Transcript Attitude Inventory Exercise

Introduction to Community
Health/Mental Health
CH/MH
Ginny Pherigo
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On the index card provided, write down
the FIRST thing that comes to mind
when you hear the term:
“Mental Illness”
Attitude Inventory
Exercise
Let your feelings be your guide!!
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Mental Health – your med-surg book defines it as
“the ability to adjust to new situations, react to
personal problems without marked stress, and
productively contribute to society”.
The American Psychiatric Association defines mental
health as having: success at working, loving, and
creating with mature and flexible resolutions of
conflicts.
One’s degree of “mental health” fluctuates from day
to day.
Characteristics of Mental
Health
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Interpret reality accurately
Have a healthy self-concept
Able to relate to others
Achieve a sense of meaning in life
Demonstrate creativity/productivity
Control behavior
Adapt to change and conflict
Mental Disorders
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Symptoms related to thinking, feeling,
or behavior
Caused by genetic, biological, social,
chemical or psychological influences
Result in impairment of functioning
People are not defined by their illness
Incidence of Mental Disorders
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Major problem for people all over the world
Incidence underestimated
Mental illness makes up 5 of the 15 leading
causes of disability in developed countries
Half of people in the US with major
depressive disorder will have a psychiatric or
substance abuse disorder in their lifetime
Misconceptions About Mental
Illness
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Abnormal behavior is different or odd, easily
recognized.
Abnormal behavior can be
predicted/evaluated.
Internal forces are responsible for abnormal
behavior.
People who exhibit abnormal behavior are
dangerous.
Maladaptive behavior is inherited.
Mental illness is incurable.
Positive Ways to Reduce
Stigma
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Educate yourself about mental illness.
Talk to each other about mental illness “in the
terms of illness.”
Correct false statements about mental illness
and people with mental illness.
Write letters to the media, offering to send
accurate information.
Relate to people who are mentally ill as
individuals. Avoid stigmatizing people; look
at the contents behind the label.
“On Being Sane in Insane Places”
A study by D.L. Rosenhan
He conducted a study where
he had eight pseudopatients
pretend to be mentally ill
and try to gain admittance
into various psychiatric
institutions.
There were five men and
three women all from
various backgrounds used in
the study. There were three
psychologists, one graduate
student, one psychiatrist,
one homemaker, and one
painter.
There were 12 hospitals in five different states located on the east
and west coast that patients tried to gain admittance to.
Immediately after being admitted to the hospitals the
pseudopatients stopped showing any symptoms of abnormality.
The patients would commonly try to engage other patients and staff
into conversation.
Each person was discharged with the label of schizophrenia
in remission.
“ The hospital itself imposes a special environment in which the
meaning of behavior can be easily misunderstood.”
D. L. Rosenhan, 1973
Reducing stigma, cont’d.
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Advocate for equal rights in housing, employment,
and health care coverage. Mental illnesses are
considered a disability under the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990.
Support the efforts of people with mental illnesses
to empower themselves by becoming involved in
self-help and support groups for these people.
Support the consumer mental health movement.
(Person who uses mental health services is called a
consumer, not a client or patient).
History of Mental Health
Nursing
Ancient Greek and Romans
 Middle Ages
 Bedlam
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Phillippe Pinel
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Concern about the treatment of mentally ill
people grows to the point that occasional
reforms are instituted. In 1872, after the
French Revolution, French physician Phillippe
Pinel takes over a Paris insane asylum and
forbids the use of chains and shackles. He
removes patients from dungeons, provides
them with sunny rooms, and also allows them
to exercise on the grounds. Yet in other
places, mistreatment persists. (He received
much criticism for these actions.)
Benjamin Rush
“Father of American Psychiatry”
Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745-1813)
Benjamin Rush was an American physician and signer
of the Declaration of Independence. He made notable
contributions to psychiatry. He advocated that
gentleness was necessary for the depressed pt. and
firmness be used when manic behavior was present.
He insisted that kind, intelligent attendants be hired
to read to patients. He wrote the first American
textbook on psychiatry, “Disorders of the Mind” in
1812.