Mental Health
Mental health among youths
Introduction
In this essay, the author will discuss the mental health issues among the youths. The mental problems as it relate to the general health and also discuss the mental health promotions. The author will then discuss on how changes in lifestyle could improve mental health. Finally, it worth’s mentioning that there are some professional help out there for people experiencing mental problems.
Mental illness can be defined as the experiencing of severe and distressing psychological symptoms to the extent that normal functioning is impaired, and one needed some form of help in order to recover, Anthony (1999). Some of the symptoms include anxiety, depressed mood, obsessional thinking, delusions and hallucinations. WHO described mental health as “--- a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”, WHO (2004). The understanding of mental health includes the awareness that mental health is broader than an absence of mental disorders, that poor mental health affects our ability to cope with and manage our lives, (Department of health and children 2006). This means that mental health and mental well-being are part of everyday life.
In the area of mental health promotion, the national health promotion strategy states that” mental health is equally as important as physical health to the overall well-being of a person” and set out the strategic aim of promoting positive mental health and contributing to a reduction in the percentage of the population experiencing poor mental health. (The National health promotion Strategy, 2000-2005). Some of the strategies include; focusing on enhancement of well-being rather than illness, identifying the whole population as a target group. Focusing on improving the social, physical and economic environments that
Introduction
In this essay, the author will discuss the mental health issues among the youths. The mental problems as it relate to the general health and also discuss the mental health promotions. The author will then discuss on how changes in lifestyle could improve mental health. Finally, it worth’s mentioning that there are some professional help out there for people experiencing mental problems.
Mental illness can be defined as the experiencing of severe and distressing psychological symptoms to the extent that normal functioning is impaired, and one needed some form of help in order to recover, Anthony (1999). Some of the symptoms include anxiety, depressed mood, obsessional thinking, delusions and hallucinations. WHO described mental health as “--- a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”, WHO (2004). The understanding of mental health includes the awareness that mental health is broader than an absence of mental disorders, that poor mental health affects our ability to cope with and manage our lives, (Department of health and children 2006). This means that mental health and mental well-being are part of everyday life.
In the area of mental health promotion, the national health promotion strategy states that” mental health is equally as important as physical health to the overall well-being of a person” and set out the strategic aim of promoting positive mental health and contributing to a reduction in the percentage of the population experiencing poor mental health. (The National health promotion Strategy, 2000-2005). Some of the strategies include; focusing on enhancement of well-being rather than illness, identifying the whole population as a target group. Focusing on improving the social, physical and economic environments that
References: Clare, Prof. Anthony (1999) “The mad Irish? In Keane, Colm (Ed). Mental health in Ireland. Gill & Macmillan Ltd & RTE, Ireland. Department of health & children (2006; pg. 44) “A vision for change” report of the expert group on mental health policy. Department of health & children (2006; pg.240) HSE (2007) Jan.& Feb. data collection mental health in Ireland: Awareness and attitudes. Mental health Ireland (2007) Mental health Ireland (2007); sited by e-s design Mental health promotion written by MHI 15th Jan.2007 National health promotion strategy (2000-2005). National youth website (www.spunout.ie) WHO (2004) Promoting mental health concepts, emerging evidence, practice summary report. (available from website www.who.int.)