This is a treatment philosophy based on the social
model of psychiatric care that advocates that a comprehensive range of mental
health services to be readily accessible to all members of the community. It
can also be defined as a “decentralized pattern of mental health, mental health
care, or other services for people with mental illnesses”.
model of psychiatric care that advocates that a comprehensive range of mental
health services to be readily accessible to all members of the community. It
can also be defined as a “decentralized pattern of mental health, mental health
care, or other services for people with mental illnesses”.
Community based care is
designed to supplement and decrease the need for more costly impatient mental
health care delivered in hospitals. Community mental health care may be more
accessible and responsive to local needs because it is based on variety of
community setting rather than aggregating and isolating patients and patient
care in central hospitals.
designed to supplement and decrease the need for more costly impatient mental
health care delivered in hospitals. Community mental health care may be more
accessible and responsive to local needs because it is based on variety of
community setting rather than aggregating and isolating patients and patient
care in central hospitals.
Community mental health
assessment which has grown into a science called PSYCHIATRIC epidemiology is a
field of research measuring rates of mental disorder upon which mental health
care systems can be developed and evaluated
assessment which has grown into a science called PSYCHIATRIC epidemiology is a
field of research measuring rates of mental disorder upon which mental health
care systems can be developed and evaluated
Mentally ill persons are
group of persons struggling with his or her behavioural health and may face
stress, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, addiction and mood
disorders. Therefore counsellors, therapists, life coaches, psychologists,
nurses, practitioners and physicians can help manage behavioural health
concerns with treatments such as THERAPY, COUNSELLING, OR MEDICATIONS. THE NEW
FIELD of global mental health is the area of study, research and practice that
places a priority on improving mental health and achieving equity in mental
health for all people WORLDWIDE.
group of persons struggling with his or her behavioural health and may face
stress, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, addiction and mood
disorders. Therefore counsellors, therapists, life coaches, psychologists,
nurses, practitioners and physicians can help manage behavioural health
concerns with treatments such as THERAPY, COUNSELLING, OR MEDICATIONS. THE NEW
FIELD of global mental health is the area of study, research and practice that
places a priority on improving mental health and achieving equity in mental
health for all people WORLDWIDE.
Concept/Origin of Community Mental Health
The concept given its POLYSEMIC nature and its IMPRECISE borders
benefits from a historical perspective to be better understood. What today is
broadly understood by “mental health” can have its origins traced back to
development in community health in clinical psychiatry and in other branches of
knowledge.
benefits from a historical perspective to be better understood. What today is
broadly understood by “mental health” can have its origins traced back to
development in community health in clinical psychiatry and in other branches of
knowledge.
In 1946, the International
Health Conference held in New York decided to establish the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and a mental health association was found in London.
Moreover, in 1849, healthy mental health and physical development of the
citizen had already been included as the first objective of community health.
Health Conference held in New York decided to establish the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and a mental health association was found in London.
Moreover, in 1849, healthy mental health and physical development of the
citizen had already been included as the first objective of community health.
Community Mental Health Centre
A health care facility or network of agencies that is
part of a system originally authorised by the government to provide a
co-ordinated program of continuing mental health care to a specific population.
part of a system originally authorised by the government to provide a
co-ordinated program of continuing mental health care to a specific population.
Community Mental Health Services
Also known as community mental health team are groups
of people who support or treat people with mental disorders in a DOMICILIARY
setting instead of a psychiatric hospital. The array of community mental health
services may depend on the country in which the services are provided. It
refers to a system of care in which the patient’s community, not a specific
facility such as the primary provider of care for people with a mental illness.
The goal of community mental health services often includes much more than
simply providing outpatient psychiatric treatment. Community services include
supported housing with full or partial supervision, psychiatric wards of
general hospitals (including partial hospitalization), local primary care medical
services, day centres.
of people who support or treat people with mental disorders in a DOMICILIARY
setting instead of a psychiatric hospital. The array of community mental health
services may depend on the country in which the services are provided. It
refers to a system of care in which the patient’s community, not a specific
facility such as the primary provider of care for people with a mental illness.
