Introduction
A mental disorder is defined as a clinically substantial impairment in a person’s intelligence, emotional control, or behavior. It is frequently associated with distress or functional impairment in crucial areas. There are numerous types of mental illnesses. Mental problems are often known as mental health difficulties. The latter is a broader term that includes mental diseases, psychosocial impairments, and mental states associated with significant distress, functional impairment, or risk of self-harm. A serious mental illness is one that has a detrimental impact on a person’s life and ability to function. People with SMI can live fulfilling lives if they receive the proper care. Common and severe mental illnesses Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes sudden changes in mood, vitality, and activity level. People who are manic experience intense delight or euphoria and are extremely energized. They commonly go through depressive episodes in which they feel tremendous melancholy and a loss of vigor.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental diseases. Exhaustion, melancholy, hopelessness, worry, pessimism, and impatience are some of the symptoms that can occur. These symptoms make it difficult for an individual to work. Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe mental condition that changes people’s perceptions of reality (Roy et al., 2021). A person may experience hallucinations, delusions, profoundly warped thinking, and a reduced capacity for daily functioning. Contrary to popular belief, having an SMI is not a choice, a weakness, or a flaw in one’s nature. It cannot just “pass” or be “snapped out of” with willpower.
Although the precise reasons are unknown, a number of factors, including family history, brain chemistry, and major life events such as experiencing trauma or losing a loved one, may increase someone’s risk for mental illness. Working, finishing education, maintaining a regular schedule, maintaining healthy relationships, socializing, maintaining hygiene, and other tasks may be challenging with an SMI. However, with early and consistent treatment, sometimes a combination of medicine and psychotherapy, many conditions can be managed, obstacles overcome, and meaningful, productive life can be led. Thanks to improved technologies, evidence-based therapies, and social support networks, people with SMIs can now feel better and achieve their goals.
One technique for dealing with SMI is to stick to a treatment plan. Even if you begin to feel better, continue to take your medication and attend therapy sessions as advised by your doctor. Work with a doctor to safely change dosages or drugs to adhere to a treatment plan. Maintain regular contact with your primary care physician (Furnham et al., 2018). Even if you also see a psychiatrist, primary care physicians are essential for treating an SMI. Recognize the situation. Knowing your treatment options can help you stick to them. Education may also make your family members more accepting and caring.
Although many psychiatric disorders’ root causes remain a mystery, studies have shown that some are the result of a triad of biological, psychological, and environmental stressors. Faulty nerve cell circuits or neural connections between certain brain regions have been linked to various mental diseases. Neurotransmitters allow nerve cells in certain brain circuits to communicate with one another. Brain circuits can be made more efficient by medication, psychotherapy, or other medical interventions that “tweak” these molecules.
Discussion
Multiple mental diseases have also been related to specific flaws or injuries in the brain. Additionally, the following biological elements have been linked to the onset of mental illness: Genealogical or inherited traits: An increased risk of developing a mental disorder has been linked to having a family history of the condition. Genes allow for the passing down of vulnerabilities within families. The interaction between a person’s genes and environment is unique to them, but according to research, many mental disorders have multiple genetic causes. This means that a person may inherit a susceptibility to but not manifest a mental disease from their family. Brain injuries have been related to both the onset of mental illness and the exacerbation of preexisting symptoms of certain disorders. For instance, a Streptococcus bacteria-related sickness known as the pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder has been linked to the onset of OCD and other mental illnesses in youngsters (PANDAS). Abnormalities or injuries to the brain: Abnormalities or injuries to specific brain parts have also been related to particular mental diseases. The existing data suggest that prenatal trauma, such as oxygen deprivation before birth or interfering with early fetal brain development, may have a role in the onset of several illnesses, including autism spectrum disorder.
One type of extreme trauma that can have a detrimental impact on one’s mental health is being subjected to severe abuse as a child, whether physical, emotional, or sexual. Loss of a parent or other key caregiver at a young age, in addition to a lack of social skills and ability to communicate effectively with others. A person genetically predisposed to develop a mental illness could show symptoms of that illness after being put in specific conditions. Along with other things that might induce sadness, such as broken relationships, low self-esteem, fear, anger, and being alone oneself, the death of a loved one ranks among the most stressful events that can occur in a person’s life. Changing one’s vocation, educational path, or the conventions of one’s culture are all examples of radical life change For example, a culture that values thinness as beautiful may lead to the development of eating disorders. Abuse of harmful substances by either children or their parents
People with psychological disorders are more prone to experience a lower quality of life, academic challenges, decreased productivity, and poverty, as well as social problems, vulnerability to abuse, and extra health problems. Education is typically threatened when people with early-onset mental problems are unable to complete school or pursue a career successfully. People with mental health issues were much less likely to graduate high school, attend college, or earn a bachelor’s degree than their non-ill colleagues. Lost wages, missed shifts, and subpar performance in the office are all ways in which mental health problems sap an individual’s productivity (Torous, 2018). Mentally ill individuals are more likely to live in poverty due to their diminished earnings and professional opportunities. Poverty is a risk factor for mental illness, and mental illness increases a person’s likelihood of “falling into or remaining in poverty,” creating a “negative loop.” Twenty-five to thirty percent of the nation’s homeless are diagnosed with a significant mental disease, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, although just six percent of the general population experiences such issues. Many persons with mental illness are homeless, and this virtuous cycle may be one why. Mental diseases have the potential to amplify the effects of other pressures and health problems. Comorbid depression, or depression that occurs alongside another medical condition, is associated with much lower rates of treatment adherence. Furthermore, in low-income communities with limited mental health care resources, people with mental illness are more likely to experience inadequate treatment, abuse, and violations of their human rights.
