U4 AOS2 psychology

mental health and wellbeing

a beneficial emotional state in which a person:

• realises their abilities

• copes with the normal stresses of life

• works productively

• contributes to the community

resilience

the ability to recover from adversity. Enables a person to function in spite of stress.

life stressors

everyday conceivable events, like relationship breakdowns, work challenges or failing a test at school.

mentally healthy

the state of not having difficulties with everyday activities and displaying resilience.

• high levels of functioning

• managing emotions (high emotional H+W)

• form positive relationships with others (high social H+W)

• experience mental HW

high levels of functioning

the ability to:

• do a range of daily activities

• attend to self-care

• maintain interpersonal relationships

• demonstrate resilience

why is mental health a continuum??

• individuals’ mental health is unstable and fluctuates.

• it is hard to compartmentalise disorders, problems and mental health.

• there are no clear beginning, middle or end points for mental health as it is subjective.

multi-axis continuum of mental health and mental illness

people can be mentally unhealthy without a mental illness, or mentally healthy with a mental illness.

wellbeing

a complex combination of a person’s PESMS that is linked to happiness and life satisfaction.

social wellbeing

relates to the connections individuals can make and their ability to get along with others.

• relates to having a sense of belonging.

emotional wellbeing

relates to the ability to feel a range of emotions and express them positively.

mental health problem

a relatively short-term disruption to an individual’s usual level of social and emotional wellbeing that impacts their everyday functioning.

how are mental health problems characterised??

• altered sleep/ appetite

• loss of energy or motivation

• difficulty focusing or concentrating

• irritability

• becoming withdrawn

mental disorder

a long-lasting psychological state characterised by significant cognitive, social or emotional disability or difficulty (thinking, behaviour, mood), serious enough to require psychiatric intervention.

how are mental heath disorders characterised??

• duration: long-lasting

• deviance: atypical behavior

• dysfunction: maladaptive behavior

• distress: stress, anxiety, sadness

SEWB (First Nations peoples’ perspective on H+W)

a holistic and dynamic concept relating to 7 domains based on connection to:

• country

• body

• mind and emotions

• family and kinship

• community

• culture

• spirituality and ancestors

SEWB: connection to body

physical health.

feeling strong and being able to participate in life as fully as possible.

SEWB: connection to mind and emotions.

mental health.

ability to manage thoughts and feelings.

SEWB: connection to family and kinship

this connection is vital to the functioning of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ societies.

SEWB: connection to spirituality and ancestors

provides a sense of meaning, purpose and belonging.

SEWB: connection to community

provides opportunities for individuals and groups to work together, support each other and connect.

SEWB: connection to culture

provides a sense of continuity to the past, helping underpin a strong sense of identity.

SEWB: connection to Country

helps underpin a strong sense of identity, and belonging in the world.

internal factors

originate within the person and and influence mental wellbeing, such as genetics and hormones.

external factors

originate outside the person and can influence mental wellbeing, such as the social or physical environment.

biological factors

physiological functioning of the body.

• some people can be more vulnerable to certain disorders at different times

genetics, sex, neurotransmitter function, hormones, immune function, NS system activity, physical health.

psychological factors

functioning of the brain and mind, including cognitive and affective processes like thought patterns and memory.

ways of thinking, beliefs, attitudes, emotions, learning and memory, personality traits.

social factors

external, relates to the social component of a person’s environment.

early life experiences, relationships, employment, education, income, social support networks (friends, family), culture, discrimination, accomodation stability, experience of abuse.

stress

a state of mental or emotional and physiological tension, resulting from factors that are perceived as a threat to our ability to cope.

anxiety

a state of physiological arousal that involves a persistent fear or worry.

• anxiety is like stress that continues to persist even after the stressor is gone.

phobia

an intense, irrational and persistent fear of a specific object, activity or situation.

biological factors that influence MW

genetic vulnerability

• poor response to medication

poor sleep

substance abuse/ misuse/ use

lack of exercise

disease and injury

psychological factors that influence MW

rumination

personality traits

• poor self-efficacy (ur belief in ur ability to succeed or handle a specific task)

impaired reasoning

coping skills

social factors that influence MW

socioeconomic status

loneliness (lack of social support networks)

loss of a significant relationship

protective factors

play a role in decreasing the chance of developing a mental disorder.