. - Volunteer or join a faith or spiritual group. - Find meaning in your day-to-day life. - Set clear goals. - Learn from your past experiences. - Practice stress management techniques. - Exercise regularly. 3\. Identify how culture influences our view of\ mental illnesses and behaviours associated with\ them. See PP\ 4. Define and identify attributes of positive mental\ health. - **Feeling good**: Experiencing positive emotions like happiness, joy, pride, and satisfaction  - **Feeling in control**: Feeling in control of your life and decisions  - **Feeling connected**: Feeling connected to other people and making a contribution to society  - **Feeling resilient**: Being able to cope with stress and adapt to new challenges  - **Feeling optimistic**: Having a positive outlook on life and the future  - **Feeling confident**: Having a positive sense of self-esteem  - **Feeling energetic**: Having vitality and feeling physically healthy  - **Having good relationships**: Having positive relationships with others and effective communication skills  - **Practicing self-care**: Eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly  - **Setting and achieving goals**: Being productive in your work and personal life  - **Recognizing when you need help**: Being able to create healthy boundaries and seek help when needed  6. Discuss the nature/nurture origins of psychiatric\ disorders. For some people, mental health may just be a passing thought, whereas for others it can be a daily challenge. Ever wonder why we are all so different, why some of us seem to coast through life while others struggle?  Mental disorders are often caused by a combination of, and interaction between, genetic, psychological, biological, and environmental factors  Nature: the genetic, psychological, and biological factors that can influence mental health.  Nurture: environment-related aspects, meaning the exposures and experiences from conception onwards that can influence mental health. Most mental disorders are due to some combination of inheritance and exposure, meaning genes and environment  Although no simple genetic cause has been determined ((https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8922370/#b7-cvj_04_427)), certain genes and gene variations are associated with certain mental disorders  Disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression tend to run in families, posing an increased risk if a person has a relative with a diagnosis  6\. Summarize the social determinants of health in\ Canada. **Determinants of health** are the broad range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors that determine individual and population health. The main determinants of health include: Income and social status Employment and working conditions Education and literacy Childhood experiences Physical environments Social supports and coping skills Healthy behaviours Access to health services Biology and genetic endowment Gender Culture Race / Racism 7\. Explain how findings of epidemiological studies\ can be used to identify areas for medical and\ nursing interventions. Epidemiologic studies can identify how diseases are transmitted, enabling public health nurses to advocate for appropriate control programs. Diseases can be transmitted from person to person or from nonhuman sources, such as ticks or mosquitoes, to the human population - **Health risk assessment** Epidemiology helps nurses identify health risk factors and focus on prevention  - **Evidence-based practice** Epidemiological studies provide scientific evidence to support nursing care  - **Health promotion** Epidemiological studies help nurses understand health needs and educate at-risk communities  Health policy development - **Disease prevention** Epidemiological studies help nurses understand how diseases spread and how to control them  - **Public health policy** Epidemiological studies help nurses understand disease prevalence and risk factors, which can help inform health policies  - **Public health education** Epidemiological studies help nurses understand how to communicate health information to the public  8\. Examine the DSM-5 and how it relates to\ diagnostic criteria for mental illnesses. Contrast\ with a nursing diagnosis. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) is a reference book used to classify and diagnose mental health conditions. - **Improves diagnosis** The DSM-5 provides clear criteria for assessing symptoms and making objective diagnoses.  - **Guides treatment** The DSM-5 helps clinicians develop treatment plans by providing information about the nature and severity of a patient\'s condition.  - **Advances research** The DSM-5 helps researchers categorize patients for studies and understand the causes of mental disorders.  Who uses the DSM-5?  Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Counselors, Nurses, Occupational therapists, Rehabilitation therapists, Social workers, Forensic and legal specialists, Health insurance companies, and Pharmaceutical companies. Nursing Diagnosis: Hoplesness DSMIV Diagnosis: Depression 9\. Examine the specialty of psychiatric mental\ health nursing. Psychiatric mental health nursing in Canada involves caring for people with mental health conditions, addictions, and physical and developmental disabilities. Psychiatric nurses, also known as mental health nurses, work in a variety of settings to promote mental health and improve patient well-being.   