Posted: June 11th, 2024

Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing

Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing.

There is no one precise definition of mental health, as it is shaped by varying beliefs and values across diverse cultures. This diversity in understanding mental health reflects the complex interplay between individual experiences, societal norms, and cultural contexts. The most basic and universal definition of mental health is that it is the state of total cognitive, behavioral, and emotional wellbeing. This holistic approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of various aspects of human functioning and their collective impact on overall mental health.

Mental health is an essential component of our health and impacts our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It serves as the foundation for our decision-making processes, interpersonal relationships, and overall quality of life. The World Health Organization defines mental health as “the state of wellbeing in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” This definition highlights the importance of resilience, self-actualization, and social engagement in maintaining mental health. WHO’s definition lays more emphasis on describing mental health as constituting more than the mere absence of a mental condition. It underscores the positive aspects of mental health, promoting a proactive approach to mental wellness rather than just focusing on the absence of illness.

Advancements in Mental health have come a long way. These advancements include improved diagnostic tools, more effective treatments, and a growing understanding of the biological and environmental factors influencing mental health. Even then, mental health still remains one of the most widely misunderstood fields in healthcare, with numerous misconceptions revolving around mental health issues and people suffering from mental conditions. This persistent lack of understanding contributes to the stigma and discrimination faced by individuals with mental health challenges. Surprisingly, the long-held stigmas continue to persist in the society to date despite the fact that one in every five Americans live with or will develop a mental health condition at least once in their lifetime. This statistic underscores the prevalence of mental health issues and the urgent need for greater awareness and support. A report by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) showed that in 2017, about 11.2 million Americans were living with severe psychological conditions. This significant number highlights the critical importance of addressing mental health as a major public health concern.

Mental health conditions encompass a wide range of disorders. The diversity of these conditions reflects the complexity of the human mind and the various factors that can influence mental wellbeing. However, similar to most mental health disorders is that they impact mood, thinking, and behavior. These common characteristics form the basis for understanding and addressing mental health issues across different diagnoses. Mental health disorders range from common and less severe condition like stress, anxiety and depression to more complex conditions like schizophrenia, personality disorders, eating disorders, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, and addictive disorders. This spectrum of conditions requires a diverse range of treatment approaches and support systems to address the unique needs of each individual. Mental health can lower the quality of life significantly by impacting the social life of an individual. The ripple effects of mental health challenges can extend to various aspects of a person’s life, including work, relationships, and overall well-being. Also, mental health does not only affect the patient but family and friends who live with and care for the patient. This broader impact underscores the importance of providing support not only to individuals with mental health conditions but also to their support networks.

Among the fields in healthcare involved in mental health is psychiatric nursing. This specialized field plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between medical interventions and psychosocial support. This particular specialty of nursing focuses on providing holistic care to mental health patients with the goal of promoting their physical and psychosocial wellbeing. The holistic approach in psychiatric nursing recognizes the interconnectedness of physical, mental, and social health in overall well-being. Apart from diagnosing and treating health disorders, psychiatric nursing emphasizes integrating interpersonal relationships as a therapeutic tool in the treatment process. This emphasis on interpersonal relationships highlights the unique role that psychiatric nurses play in the mental health care team. Therefore, psychiatric nurses are not only tasked with providing physical care but also providing social support to the patients and their families. This dual role requires a diverse skill set that combines medical knowledge with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Important to psychiatric nursing is the belief that communicating and socializing with mental health patients makes them feel safe and comfortable, which is vital in promoting positive changes. This therapeutic approach underscores the importance of creating a supportive and empathetic environment in mental health care settings.

References:
Ellis, Horace, and Vinette Alexander. “The mentally ill in jail: Contemporary clinical and practice perspectives for psychiatric-mental health nursing.” Archives of psychiatric nursing 31.2 (2017): 217-222.

Keltner, Norman L., and Debbie Steele. Psychiatric Nursing-eBook. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2018.

Kohrt, Brandon A., Emily Mendenhall, and Peter J. Brown. “Global Mental Health.” The International Encyclopedia of Anthropology (2018): 1-10.

Badu, Eric, et al. “Mental health nursing and mental health literacy: A scoping review.” International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 31.4 (2022): 793-811.

Happell, Brenda, et al. “Physical health and mental illness: listening to the voice of carers.” Journal of Mental Health 31.2 (2022): 235-241.

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Tags: Holistic Care, Mental Health Disorders, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychosocial Wellbeing