Mental Illness Mental Illness Also called emotional illness

Mental Illness

Mental Illness Also called emotional illness, mental disease or mental disorder.

Mental Illness is Common Everybody, at certain points and situations, experience conflicts which need to be addressed 1 in 5 Canadians suffer from some type of mental illness in their lives

40% of all patients’ visits to family doctors are related to emotional, not physical problems 10% to 25% of North Americans suffer from anxiety disorders 1% of Canadians suffer from schizophrenia 1% of Canadians are bipolar

Depression The rate of increase of depression among children is an astounding 23% 15% of the population of most developed countries suffers severe depression. 30% of women are depressed. Men's figures were previously thought to be half that of women, but new estimates are higher.

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How Do We Decide if a Person is Mentally Ill? Abnormal behaviour in one society, can be seen as perfectly acceptable in a different society

Psychology’s Definition Mental illness is abnormal behaviour that is out of the ordinary and does not conform to the behaviour of most people in a given society How do we distinguish between illness and originality or between illness and non-conformity?

Mental Illnesses are Culturally Influenced Mental illness is present in all cultures - the frequencies of different types of mental illness vary - the social acceptance varies

Culturally Specific Mental Illnesses Example: People in Western societies who carry on conversations with dead relatives or other supernatural beings are considered mentally ill. The same behaviour is likely to be considered healthy and even enviable in a culture that follows Personalistic Medicine. Such a person would be thought fortunate for having direct communication with the supernatural world.

Example: Among the Yanomamo of S/A, highly aggressive, violent men are considered normal and highly respected as leaders. In contrast, among the Pueblo Natives of the U. S. , individuals who are aggressive and violent are seen as dangerous and are ostricized if the shaman is not able to heal them.

Factors That Affect Mental Health:

1. Social Factors A) Environmental (social) factors that can trigger mental illness: Death or divorce - A dysfunctional family life - - Living in poverty - Feelings of inadequacy, low self esteem, anxiety, anger, or loneliness - Changing jobs or schools

B) Social or cultural expectations Example: A society that associates beauty with thinness can be a factor in the development of eating disorders. C) Substance abuse by the person or the person's parents - linked to anxiety, depression paranoia

2. Psychological Factors Psychological factors that may contribute to mental illness include: - Severe psychological trauma suffered as a child such as physical or sexual abuse - An important early loss, such as the death of a parent - Neglect - Poor ability to relate to others

3. Chemical Factors Some mental illnesses have been linked to an abnormal balance of special chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in brain communicate with each other. the -If these chemicals are out of balance messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of mental illness.

4. Genetic (Heredity) Factors Many mental illnesses run in families – genetic susceptibility - people who have a family member with a mental illness are more likely to develop a mental illness Mental illnesses are linked to abnormalities in many genes – not just one. - that is why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental illness and doesn't necessarily develop the illness. mental illness itself occurs from the interaction of multiple genes and other factors, such as stress, abuse, or a traumatic event

5. Infection Factor Certain infections have been linked to brain damage and the development of mental illness or the worsening of its symptoms. Example: pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDA) is associated with the streptococcus bacteria * this has been linked to the development of obsessive compulsive disorder in children

6. Brain Defects or Injury Defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain have also been linked to some mental illnesses. - damage to the prefrontal cortex is directly related to: - schizophrenia - attention deficit disorder - antisocial personality

7. Epilepsy An electrical storm in the brain - can affect specific areas of the brain depending where the seizure originates, the length and severity - medications cause depression, medicated fogs and exhaustion

Historic Treatment of Mental Illness http: //cherished 79. wordpress. com/2008/09/06/re moving-the-stigma-of-mental-illness-video/ Stigma http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Ke. XVRh. N 3 Vs 4&f eature=relmfu

Treatments of Mental Illness Psychoanalysis - developed by Freud - patient attempts to say whatever comes into their head - requires frequent visits - long term

Hypnosis - the induction of a trance or altered state of consciousness - effective treatment of pain - phobias - memory recall

Behaviour Therapy - interventions that help a person unlearn maladaptive behaviour - effective treatment of phobias - effective treatment of OCD Group Therapy - patients with the same affliction counsel each other through shared experience

Electroconvulsive (ECT) (Shock Treatment) - uses electrical currents to produce a seizure in anesthetized patients - effective treatment of depression - effective treatment of some psychosis - used for people who cannot take medications

Drug Therapy - use of various medications or a mixture of medications Institutionalization - used only when the patient is a danger to themselves or a danger to society

De-institutionalization - patient is introduced back into society - supported by community health centres and half-way homes