What do psychiatric nurses do?  Provide care for people with mental health conditions Help patients improve their well-being Work to promote mental health in healthcare and community settings Develop care plans for clients Provide health advice and support to educators The Canadian Federation of Mental Health Nurses (CFMHN) is a national voice for psychiatric and mental health (PMH) nursing in Canada. It is a member of the Canadian Nurses' Association (CNA), Canadian Network of Nursing Specialties for which it provides expertise for the specialty in matters relating to mental health nursing. Please see the link below for CFMHN Practice Standards: Great information on all topics! 10\. Examine the historical context of mental health\ nursing in Canada. Before thinking about stages in the history of mental health and madness, it is worth considering that in all periods, people who we have thought to be mad and mentally unwell have been people who we think fall outside of the norms of acceptable behavior in a given place and time. This greatly helps to explain why certain forms of behavior, such as expressions of religious fervor, depression, or wandering, have been considered quite normal in some historical and geographical contexts, while they have been considered to be forms of mental illness in others. This is not to say that all mental illness is "socially constructed", but rather that our understandings and responses to mental health are, and always have been, shaped by the social, economic and cultural values of the society in which we live. Early European settlers to Canada, in the 17th and 18th centuries closely linked mental troubles to demonic possession, God's will, and to humeral imbalances. Bizarre behavior among early settlers was often attributed to a person's body having been plagued by demons or by the devil. Exorcism was occasionally performed to remove the presence of the devil or demons. People also prayed to God to end the demonic presence in the sufferer. A famous chapel at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré (near Quebec city), built in 1658, became the site of a regular pilgrimage of people who thought that through worshiping St. Anne, their physical and mental ills could be miraculously cured. From the early settler period, through the asylum and desintitutionalization periods, and into the period of major drug therapies, and psychotherapies, a wide range of home care practices have been established by families. In the 17th and 18th centuries, some combination of prayers, and home remedies was often tried. Households that could afford it also often hired nursing care to help manage with the mentally unwell. Neighbors also helped to share the burden of mental illness by taking in a mentally disturbed relative or friend into their households until his/her condition improved. This practice led to some households gaining a reputation for their willingness to take in mentally distraught neighbours for a weekly or monthly fee. Perhaps the best known and most controversial form of mental health treatment in Canadian history is Asylum care. By the mid 19th century, the first permanent "lunatic asylums" were established in the four eastern BNA colonies (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland) and in Ontario and Quebec. By the turn of the 20th century, western Canada had also erected asylums. These institutions reflected a revolutionary form of health care for those considered "insane". Run by asylum doctors and attendants (later psychiatric nurses), asylums were part of the same reform movement that led to more permanent schooling for children, reorganized prisons for criminals, and reformatories for wayward youth. In an effort to revitalize asylum care into a more meaningful form of treatment, more radical therapies were introduced into the asylum setting in the early 20th century. These included electroconvulsive therapy, malarial therapy, insulin therapy, the use of the drug Metrazol to induce convulsions, and the surgical procedure of lobotomy. Insulin coma therapy was replaced by neuroleptic drugs, such as antipsychotics, in the 1960s. Resources to read out of interest. Institutionalization - **Asylums** The first asylum in Canada opened in Quebec in 1845, and more were established throughout the 1800s and 1900s.  - **Prisons and poor houses** Many people with mental illness and addiction were incarcerated in these institutions throughout the 1800s.  - **Involuntary hospitalization** In the 1950s and 1960s, people were involuntarily hospitalized in mental hospitals if they were considered a danger to themselves or others.  Limited access to care - **Funding cuts**: In the 1980s and 1990s, mental health treatment in Canada faced significant cuts in funding.  - **Socioeconomic conditions**: Socioeconomic factors influence mental health outcomes.  Mental health awareness  - **Canadian Mental Health Association**: Founded in 1950, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) introduced Mental Health Week in Canada in 1951.