MENTAL

HEALTH
- SWATHI CHOUTY
2005 BATCH
 DEFINITON
• State of well-being in which every
individual realizes his or her own potential,
can cope with the normal stresses of life,
can work productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to her or his
community.

• Not just the absence of mental disorder.

 HISTORY
• Mentally ill were considered to be
possessed by devils.
• Patients were locked up and alienated
from rest of society.
• 20th century – advancement in psychiatry.
• Treatment – insulin coma therapy and
electric shock treatment. Later
tranquilizers.
• Admission and treatment in a general
hospital.
 PROBLEM
•
STATEMENT
Mental disorders are truly universal.
• Neuropsychiatric conditions had an
aggregate point prevalence of about 10%
for adults.
1. Unipolar depressive disorders
2. Alcohol use disorders
3. Schizophrenia
4. Bipolar affective disorder
5. Alzheimer’s and other dementias
 CHARACTERISTICS
Mentally healthy persons has three main
characteristics:
1. He feels comfortable about himself and has
self respect.
2. He feels right towards others. He is able to feel
a part of the group, and like and trust others.
3. He is able to meet demands of life, able to
think for himself and take his own decisions,
sets reasonable goals for himself and is not
bowled over by his own emotions of fear,
anger, love or guilt.
WARNING SIGNALS OF POOR MENTAL
HEALTH
 MENTAL ILLNESS
• A mental or behavioural disorder is
characterized by a disturbance in thinking,
mood, or behaviour, which is out of
keeping with cultural beliefs and norms.
• In most cases the symptoms are
associated with distress and interference
with personal functions.
• Most of these disorders can be
successfully treated.
 SYMPTOMS
Mental disorders produce symptoms that sufferers
or close to them notice. These may include:
• Physical – aches and sleep disturbances
• Emotional – feeling sad, scared or anxious
• Cognitive – difficulty thinking clearly, abnormal
beliefs, memory disturbance
• Behavioral – behaving in an aggressive manner,
inability to perform routine daily functions,
excessive use of substances
• Perceptual – seeing or hearing things that
others cannot
• Specific early signs vary from disorder to
disorder. People who experience one or
more of the symptoms listed above are
encouraged to seek professional help if
the symptoms persist, cause significant
distress, or interfere with tasks of day-to-
day living.
 TYPES OF MENTAL
ILLNESS
Mental illness can be separated into two
categories:

• Psychotic illness

• Non – psychotic illness

 PSYCHOTIC ILLNESS
• Psychosis is a condition which affects the
mind and results in some loss of contact
with reality.
• When someone experiences psychosis
their thoughts become disordered and
they have difficulty knowing what is real
and what is not.
• They develop delusions, hallucinations,
illusions, etc.
 TYPES OF
PSYCHOSIS
• Brief reactive psychosis occurs suddenly in
response to severe stress such as bereavement
or severe trauma. This lasts for less than a
month.
• Drug induced psychosis is brought on by the
use of drugs such as cannabis, LSD, speed or
magic mushrooms. This usually lasts for only a
few months.
• Organic psychosis can appear when someone
suffers from a head injury or a physical illness
which disrupts brain functioning. eg. Alzheimer’s
disease
 Contd…
• Schizophrenia is a psychotic illness
which changes behavior for at least six
months.

• Schizophreniform is a psychotic illness

that lasts for less than six months.

• Schizoaffective disorder is a psychotic

illness which is not typical of a mood
disorder or schizophrenia.
 Contd…
• Bipolar disorder (Manic depression) is
characterized by extreme mood swings
between depressions and highs (mania).
• Psychotic depression is a depression with
psychotic symptoms, without highs (mania).

Most people who experience a psychotic

illness are able to live full and independent
lives with effective medication and support.
 NON - PSYCHOTIC
ILLNESS
• Non psychotic illness occurs when the
everyday feelings of depression, sadness,
tension, anxiety or fear become so
overwhelming that people have difficulty
coping with day to day activities such as
work, recreation and relationships.
 NON PSYCHOTIC ILLNESS
INCLUDES:
• Agoraphobia
• Panic disorder
• Social disorder
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Eating disorders
• Some forms of depression
• Most non – psychotic illness can be
assisted by treatments such as education,
counseling, cognitive behavior therapy or
in some cases meditation.

• These treatments may help to develop

new ways of thinking about and dealing
with their illness.
CAUSES OF MENTAL
ILLNESS
ORGANIC
ORGANIC
CONDIOTIONS
CONDIOTIONS

MENTAL
MENTALILLNESS
ILLNESS

SOCIAL
SOCIAL
HEREDITY
HEREDITY PATHOLOGICAL
PATHOLOGICAL
CAUSES
CAUSES
 CAUSES
• Organic conditions: cerebral arteriosclerosis,
neoplasm, neurological disorders, chronic
diseases.

• Heredity

• Psychosocial factors: worries, anxieties,

emotional stress, tension, frustration,
unhappy marriages, broken homes,
poverty, urbanization, economic
insecurity.
 Contd…
• Environmental factors:
 Toxic substances- mercury, carbon disulfide, lead
compounds etc.
 Psychotropic drugs- barbiturates, alcohol,
griseofulvin.
 Nutritional factors- deficiency of thiamine,
pyridoxine.
 Minerals- deficiency of iodine.
 Infectious agents- measles, rubella
 Traumatic factors- road and occupational accidents
 Radiation
CRUCIAL POINTS IN
THE LIFE CYCLE OF
HUMAN BEINGS
PRENATAL PEROID
• Pregnancy is a
stressful period for
some women.

• They need help not

only for their
physical but also
emotional needs.
PEDIATRIC AGE
• First 5 yrs of life infant
and young child should
experience a warm,
intimate and continuous
relationship.
• Everything that happens
in school affects the
mental health of the
child.
• Children who have
emotional problems may
need child guidance clinic
or psychiatric services.
ADOLESCENCE
The basic needs of
adolescents are:
 Need to be needed by
others
 Need for increasing
independence
 Need to achive
adequate adjustment
to opposite sex
 Need to rethink the
cherished beliefs of
one’s elders.
OLD AGE
Causes:
 Organic conditions
of the brain
 Economic
insecurity
 Lack of a home
 Poor status and
insecurity
 Thus throughout his life, the needs of man
remain same:
 Need for affection
 Need for belonging
 Need for independence
 Need for achievement
 Need for recognition or approval
 Need for sense of personal worth
 Need for self actualization
PREVENTIVE ASPECTS
 WORLD MENTAL HEALTH
DAY
• The world mental health day was first
proclaimed by the World Federation for
Mental Health (WFMH) in 1992.
• It is co- sponsored by WHO
• It requests Members States "to promote
mental health and healthy behaviour using
the commemoration of the World Mental
Health Day 10th October".
 THEMES
• 2007: Mental health in a changing world:
the impact of culture and diversity.

• 2006: building awareness – reducing risk:

mental illness and suicide.

• 2002: the effects of trauma and violence

on children and adolescence.
 MENTAL HEALTH
PROGRAMME
• The National Mental Health Programme
was launched during 1982 with a view to
ensure
• Comprehensive mental health program
includes all community facilities pertinent
in any way to prevention, treatment and
rehabilitation.
 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
• Inpatient services
• Outpatient services
• Partial hospitalization
• Emergency services
• Diagnostic services
 Contd…
• Pre- care and after care services
including foster home placement and
home visiting
• Education services
• Training
• Research and evaluation
THANKU