Open Elective
Psychology and Mental Health
Unit 1: Introduction
Meaning and definition of Mental Health
➢ Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life,
realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.
➢ Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life,
realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.
Fundamentals of Mental Health.
➢ Emotional Health
➢ Psychological Health
➢ Social well-being
Emotional Health
Emotional health is about how we feel about ourselves, how we handle difficult situations, and how we
acknowledge both our own and other people’s feelings.
Emotions are conscious mental reactions (such as anger or fear) subjectively experienced as strong feelings
usually directed toward a specific object and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral
changes in the body.
Psychological Health
Psychological health is a complex interaction of the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of
health. Possessing strength and resiliency in these dimensions can maintain your overall well-being and help
you weather the storms of life.
Psychological health is the sum of how we think, feel, relate, and exist in our day-to-day lives. Our thoughts,
perceptions, emotions, motivations, interpersonal relationships, and behaviours are a product of our
experiences and the skills we have developed to meet life’s challenges
Social well-being
Social well-being can be defined as the sharing, developing, and sustaining of meaningful relationships with
others. This allows you to feel authentic and valued, and provides a sense of connectedness and belonging.
Social wellness is achieved when we are able to create and maintain healthy, reciprocal relationships with
the people around us. Positive social relationships can provide us with comfort and support in difficult times,
increasing our resilience and ability to cope with life’s challenges.
Factors affecting mental health
➢ Physiological factors
➢ Psychological factors
➢ Social factors
Physiological factors
Physical health: - Physical health is closely linked to mental health. Chronic physical health conditions
such as heart disease, diabetes, and chronic pain can contribute to developing mental health conditions such
as depression and anxiety. Addressing physical health concerns can be vital to promoting good mental
health.
Genetics: - Genetics can play a role in the development of mental health conditions. Individuals with a
family history of mental health conditions are at increased risk of developing them. Identifying and
addressing potential genetic risk factors through medication or other interventions can be vital to mental
health management.
Sleep: - Sleep and mental health are closely related, Brain activity fluctuates during sleep, increasing and
decreasing during different sleep stages that make up the sleep cycle. Each stage plays a role in brain health,
allowing activity in different parts of the brain to ramp up or down and enabling better thinking, learning,
and memory. Research has also uncovered that brain activity during sleep has profound effects on emotional
and mental health.
Diet: - It’s easy to only think about how food affects the physical body. However, your brain is part of your
body, as is your immune system, neurological system, endocrine system, and more. These systems each
directly impact areas that we associate with mental health. For example, physical systems regulate stress,
mood, and sleep.
Age: - Aging is often a time of transition, and the changes that come about at this stage can affect your
mental health. While some older adults thrive in their retirement years, others face more challenges with
mental health and aging.
Older adults who have had lifelong experiences with mental health disorders may continue to struggle with
these conditions during the aging process. Some people see an improvement in their symptoms as they get
older, and others see their mental health worsen.
Psychological factors
Psychological factors that may contribute to mental illness include:
• Severe psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
• An important early loss, such as the loss of a parent
• Neglect
• Poor ability to relate to others
Social factors
Relationships: - Healthy relationships nourish one’s mental health, providing a sense of purpose and
fulfillment. Whether the relationship is romantic, familial, or platonic, these social and emotional bonds
offer numerous psychological and physical benefits.
Family: -Family problems can cause an array of emotional, mental, and physical issues. They can
cause stressful emotions, such as rage, fear, insecurity, or isolation. Issues may result in drug addictions,
eating disorders, or other forms of self-harm.
Those receiving support from their family members may feel a greater sense of self-worth, and this
enhanced self-esteem may be a psychological resource, encouraging optimism, positive affect, and better
mental health
Culture: - Cultural values are deeply ingrained in our upbringing and play a significant role in shaping
social norms, values, beliefs, and approaches to particular behaviours and ideas. Therefore, cultural norms
largely impact our attitudes toward mental health challenges and seeking professional mental health support.
Money: - These are some common ways money can affect your mental health: Certain situations might
trigger feelings of anxiety and panic, like opening envelopes or attending a benefits assessment. Worrying
about money can lead to sleep problems. You might not be able to afford the things you need to stay well.
Housing: - Poor quality housing can also worsen anxiety, depression, social dysfunction, and other mental
conditions.
Unit 2: Interpersonal approach to Mental Health
Communication: - Interpersonal” means “being, relating to or involving relations between
persons.” During IPT, you'll work with a mental health professional, like a psychologist or therapist,
to better understand your emotions and how they affect your relationships. You'll also learn how to
lean on loved ones for support.
The cognitive evaluation of the process of interpersonal communication may be a risk factor of
depression. Interpersonal communication competence assesses how people display performance on
communication and has been proposed to impact directly need satisfaction, indirectly anxiety, stress,
and depression.
Nonviolent Communication:- Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is an approach to enhanced
communication, understanding, and connection based on the principals nonviolence.
Nonviolent Communication is a communication tool with the goal of first creating empathy in the
conversation. The idea is that once people hear one another, it will be much easier to talk about a
solution which satisfies all parties
Cognitive distortions
Cognitive distortions are internal mental filters or biases that increase our misery, fuel our anxiety,
and make us feel bad about ourselves. Our brains are continually processing lots of information. To
deal with this, our brains seek shortcuts to cut down our mental burden
A-B-C model
ABC is an acronym for Antecedents, Behaviour, Consequences. The ABC Model is used as a tool for
the assessment and formulation of problem behaviours.
Unit 3: Mental Health issues
Stress
Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation
Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives.
Stress makes it hard for us to relax and can come with a range of emotions, including anxiety and irritability.
