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Mental Health and Mental IllnessesDamber K. Nirola, MDPsychiatrist
DEFINITION OF MENTAL HEALTHMental Health can be defined as a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his own abilities and limits, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his community. Mental health requires a balance between the body, mind, spirit and the environment in which a person lives. 
DEFINITION OF MENTAL ILLNESSMental illness is characterized by alterations in thinking, emotions or behaviour associated with personal distress and/or impaired functioning. Like other illnesses, mental illnesses are the result of complex interactions between biological, psychological and social factors. Generally a thought, emotion or behaviour is considered abnormal and is suggestive of mental illness when it occurs without an understandable reason, is exaggerated, lasts for a long time and causes problems for the individual or others. 
TWO CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTAL ILLNESS:Recurrent changes in one’s thinking, feeling, memory, perceptions and judgment resulting in abnormalities in talk and behaviour. The changes in behaviour and the consequent distress cause disturbances in day-to-day activities, work efficiency, and relationships with others  
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS Changes in bodily function Sleep: The patient may have difficulty sleeping.  He may have trouble falling asleep, or staying asleep or may awaken early in the morning. Some depressed people may sleep excessively.
Appetite: The patient may have a poor appetite and eat less than usual or he may eat more than usual.. Weight:  Usually, the patient will lose weight because of poor appetite. However, some patients may gain weight due to excessive eating or because of side effects of psychotropic drugs.  
Bowel and bladder functions: Some patients may pass urine more frequently than usual (anxiety) or have loose motions (anxiety). Some others may have constipation (depression or side effect of psychotropic drugs).Sexual desire and activity: Some patients may lose interest in sex. Some may complain of impotence. Some complain of pain during intercourse. Some become hyper-sexual (Mania). 
Changes in mental functions Appearance: Patients may neglect their personal hygiene and grooming or dress excessively or inappropriatelyBehaviour: The patient may behave bizarrely or in a manner not consistent with his usual behaviour. He may be restless and wander aimlessly or slow down and withdraw completely.Speech: The patient may talk excessively and irrelevantly or he may utter only a few words or not speak at all.
Emotions (feelings):sadness or happiness or emotions inappropriate to the situation. No emotion, labile emotionPerception: The patient’s perception can be disturbed. hallucinations Thinking: The patient’s thinking process can be disturbed. E.g.: delusions, delusions of control, thought broadcasting
Changes in cognitive Functioning: Level of Consciousness:Memory:Attention and concentration:
Orientation to person, place and time:Intelligence:Insight and judgment:
Changes in personal hygiene, social activities and functioning Personal: Patients may neglect their bodily needs and personal hygiene. They may not eat regularly, wash their clothes or comb their hair. They may refuse to bathe or change their clothes. At times, they may even soil their clothes or bed.Social: Patients may behave strangely with family, friends or other people. They may behave inappropriately in social situations.  They may become violent or withdraw completely from people. Functioning: Patients may not be able to attend to usual work responsibilities. Assignments may not be submitted or may be poorly executed.
CAUSES OF MENTAL ILLNESS   Genetic:  Physical changes in the brain:changes in brain structure or function, infection, trauma, tumour, uncontrolled seizures or degenerative diseases  Physiological changes in brain: chronic alcoholism, nutritional deficiencies and end stage organ failure child birth or menopause
Environmental factors:Overcrowding, lack of recreational facilities, lack of social support, and exposure to extreme stressors such as war, terrorism, and manmade or natural disasters Childhood experiences:Lack of parental love, care, and guidance during childhood and traumatic psychological experiences in early life Home atmosphere: Alcohol abuse, frequent quarrels and violence among family members
Social factors:Poverty, unemployment, feelings of insecurity, lack of or competition for limited opportunities, frustrations, drug abuse, and alcoholism Individual factors:Diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart diseases and AIDS Chronic illness: diabetes, cancer, heart diseases and AIDS
Individual factors:Poor self image, lack of confidence, lack of skills to cope with or resolve conflicts in life, a wide gap between ambition and actual achievement, and guilt can cause mental illness. 

