Mental health introduction
An initial difficulty faced by researchers and policy-makers in this field is related to the similarities and boundaries between the concepts of mental health and mental illness and between prevention and promotion. Hence, health includes mental, physical and social functioning, which are closely associated and interdependent.
Mental disorders are usually associated with the mind and as such develop from the gradual interactions with our minds. The mind is so delicate and it can be easily hurt, everyday we undergo some kind of interactions and some of which hurt us badly. The more we interact with our mind the more it become stressed, this is usually the beginning of most mental disorders. When the effect of stress is prolonged it can result in situations of emotional instability and cause an irritating aura of the stressed person. Depending on the stressed person and the stressor, various results might be witnessed, amongst which is divided attention and lack of concentration (and other forms of personality disorders), the person might also suffer from series of mood disorders ranging from anxiety to depression or if the stress was a catastrophe, such as war, plane crash or other form of attack, the person is more likely to suffer from post traumatic stress disorder and might experience disturbing memories and flash back of the tragic catastrophe.
Elements of mental health
Elements that constitutes mental health include self-acceptance, or self-esteem, characterized by a personal evaluation of oneself and one's past; personal growth reflected in one's sense of continued psychological growth and development; a sense that one's life has purpose and meaning; positive relations with others; environmental mastery and social condition, the capacity to manage effectively in the surrounding world; and autonomy, a sense of self-determination and the ability to control one's own life; the ability to make quality decisions per time. Self-acceptance, relations with others, environmental mastery, and autonomy usually improve as a person ages and gains life experience. However, many people find that their personal growth and sense of purpose in life begin to decline in midlife.
Some psychologists regard mental health as the ability to maintain a balance between positive and negative emotions, such as elation and sadness. In this view, a person who displays emotional extremes in either direction is less well-adjusted. Other psychologists emphasize the role of one's environment in influencing well-being. This perspective sees mental health reflected in a person's overall happiness with various domains of life, such as social relationships, work, and community life.
Content outline
- Introduction
- This section provides general knowledge into the basics of mental health. It highlights importance of mental health in the society and basic introduction to the catastrophe of mental illness.
- About stress
- Having being identified as the major cause of various mental illness, this section is dedicated to teaching more on stress and various stressors.
- Anatomy and GAS
- Before every significant physical event there are enormous level of reaction in the internal anatomy system which produces responses. This section describes various processes that takes place before response to different situations.
- Impact
- With millions of victim worldwide, mental illness has caused breakdown in various systems in several communities. Mental illness will also be the second cause of death in the world by the year 2020.
- Coping
- With the much danger associated with mental illness and its major cause, it is most important to discuss strategize medium of combating the menace. This section defines various means to combat mental illness at various levels.illness at various levels.
Activities
- Start 'What disorder is that?'
- A drag and drop game. Sort the different mental disorders in the right categories.
- Start 'Riddlesland'
- A monkey on a mission to rescue his friend. Answer 80% of 50 questions correctly to succeed.
- Start 'Quiz Trek'
- 50 questions quiz trek.
Citing
- Mental Health
- Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2005. © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
- General Adaptation Syndrome
- WHO.int
