WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH

What is Mental Health

A desire to be in charge of our own lives , a need for control , is born in

each of us . It is essential to our mental health , and our success , that we take control

- Robert F . Bennett (1933- USA Senator

Introduction

A definition of the concept of mental health must be comprehensive to include a sense of balance and harmony in well being and community functioning . Social , physical , spiritual , emotional needs desires , expectations and responses that complement the setting and relationships illustrate "good mental health

. Navigation of the social-physical environment demonstrates active choice-making research and casual observation support the need for agency to ensure good health . Thus , how we perceive ourselves , others and the meaning of life 's events will determine one 's sense of balance and ability to function in a healthy manner . Depression is often the result of poor mental health , as are experiences of anxiety (overwhelmed ) and a need for control (manipulation ) over the external environment

Alternative definitions for mental health have existed across the ages . Today , mental health as a concept is recognized to be culturally determined , and multi-faceted in definition depending on circumstances National and international standards of what is considered low functioning mental can be found in the DSM-IV TR for psychopathologies Cognitive and emotional well being is the emphasis of positive psychology or holism to account for enjoyment of life and resilience skills

The World Health Organization (WHO ) has not adopted a standard definition of mental health

Cross-cultural variances , the subjective nature of the evaluations and the myriad of theories as to how to define mental health constrain developing a solitary instrument of inquiry . For this reason , the mental dis schizophrenia will be concentrated on for this as an illustration of low mental health functioning

This will demonstrate that mental health can be defined as a continuum of enjoyment , contentment , sense of belonging and active contribution to the community . A brief of schizophrenia will be provided . Literature in the area of mental health will be reviewed to identify gaps , needs and insights to develop a scale instrument to measure mental health . A diverse number of professional disciplines will be investigated to un-pack the complex inter-relationships of factors contributing to "mental health

It is anticipated that this research will contribute to the knowledge base about mental health , well being and measurement to develop better interventions

Identifying Schizophrenia

The diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia as determined by the DSM-IV-TR are as follows

Characteristic symptoms (two or more dramatically in one month delusions , hallucinations , disorganized speech , disorganized /catatonic behavior , affective flattening , alogia , or avolition

N .B . bizarre delusions or ongoing auditory /visual hallucinations require only one such symptom

Social /Occupational dysfunction : since onset , one or more major areas of functioning such as work , interpersonal relations , or self-care are markedly below the level achieved prior

Duration : continuous signs of the disturbance persist for at least 6 months

Schizoaffective and Mood Dis exclusion : Schizoaffective Dis and Mood Dis With Psychotic Features...