The goal of community mental health services often includes much more than
simply providing outpatient psychiatric treatment. Community services include
supported housing with full or partial supervision, psychiatric wards of
general hospitals (including partial hospitalization), local primary care medical
services, day centres.
The services may be
provided by government organisation and mental health professionals, including
specialized teams providing services across a geographical area. This may also
be provided by private or charitable organisations. The WHO states that
community mental health services are more accessible and effective and one
likely to have less possibilities for the neglect and violations of human
rights that were often encountered in mental hospitals
provided by government organisation and mental health professionals, including
specialized teams providing services across a geographical area. This may also
be provided by private or charitable organisations. The WHO states that
community mental health services are more accessible and effective and one
likely to have less possibilities for the neglect and violations of human
rights that were often encountered in mental hospitals
ORIGIN
It began as an effort to contain those who were MAD,
understanding the history of mental disorder is crucial in understanding the
development of community mental health services
understanding the history of mental disorder is crucial in understanding the
development of community mental health services
Factors That Influence Community Mental Health
1.
Biological/Genetic Factors:
There is growing evidence that alcohol use is
influenced by genetic factors (Alcoholic Health and Research World), the
strongest evidence comes from studies of family histories, twins and adopted
children, different racial groups and animals. Genetic factors seem to
influence the ways in which humans respond to and metabolise alcohol, people
use of tobacco and other drugs. The Influence of genetic factors is sometimes
interpreted or meaning that in those who are vulnerable, alcohol is inevitable,
progressive and irreversible condition.
Biological/Genetic Factors:
There is growing evidence that alcohol use is
influenced by genetic factors (Alcoholic Health and Research World), the
strongest evidence comes from studies of family histories, twins and adopted
children, different racial groups and animals. Genetic factors seem to
influence the ways in which humans respond to and metabolise alcohol, people
use of tobacco and other drugs. The Influence of genetic factors is sometimes
interpreted or meaning that in those who are vulnerable, alcohol is inevitable,
progressive and irreversible condition.
2.
Socio-economic/Psychological
Problem: Personality traits, hundreds of studies have searched
for differences between people who have substance abuse problems and other
people. Personality research has however continued and several studies have
sought to identify personality characteristics associated with the inset of
heavy drinking and other drugs use in adolescent. The results suggests that
such use is more common among adolescent who show pre-drug use signs of one ore
more of the following rebellious ness, other adjustment problems, depression,
sensation seeking. The effects of drinking and intake of other drugs include
academic achievement, lack of inhibition, aggressiveness, etc.
Socio-economic/Psychological
Problem: Personality traits, hundreds of studies have searched
for differences between people who have substance abuse problems and other
people. Personality research has however continued and several studies have
sought to identify personality characteristics associated with the inset of
heavy drinking and other drugs use in adolescent. The results suggests that
such use is more common among adolescent who show pre-drug use signs of one ore
more of the following rebellious ness, other adjustment problems, depression,
sensation seeking. The effects of drinking and intake of other drugs include
academic achievement, lack of inhibition, aggressiveness, etc.
3.
Cultural Ethnicity: A person’s cultural background
can also affect how they label and communicate distress, explain the causes of
their problems perceive mental health services and utilize and respond to
treatment. Mental illness is stigmatised in many cultures, forcing people to
live in denial or preventing them from seeking help as often as they require it
when they do seek help. They face barriers including language, knowledge of
available services, a lack of culturally appropriate services and lack of language
material.
Cultural Ethnicity: A person’s cultural background
can also affect how they label and communicate distress, explain the causes of
their problems perceive mental health services and utilize and respond to
treatment. Mental illness is stigmatised in many cultures, forcing people to
live in denial or preventing them from seeking help as often as they require it
when they do seek help. They face barriers including language, knowledge of
available services, a lack of culturally appropriate services and lack of language
material.
