mental health nursing assignment help

mental health nursing assignment help

Mental Health Nursing: Promoting Well-being and Recovery

1. Introduction to Mental Health Nursing

Mental health disorders affect one in four people at some point in their lives. They can develop at any age, from childhood through to older adulthood, and for various reasons, such as biological factors, distressing experiences, or a diagnosis of a long-term physical health condition. The World Health Organization describes mental health as “a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” There are a number of different reactive model and responses to mental health problems. Next, in the book, we will take a good look into the biopsychosocial medical model in helping mental distress and the biopsychosocial model in general. We will compare and contrast the medical model, the reactive model, and the biopsychosocial model focusing on mental health care.

2. Understanding Mental Health Disorders

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on the importance of a more person-centered approach in understanding and treating mental health disorders. This approach takes into consideration the individual’s unique experience of illness and seeks to empower patients in their recovery journey. As such, mental health nurses should always explore and respect the perspectives of the patients in clinical practice.

Over the years, various classification systems have been developed by mental health professionals to categorize and standardize the diagnosis of different disorders. These include the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11). A good understanding of the different types of mental health disorders and their associated symptoms is essential for mental health nurses. Not only does this knowledge facilitate the process of accurate assessment and diagnosis, but also enables nurses to plan and deliver the most effective care and interventions for the patients.

Some examples of mental health disorders include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, trauma-related disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Patients with mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar disorder, often experience chronic feelings of sadness or extreme mood swings. In contrast, individuals with anxiety disorders typically present with excessive fear or anxiety that can result in physical symptoms such as palpitations and breathlessness. On the other hand, psychotic disorders like schizophrenia are characterized by significant disturbances in thinking, perception, and emotional reactions. It is important to note that the above description merely serves as a general overview and that each individual disorder has its own unique presentation. In reality, mental health disorders are often complex and patients may experience symptoms that do not neatly fit into a single diagnostic category.

Mental health disorders can be understood as a range of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral conditions that affect an individual’s ability to function effectively. The underlying symptoms of each disorder may vary and are often influenced by a wide range of factors such as genetic predisposition, biochemical imbalances, and traumatic life events. In mental health nursing, it is crucial to be able to identify and differentiate the various types of mental health disorders accurately. This is to ensure that appropriate and timely interventions can be provided to individuals, with the ultimate aim of promoting recovery.

3. Therapeutic Approaches in Mental Health Nursing

Once a comprehensive assessment of the patient has been completed, healthcare providers can then choose from an array of therapeutic interventions. Through evaluating and interpreting the ways by which a person tries to make sense of their world as well as understanding the different principles and practices associated with certain approaches, psychiatric nurses will be better informed to provide the highest standard of individualized patient care. The biopsychosocial model, which assumes that biological, psychological, and social factors all play a significant role in human functioning in the context of illness or disease, is an important framework in psychiatric care. Pharmacological interventions are commonly used in modern mental health care, both in acute and community settings. Medications can empower people to live a fulfilling life but can also represent a source of potential harm; it is considered a core function of all nurses who have the authority to prescribe to be able to analyze, interpret, and audit clinical practice as well as engage in high-quality clinical and interpersonal decision-making. Psychological therapies, which are often described as “talking therapies,” have expanded significantly over the past 10-15 years and are delivered by a wide range of different professional groups within mental health. It is considered a core function of all psychiatric nurses to engage in and promote research activity as a basis for high-quality and safe patient care. There are two main types of psychological therapy, broadly known as “expressive” and “supportive” therapies. Freud’s psychoanalysis is very much the underlying theme of the expressive therapies, the premise of which is to bring repressed feelings into the conscious mind where they can be examined and addressed. The psychoanalytical model of mental health provides a critique of both the biomedical model, which views the mind in terms of abnormal brain function, and behaviorist psychology, which emphasizes environmental control of mental processes and behavior. The different approaches to psychoanalysis each have their own particular type of therapy, but they all rely on a special, trusting therapeutic relationship with the patient.

4. Promoting Mental Health and Well-being

Promotion of sustainable health and well-being is an increasingly important in the contemporary society. The need for health and well-being is primordial to all human beings. But the ability to propose the way to promote and maintain the health of the people as well as prevention of the illness is the key milestone to the development of well-being and healthy society. Mental well-being is more than absence of mental illness but it is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. From mental health prospective “focusing on strategies to promote well-being is just as important as those used to treat ill-health”. Furthermore, promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness are interwoven activities: that is the successful promotion of mental health creates the conditions in which people and communities can take control over their own lives and the prevention of mental illness becomes a reality. Mental health promotion does remain the most underdeveloped area of health promotion in the field of public health. However, the core components of a strategy for mental health and well-being are already enshrined in the common approaches to public health such as advocacy, creating supportive environments, health education and so on. This section focuses on the key areas and strategies that could be used to facilitate the promotion of mental health and well-being. These could be seen from what role individuals could play in the promoting their mental health as alternative to the clinical approach. The risk factors that could affect the mental health are also going to be discussed. Last but not least this section will explore what kind of interventions are applicable in the society to promote mental well-being. For instance, family focused intervention, community development programmes and so on will be brought up for the discussion.

5. Supporting Recovery and Rehabilitation

The recovery model is a model of care based on a belief that recovery is an individualized process, and that each person will have their own way to well-being. This approach emphasizes hope and optimism, and supports and respects what service users can do, rather than focus on their limitations. The recovery model recognizes the expertise of service users – that is, their own understanding of their problems and what they need to support their own well-being. This has led to an increased emphasis on the inclusion of service users and carers in care planning, and the development of self-help and user-led support services. There is also a focus on social inclusion – supporting people to be involved in their communities and society. Mental health and social care services have undergone a significant change in recent decades with the widespread acceptance that the traditional medical model of care which focuses on treating or managing symptoms, is no longer adequate. This has been replaced by a recovery-based model which prioritizes the well-being of service users and places them at the center of any interventions. The Department of Health (2001) defines the definition of recovery as a personal journey, towards a meaningful and satisfying life, based on the values of hope, control, empowerment and opportunity to gain a sense of responsibility. It involves a systematic approach to building social inclusion and aiding personal development and growth. It can be seen therefore that recovery is not an end state, but a direction, a journey. This model of care might be thought of in contrast to the older, more paternalistic approach of medical models, where service users were often seen as the passive recipient of treatment.