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Mental health stigma
Mental health stigma
Essays on stigma of mental health
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Many would agree that mental distress is a negative experience for the person affected. However, the testimonies from the contributors to the course module identify positive aspects also. Charis, Rosemary, Andrea, Miranda, Chris and Terry give accounts of their experience of mental distress. This essay will examine those accounts to ascertain whether a positive aspect can be seen. It will consider how their identities have been affected, how change has occurred and how their experiences subsequently affected others. Lessons that can be learned from their accounts for both the service user and provider will also be explored (The Open University, 2008a; 2008c; 2008d). This essay will consider how the views of these ‘experts by experience’ might challenge existing medical approaches used to treat mental distress and promote a more holistic approach (The Open University, 2008b). Using this form of expertise to inform mental health practice will also be discussed to establish the influence and value this evidence holds within mental health services (The Open University, 2008a; 2008e; 2008f).
Charis lost her identity and her voice when diagnosed with depression but later realised that this experience is part of her and should be valued. This realisation empowered her to challenge her fears and the fears of others by sharing them. Charis discovered a new identity and no longer hides from her illness. Rosemary spent fifteen out of twenty four months on a psychiatric ward. She has learnt how to value madness and its diversity and this led her to self-advocacy, training others and becoming an expert advisor. She identified with her depression from the perspective of having the strength to survive (The Open University, 2008a, pp. 10-1...
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...alth, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
The Open University (2008e) ‘DVD1: Block 3 Unit 13, Audio 3:3, Expertise through experience’ [DVD], K225 Diverse perspectives on mental health, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
The Open University (2008f) ‘DVD1: Block 3 Unit 13, Audio 3:4, Lessons for practitioners’ [DVD], K225 Diverse perspectives on mental health, Milton Keynes, The Open University.
Wallcraft, J; Amering, M; Freidin, J; Davar, B; Froggatt, D; Jafri,H; Javed, A; Katontoka, S; Raja, S; Rataemane, S; Steffen, S; Tyano, S; Underhill, C; Wahlberg, H; Warner, R; Herrman, H. (2011) Partnerships for better mental health worldwide: WPA recommendations on best practices in working with service users and family carers, World Psychiatric Association [Online] Available at: http://www.wpanet.org/detail.php?section_id=7&content_id=1056 (Accessed 5th February 2014).
Practitioners are likely to concentrate on the mental health issues rather than the overall issues that prevent the well-being of an individual. For instance, an individual could have other medical issues that need attention but the need could be ignored because a psychiatrist specialises in mental health needs. The previous negative experience of a service user and lack of insight could result in the service user not requesting the support they
From reading and reflecting her personal experience and journey with her sister, Pamela, I acquired a personal outlook of the deteriorating effects of mental illness as a whole, discovering how one individual’s symptoms could significantly impact others such as family and friends. From this new perspective mental health counseling provides a dominate field within not only individuals who may suffer mental illness such as Pamela, but also serve as a breaking point for family and friends who also travel through the illness, such as Carolyn.
This paper will discuss four potential persons I might become. I see myself most strongly becoming a Peer Specialist. The role of a Peer Specialist is very important in helping people suffering from mental illnesses to accept, educate, cope and advocate for themselves to bring down the barriers that have been a stereotypical thorn in their sides’ mainly through a social disease called discrimination. This discrimination is basically society’s lack of understanding the world of the mentally disturbed.
Whitsett, M. (2008). Tips for mental health interpretation. Center for Health and Health Care in
Walsh, A. & Clarke, V. (2009) Fundamentals of Mental health Nursing New York: Oxford University Press.
"NAMI - The National Alliance on Mental Illness." NAMI. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2014.
middle of paper ... ... However, there is a large portion of mental health ill people that are able to find stability and maintain stability in their illness. Many of these people overcome their illness to some extent and manage to play an important role in society. Work Cited: Claire Henderson, Sara Evans-Lacko, Clare Flach, Graham, Thornicrofi.
NASMHPD. (2014, Accessed April 27). Retrieved from NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM DIRECTORS: http://www.nasmhpd.org/About/AOMultiStateDisaster.aspx
Wrycraft, N, 2009. An Introduction to Mental Health. 1st ed. Glasgow: Bell and Bain Ltd.
Jiji, T. S. (2007). Family care giving to psychiatric patients: its impact on care givers.
Perkins, R. Repper, J. (1998) Dilemmas in Community Mental Health. Oxon: Radcliff Medical Press Ltd.
It is generally accepted within healthcare that to understand mental health we must adopt the biopsychosocial model. This model assumes that an interdependent relationship exists between biological, psychological and social factors which are involved in all aspects of mental health (Toates, 2010, p. 14). To be true to the model research must be holistic and not investigate the factors in isolation.
Works Cited • www.mentalhealth.org.uk • www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov • www.rethink.org.uk • www.psychologytoday.com www.hope-health-recovery.org.uk - www.hope-health- • www.nami.org.uk
Simpson, C. (2007) ‘Mental Health part3: Assessment and Treatment of Depression’ British Journal of Healthcare assistants. pp 167-171.
Defining and measuring quality of life is a notoriously difficult thing to do and is without doubt affected by an individual’s particular experience. Where there has been a belief in the effectiveness of ‘cures’ for mental health problems and conditions, quality of life has not been seen as so important because it has usually been assumed that a good quality of life will replace a poorer quality of life once the cure or treatment successfully addressed but the limitations and unpleasant side effects of many medical treatments for people diagnosed with ‘illnesses’ such as schizophrenia, and the failure to find any entirely effective treatments for dementia, let alone a cure, has brought quality of life issues. Initiatives started mainly by service users, such as the recovery approach and self-management, contain an acknowledgement that, for some people, mental distress, hearing voices, having bizarre beliefs and many other ‘symptoms’ of mental health problems are experiences they may live with on a day-to-day basis for a large part of their life. Having some measure of control over these experiences while also being able to maximize quality of life, by which heavy duty sedative antipsychotics often don’t allow, and therefore crucial, but this is much wider than just a health issue. Sustaining good physical health, having positive significant relationships, being able to participate in the community through work or other programs, having a safe and secure place to live and adequate income, and being free from harassment and judgement can all be as important as managing one’s mental health. “This was recognized perhaps most significantly with the publication of the Labor government’s Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) report on mental health (Social Exclusion Unit, 2004). It was arguably the furthest that government has ever reached in acknowledging the limitations of a more traditional