When stressed, we may find it difficult to concentrate. We may experience headaches or other body pains, an
upset stomach or trouble sleeping. We may find we lose our appetite or eat more than usual. Chronic stress
can worsen pre-existing health problems and may increase our use of alcohol, tobacco and other substances.
Types of stress
➢ Acute stress: Acute stress is short-term stress that comes and goes quickly. It can be positive or
negative. It’s the feeling you get when you’re riding on a rollercoaster or having a fight with your
boyfriend. Everyone experiences acute stress from time to time.
➢ Episodic acute stress: Episodic acute stress is when you experience acute stress on a regular
basis. With this kind of stress, you don’t ever get the time you need to return to a calm, relaxed state.
Episodic stress frequently affects people working in certain professions, like healthcare providers.
➢ Chronic stress: Chronic stress is long-term stress that goes on for weeks or months. You may
experience chronic stress due to marriage troubles, issues at work or financial problems. It’s
important to find ways to manage chronic stress because it can lead to health issues.
Symptoms
Burnout
“Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged
stress”
It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. As the
stress continues, you begin to lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first
place.
Burnout reduces productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless,
cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give.
The negative effects of burnout spill over into every area of life-including your home, work, and social life.
Burnout can also cause long-term changes to your body that make you vulnerable to illnesses like colds and
flu. Because of its many consequences, it’s important to deal with burnout right away.
Signs and symptoms of burnout
Physical signs and symptoms of burnout
➢ Feeling tired and drained most of the time.
➢ Lowered immunity, frequent illnesses.
➢ Frequent headaches or muscle pain.
➢ Change in appetite or sleep habits.
Emotional signs and symptoms of burnout
➢ Sense of failure and self-doubt.
➢ Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated.
➢ Detachment, feeling alone in the world.
➢ Loss of motivation. Increasingly cynical and negative outlook.
➢ Decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment.
Behavioral signs and symptoms of burnout
➢ Withdrawing from responsibilities.
➢ Isolating from others.
➢ Procrastinating, taking longer to get things done.
➢ Using food, drugs or alcohol to cope.
➢ Taking frustrations out on others.
➢ Skipping work or coming in late and leaving early
Anxiety
“Anxiety is a feeling of fear, tension, or worry that occurs as a response to real or perceived threats.”
Anxiety Symptoms
➢ Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
➢ Sense of panic, fear, or doom
➢ Breathing rapidly hyperventilation
➢ Sweating
➢ Feeling weak or tired
➢ Overthinking and trouble concentrating
➢ Insomnia is sleeping troubles
➢ Experiencing Gastonia and seal problems
➢ Avoids things that can trigger anxiety
➢ Having difficulty controlling worry or specific thoughts
Types of Anxiety Disorder
Fear
Psychologists define fear as a protective, primal emotion that evokes a biochemical and emotional
response. Fear alerts us to the presence of danger or the threat of harm, whether that danger is
physical or psychological.
Fear produces biochemical and emotional reactions to a perceived threat, whether that danger is actual or
imagined. It's a natural, necessary, protective response, but when the reaction is out of proportion to the
actual threat, it can be problematic.
Symptoms of Fear
Fear often involves both physical and emotional symptoms. Each person experiences fear differently, but
some of the common signs and symptoms include:
➢ Chest pain
➢ Chills
➢ Dry mouth
➢ Nausea
➢ Rapid heartbeat
➢ Shortness of breath
➢ Sweating
➢ Trembling
➢ Upset stomach
Phobia
“A phobia is an uncontrollable, irrational, and lasting fear of a certain object, situation, or activity.
This fear can be so overwhelming that a person may go to great lengths to avoid the source of this
fear.”
Types of Phobias
Phobias can develop around any object or situation. Some people may experience
multiple phobias. They can be broadly categorised into two groups:
➢ Specific phobias
➢ Complex phobias
Specific phobias
“A specific phobia, formerly called a simple phobia, is a lasting and unreasonable fear
caused by the presence or thought of a specific object or situation that usually poses
little or no actual danger.”
Complex phobias
“Complex phobias tend to be more disabling than simple phobias. This is because
they’re often associated with a deep-rooted fear or anxiety about a particular
circumstance or situation.”
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also
called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and
can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
Types of Depression
Grief
Grief is the experience of coping with loss. Most of us think of grief as happening in the
painful period following the death of a loved one.
But grief can accompany any event that disrupts or challenges our sense of normalcy or ourselves.
This includes the loss of connections that define us.
You may grieve the loss of:
➢ A friend, family member, partner or pet.
➢ A marriage, friendship or another form of kinship.
➢ Your home, neighbourhood or community.
➢ Your job or career.
➢ Financial stability.
➢ A dream or goal.
➢ Good health.
➢ Your youth.
➢ Fertility.
Stages of grief
➢ Denial: - You may have difficulty accepting that a loss is real.
➢ Anger: - You may direct anger at multiple sources, including people who
couldn’t save a loved one, God, yourself — or even no one in particular.
➢ Bargaining: - You may imagine reaching an agreement, so you don’t have
to deal with a loss. You may also regret past actions that you imagine
could’ve spared you from loss.
➢ Depression: - You may experience the complex emotions associated with,
depression including emotional detachment.
➢ Acceptance: - Eventually, most people embrace the reality of loss even if
the pains still there.
Trauma
Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, crime, natural
disaster, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence,
death of a loved one, war, and more. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are
typical.
Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained
relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.
Types Of Mental Health Therapy
Unit 4: Intervention and Management
Coping Mechanisms
Coping mechanisms are how individuals handle stress and difficult emotions. These
techniques can be either adaptive or maladaptive, meaning results can be beneficial or
harmful. Examples of healthy coping skills include finding solutions, being creative,
and prioritizing well-being. Seeking professional support can aid in developing positive
coping mechanisms to avoid falling into a cycle of unhealthy stress responses.
