Introduction to Mental Health and Mental Illness

Flashcards covering definitions of mental health, mental illness, stress, anxiety, and the categories and stages of grief and coping.

Mental health

Includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being; the balance between cognitive, behavioral, and emotional states; and the ability to handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

Mental illness

A change in emotions (mood), thinking, or behavior accompanied by problems relating to others in personal, work, or social relationships, or an inability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs).

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 2019 Statistics

Estimated that $51.5 \text{ million}$ adults had a mental condition and the United States spent $\$225 \text{ billion}$ on mental health services.

Culture

A common heritage and set of social practices central to a group resulting in a cultural identity for its members, which influences the perception and management of mental health.

Coping

A learned process for dealing with unpleasant or similar situations; it can be conscious or unconscious, positive or negative, and learned or automatic.

Adaptive and palliative coping

Two categories of coping strategies that result in positive outcomes.

Maladaptive and dysfunctional coping

Two categories of coping strategies that result in negative outcomes.

Reframing

A strategy to promote adaptive coping by identifying and changing irrational thinking or positive self-talk.

Stress

A condition resulting when a threat or challenge to well-being requires an individual to adjust or adapt to the environment.

Distress

Negative stress that demands exhaustive energy from the individual.

Eustress

Positive, motivating stress that can enhance a sense of well-being.

Acute stress

A short-term, episodic condition that triggers the "fight or flight" response.

Chronic stress

Ongoing, continuous stress experienced over a long period of time.

Anxiety

An automatic, unconscious biologic response involving feelings of apprehension, uneasiness, or uncertainty in response to a real or perceived threat from an unknown source.

Mild anxiety

A natural and motivating level of anxiety that helps propel an individual toward productivity.

Moderate anxiety

A level of anxiety that is uncomfortable and difficult to tolerate for extended periods.

Severe anxiety

An anxiety level that is physically and emotionally exhausting, often leading to desperation to relieve mental and emotional turmoil.

Panic

An extreme level of anxiety characterized by hysteria, violence, or suicide attempts.

External stressors

Adverse environmental aspects such as abusive relationships or poverty-level living conditions.

Internal stressors

Physical factors like chronic illness or psychological factors like continued worry regarding financial issues.

Grief

The emotional process of coping with loss, characterized by feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, or detachment.

Loss

An actual or perceived status change in relationship to a valued object or person, such as the death of a pet or academic failure.

Bereavement

A natural, healthy, and healing process that emerges in response to any significant loss.

Anticipatory grief

Grief experienced by those expecting a major loss in the near future, such as a terminal illness or loss of a body part.

Conventional grief

Grief experienced following a loss; it can be response to temporary or permanent loss.

Five stages of grief (Kubler-Ross)

The process of dying or grieving categorized into five stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

Denial

The first stage of grief characterized by shock and disbelief, allowing the person time to gather coping strategies.

Anger

The second stage of grief where the individual realizes the loss is real.

Bargaining

The third stage of grief involving attempts to postpone the acceptance of loss.

Depression (Grief Stage)

The fourth stage of grief involving a persistent, prolonged mood of sadness as a normal response to loss.

Acceptance

The final stage of grief where the individual begins to experience peace and serenity.

Dysfunctional grief

The failure to complete the grieving process and successfully cope with a loss, leading to chronic sorrow.

Unresolved grief

An incomplete grief process where maladaptive symptoms continue months after a loss, often influenced by factors like multiple losses or survivor's guilt.