Others factor include;
4. Neighbourhood
5. Family relationship
6. Child rearing practices
7. Chronic illness.
How To Promote Community People’s Mental Health
1. To create mentally healthy
work place.
work place.
2. To assist members of the
community to become aware of their and social problems at an earlier stage.
community to become aware of their and social problems at an earlier stage.
3. To make them aware of
certain behaviours or cultures which can militate against good mental health
such as alcoholism, smoking, lack of recreation or rest, poor hygiene,
unplanned family or large family size, land disputes, poor eating habits and
unhealthy rivalry.
certain behaviours or cultures which can militate against good mental health
such as alcoholism, smoking, lack of recreation or rest, poor hygiene,
unplanned family or large family size, land disputes, poor eating habits and
unhealthy rivalry.
4. To oranise a survey to
determine specific mental health needs.
determine specific mental health needs.
5. To make then aware of the
available facilities for early diagnosis and care of the mentally ill so as to
limit its disability and emotional effects.
available facilities for early diagnosis and care of the mentally ill so as to
limit its disability and emotional effects.
Classification Of Community Mental Illness
1. Psychosis: it refers to an abnormal
condition of the mind and a generic psychiatric term for mental state often
describing as involving a loss of contact with reality. People with psychosis
are considered psychotic. People experiencing this may exhibit some personality
changes and thought disorders. Depending on its severity, this may be
accompanied with social interaction and impairment in carrying out daily life
activities.
condition of the mind and a generic psychiatric term for mental state often
describing as involving a loss of contact with reality. People with psychosis
are considered psychotic. People experiencing this may exhibit some personality
changes and thought disorders. Depending on its severity, this may be
accompanied with social interaction and impairment in carrying out daily life
activities.
Signs and Symptoms
·
Hallucination: This is defined as a sensory
perception in the absence of external stimuli; and is different from ILLUSION.
Hallucination: This is defined as a sensory
perception in the absence of external stimuli; and is different from ILLUSION.
·
Delusions: May involve delusional beliefs, some
of which are paranoid in nature. They are false beliefs that a person holds on
to without adequate evidence. It can be difficult to change even with evidence
on the contrary.
Delusions: May involve delusional beliefs, some
of which are paranoid in nature. They are false beliefs that a person holds on
to without adequate evidence. It can be difficult to change even with evidence
on the contrary.
2.
Neurosis: This is a class of
functional mental disorders involving distress but neither illusions nor
hallucinations. It may be defined simply as a poor ability to adapt to ones environment
or ability to change one’s life pattern and the inability to develop a richer,
more complex satisfying personality.
Neurosis: This is a class of
functional mental disorders involving distress but neither illusions nor
hallucinations. It may be defined simply as a poor ability to adapt to ones environment
or ability to change one’s life pattern and the inability to develop a richer,
more complex satisfying personality.
Treatment Of Mental Disorders
1. Drug therapy
2. Group therapy
3. Occupational therapy
4. Social therapy
5. Electro-convulsive therapy
Prevention Of Community Mental Illness
1. Establishing of counselling
services for expectant mothers, parents and adolescents to prevent faulty
training and upbringing in the home.
services for expectant mothers, parents and adolescents to prevent faulty
training and upbringing in the home.
2. Other areas which need to
be looked into are unemployment problems, poverty within African families,
political and economic instability in many African countries.
be looked into are unemployment problems, poverty within African families,
political and economic instability in many African countries.
3. Organisation of community
mental health programme to help citizens recognise early signs of mental
instability and the appropriate actions to take, such as identifying the
factors consisting instability, counselling the victim, etc.
mental health programme to help citizens recognise early signs of mental
instability and the appropriate actions to take, such as identifying the
factors consisting instability, counselling the victim, etc.
