Essay On Misconceptions Of Mental Health

There are still serious misconceptions in relation to the difference between mental health and mental ill health and the two are often used interchangeably. However, in my opinion, the misconceptions about mental ill health still continue to adversely impact on individuals’ and their families in spite of the overwhelming efforts to dispel beliefs and presumptions about this issue.

I of the view that an individual’s Mental Health can be measured by an their capacity to appropriately regulate their responses to life events and crises, perceptions and cognitive functioning during these periods and in circumstances where the psychosocial events e.g. the unexpected death of a love one, the ability to appropriately navigate the stages of grief for example within what is described as the normal grieving period. Other critically challenging life events can be: the loss of one’s job, home or the breakdown of a long-term relationship.

When an individual is unable to regulate his emotional and psychological responses to life events and circumstances due to situational circumstances, genetic predispositioning, or
In most instances mental ill health can be managed by the individual with a good support network e.g. friends and families. However, in some situational mental ill health episodes, a more assertive approach may be required but will in most instances involve the wishes and feelings of the individual patient. Further, if an individual’s mental ill health episodes is a chronic and debilitating episode the individual may need to be hospitalized for their own safety or to protect the welfare of the public for a period of time unless the patient is unable to respond to interventions that will keep themselves and the public