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Mental health presentation

  • 1. Mental Health and Mental IllnessesDamber K. Nirola, MDPsychiatrist
  • 2. DEFINITION OF MENTAL HEALTHMental Health can be defined as a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his own abilities and limits, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his community. Mental health requires a balance between the body, mind, spirit and the environment in which a person lives. 
  • 3. DEFINITION OF MENTAL ILLNESSMental illness is characterized by alterations in thinking, emotions or behaviour associated with personal distress and/or impaired functioning. Like other illnesses, mental illnesses are the result of complex interactions between biological, psychological and social factors. Generally a thought, emotion or behaviour is considered abnormal and is suggestive of mental illness when it occurs without an understandable reason, is exaggerated, lasts for a long time and causes problems for the individual or others. 
  • 4. TWO CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTAL ILLNESS:Recurrent changes in one’s thinking, feeling, memory, perceptions and judgment resulting in abnormalities in talk and behaviour. The changes in behaviour and the consequent distress cause disturbances in day-to-day activities, work efficiency, and relationships with others  
  • 5. COMMON SYMPTOMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS Changes in bodily function Sleep: The patient may have difficulty sleeping. He may have trouble falling asleep, or staying asleep or may awaken early in the morning. Some depressed people may sleep excessively.
  • 6. Appetite: The patient may have a poor appetite and eat less than usual or he may eat more than usual.. Weight:  Usually, the patient will lose weight because of poor appetite. However, some patients may gain weight due to excessive eating or because of side effects of psychotropic drugs.  
  • 7. Bowel and bladder functions: Some patients may pass urine more frequently than usual (anxiety) or have loose motions (anxiety). Some others may have constipation (depression or side effect of psychotropic drugs).Sexual desire and activity: Some patients may lose interest in sex. Some may complain of impotence. Some complain of pain during intercourse. Some become hyper-sexual (Mania). 
  • 8. Changes in mental functions Appearance: Patients may neglect their personal hygiene and grooming or dress excessively or inappropriatelyBehaviour: The patient may behave bizarrely or in a manner not consistent with his usual behaviour. He may be restless and wander aimlessly or slow down and withdraw completely.Speech: The patient may talk excessively and irrelevantly or he may utter only a few words or not speak at all.
  • 9. Emotions (feelings):sadness or happiness or emotions inappropriate to the situation. No emotion, labile emotionPerception: The patient’s perception can be disturbed. hallucinations Thinking: The patient’s thinking process can be disturbed. E.g.: delusions, delusions of control, thought broadcasting
  • 10. Changes in cognitive Functioning: Level of Consciousness:Memory:Attention and concentration:
  • 11. Orientation to person, place and time:Intelligence:Insight and judgment:
  • 12. Changes in personal hygiene, social activities and functioning Personal: Patients may neglect their bodily needs and personal hygiene. They may not eat regularly, wash their clothes or comb their hair. They may refuse to bathe or change their clothes. At times, they may even soil their clothes or bed.Social: Patients may behave strangely with family, friends or other people. They may behave inappropriately in social situations.  They may become violent or withdraw completely from people. Functioning: Patients may not be able to attend to usual work responsibilities. Assignments may not be submitted or may be poorly executed.
  • 13. CAUSES OF MENTAL ILLNESS   Genetic:  Physical changes in the brain:changes in brain structure or function, infection, trauma, tumour, uncontrolled seizures or degenerative diseases  Physiological changes in brain: chronic alcoholism, nutritional deficiencies and end stage organ failure child birth or menopause
  • 14. Environmental factors:Overcrowding, lack of recreational facilities, lack of social support, and exposure to extreme stressors such as war, terrorism, and manmade or natural disasters Childhood experiences:Lack of parental love, care, and guidance during childhood and traumatic psychological experiences in early life Home atmosphere: Alcohol abuse, frequent quarrels and violence among family members
  • 15. Social factors:Poverty, unemployment, feelings of insecurity, lack of or competition for limited opportunities, frustrations, drug abuse, and alcoholism Individual factors:Diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart diseases and AIDS Chronic illness: diabetes, cancer, heart diseases and AIDS
  • 16. Individual factors:Poor self image, lack of confidence, lack of skills to cope with or resolve conflicts in life, a wide gap between ambition and actual achievement, and guilt can cause mental illness. 

Editor's Notes

  1. 1. Consciousness is usually retained in mental illnesses (except delirium) unless there is other pathology in the brain. 2. Registration of new information can be affected as the patient is not able to pay attention or concentrate on a particular task at hand. On the other hand, there can be repeated ruminations of past memory.3. Patients will not be able to pay attention or concentrate on specific tasks, or they can become obsessed with particular issues or ideas.
  2. Orientation is usually not lost (except in delirium and dementia) unless the patient has been chronically ill and isolated himself from people for a long period of time.Intelligence is usually not affected unless the patient has been chronically ill and not functioning. Most severely mentally ill patients lose their insight and this is one reason why they do not accept treatment. Judgement can also be impaired due to the influence of hallucination and delusion. However, many mentally ill individuals have insight into their illnesses and make good judgements. Good insight is a good prognostic feature.  If a person with insight seeks help it is easier to help him.