Mental Health and Mental Illness Concepts

Flashcards covering key definitions, the mental health continuum, influencing factors, models, treatment barriers, and nursing practice levels based on Chapter 2 lecture notes.

How does the World Health Organization (WHO, 2023) define health?

"a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being"

How does the USDHHS (2020) define mental health?

"the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity"

How does NAMI (2021) define mental illness according to Varcarolis (2023)?

"medical condition that affect a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning"

According to the Mental Health - Mental Illness Continuum, what symptoms and impairment characterize each stage?

Well-being: Occasional stress to mild distress with no impairment. Emotional problems or concerns: Mild to moderate distress with mild or temporary impairment. Mental illness: Marked distress with moderate to disabling or chronic impairment.

What are the primary individual attributes and behaviors that demonstrate mental health?

Ability to play and laugh, accurate appraisal of reality, ability to love and experience joy, capacity to deal with conflicting emotions, ability to live without undue fear/guilt/anxiety, ability to take responsibility for actions, ability to control behavior, clear thinking/problem solving, positive interpersonal relationships, self-defined spirituality, negotiating developmental tasks, productive work, and maintaining a healthy self-concept.

What is the reality regarding the boundary between mental health and mental illness according to Varcarolis (2023)?

There is "no obvious and consistent line between mental illness and mental health," and all behavior exists somewhere along the continuum of health and illness.

What three main categories of influences affect mental health?

Biologic influences, psychological influences, and sociocultural influences.

What are specific examples of biologic influences on mental health?

Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal events; physical health status; nutrition; history of injuries; neuroanatomy; and physiology.

What are specific examples of psychological influences on mental health?

Interactions, intelligence quotient, self-concept, skills, creativity, and emotional developmental level.

What are specific examples of sociocultural influences on mental health?

Family stability, ethnicity, housing, child-rearing patterns, economic level, religion, and values and beliefs.

What is resiliency?

The ability to bounce back from stressful circumstances and recover from painful experiences, built through successfully transitioning through crises.

What is the Diathesis-Stress Model of mental illness?

The most accepted explanation for mental illness, which attributes it to a combination of genetic vulnerability (diathesis) and negative environmental stress or trauma.

What are five major problems identified in treating mental illness?

Cost-related issues, stigma, revolving door treatment, lack of parity, and limited access to services.

How is stigma defined, and what psychosocial processes lead to stigmatization?

Stigma is a collection of negative attitudes, beliefs, thoughts, and behaviors. Processes include stereotyping, labeling, separating, status loss, and discrimination in a context of power imbalance, social isolation, and reduced opportunities.

What are the responsibilities of a Basic level Psychiatric-Mental Health Registered Nurse (RN)?

Assessment of functioning, case management, milieu design & management, medication administration & teaching, crisis intervention, and supportive counseling.

What additional responsibilities can an Advanced Practice Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse (MSN: CNS, NP) perform?

Formulating clinical diagnoses, ordering & interpreting labs, prescribing & managing medication regimes, and conducting therapy with individuals, groups, and families.

What are the core guiding principles for psychiatric-mental health nursing practice?

Every person is worthy of dignity and respect; every person has potential to change; all people share basic human needs; all behavior has meaning and can be understood from the client's perspective; clients have the right to participate in decisions; and nurses help clients grow, change, and adapt.