Those who suffer from mental illness and their loved ones are sometimes subjected to severe discrimination and stigma. See Cultural Perspectives on Mental Health for further information on cultural perceptions of mental illness. The patient’s family or other relatives often take on the role of caregiver. It is common for families and caregivers of those with mental illnesses to be unable to work at full capacity due to the demands of looking after a loved one with a mental illness. This has negative effects on economic output and household income (Eriksson, et al 2018). These families are at increased risk of poverty as a result of loss of income and the costs associated with caring for a member who has a mental illness. Caring for a family member with a mental illness can cause severe and long-lasting stress in family members. Families with mentally ill individuals have a significant lot of emotional upheaval; parents must adjust their parenting practices and expectations, and partners must exhibit a great deal of patience and empathy to deliver the right care. Since these responsibilities can be quite demanding on family members, regardless of the person’s background or culture, they should be taken into account alongside the societal impacts of mental illness.
Discuss applicable theories
Theories in the field of mental health seek to explain the interplay between a person’s social, cognitive, and behavioral maturation. For many years, scientists have attempted to discover ways to alleviate pain and suffering. Methodology’s emphasis was on pinpointing and fixing specific issues for each client. No presumption was made that a person could improve their situation. The field of mental health has been approached from five different philosophical perspectives. The number of professionals that employ them in their practices continues to grow. The common theories explaining mental health illness include; The Behavioral Perspective – Actions are driven by real-world circumstances rather than by abstract ideas. The way we learn is by observing and interacting with the world around us. The conditioning of the subject is the primary aim of this technique. It is a part of right now. To help patients with mental health issues, doctors often turn to the biological model. This view proposes that there is a physical basis for mental illness. The term “outward manifestations of the inner bodily illness” is commonly used to describe symptoms. Psychodynamic therapists believe, like behaviorists, that people’s actions are the direct outcome of their upbringing and other environmental factors. One of the distinctions between the two is the emphasis placed on personal history. According to them, people’s actions are influenced by forces they aren’t consciously being aware of. The client and therapist revisit old ground to glean new understanding. The therapeutic process may take a long time to finish. It is easy to see how a therapist motivated by one of these principles would interact with a client. Professionals in the field of positive psychology, for instance, are generally humanistic in their outlook. It is reasonable to anticipate this therapist to encourage client accountability and responsibility while yet displaying empathy. The sessions would involve much introspection, with a focus on strengthening already existing qualities.
Based on a common understanding of where mental health needs to go in the future, WHO supports a coordinated effort between government and society. Strategic communication is used to create networks, involve stakeholders, raise awareness, and improve mental health literacy and behavior. Interventions for mental health are established in communities and institutions where people spend time in their daily lives, where they work, learn, and develop. Social determinants of mental health include things like women’s empowerment, anti-discrimination campaigns, and early childhood intervention programs for kids who are struggling (Hassan, 2018). Multiple health and non-health sectors, including education, labor, social welfare, justice, and the environment, need to be included in mental health promotion initiatives for them to be effective. WHO also runs massive lobbying campaigns to gain support and funding, as well as to educate the public and policymakers. Annual campaigns focusing on dementia, suicidal ideation, and mental health are just a few examples of such endeavors.
Conclusion
The people living with mental health issues are faced with various challenges which affect the physical and psychological well-being. The A mental disorder is a clinically severe impairment in a person’s intelligence, emotional control, or behavior. It is often linked to emotional pain or the inability to do essential tasks. The various theories has helped to explain the causes and effect of mental health illness on the people well-being. The theories has helped developed various strategies that help in providing treatement to people suffering from mental health illness
The government health care system should work with Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), which is run by the World Health Organization (WHO), seeks to improve access to mental health care in countries with limited resources by providing research-based technical guidelines, tools, and training materials. It zeroes down on a prioritized list of ailments and puts into action an integrated plan to elevate non-specialist healthcare providers’ levels of competence in treating those diseases in order to improve mental health care at every treatment level. This package contains the WHO mhGAP Intervention Guide 2.0, which is designed to educate primary care physicians on detecting and treating mental health concerns that their patients may be experiencing.
References
bin Hassan, M. F., Hassan, N. M., Kassim, E. S., & Hamzah, M. I. (2018). Issues and challenges of mental health in Malaysia. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 8(12), 1685-96.
Eriksson, M., Ghazinour, M., & Hammarström, A. (2018). Different uses of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory in public mental health research: what is their value for guiding public mental health policy and practice?. Social Theory & Health, 16(4), 414-433.
Furnham, A., & Swami, V. (2018). Mental health literacy: A review of what it is and why it matters. International Perspectives in Psychology: Research, Practice, Consultation, 7(4), 240.
Roy, A., Singh, A.K., Mishra, S., Chinnadurai, A., Mitra, A. and Bakshi, O., (2021). Mental health implications of COVID-19 pandemic and its response in India. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 67(5), pp.587-600.
Torous, J., Nicholas, J., Larsen, M. E., Firth, J., & Christensen, H. (2018). Clinical review of user engagement with mental health smartphone apps: evidence, theory and improvements. Evidence-based mental health, 21(3), 116-119.
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