latrobe.edu.

au

Individual Determinants of Health

Mental Health and
Psychological Disorders

La Trobe University CRICOS Provider Code Number 00115M

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Learning Objectives

Describe the epidemiology of mental health conditions in Australia;

Identify signs that clients may be experiencing problems with mental

health;

Apply knowledge of mental health to better understand how people present

and interact in health and human service settings

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 What is mental health?
Health is an integral part of health and well-being.

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO)

(1946): “Health is a state of complete physical,
mental and social wellbeing and not merely the
absence of disease or infirmity”

Mental health is “a state of wellbeing in which every

individual realises his or her own potential, can cope
with the normal stresses of life, can work productively
and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to her
or his community” (WHO, 2014).

Good mental health is not merely the absence of

mental illness but rather an overall state of wellbeing.

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Mental illness
Mental illness refers to a clinically diagnosable disorder(s) that significantly interferes with an
individual’s cognitive, emotional, or social abilities (Slade et al., 2009)

 Mental illness includes a wide range of

conditions that affect how we feel and think.
 Most of these are first experienced in the late
teens or early twenties, but may only emerge
later in life.
 Mental illnesses are thought to arise from the
interaction of genetic vulnerability and stresses
in life.

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What Is mental health?

How would you describe mental health?

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What is mental health?

Work
productively
Realise their and fruitfully
own potential Cope with Contribute
the normal to the
stressors of community
life

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Mental health continuum

Going okay Going through a tough time

Flourishing

Getting out

Regular
chats with I feel good
friends
Feeling pretty
happy with life

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Mental health continuum

Flourishing Going okay Going through a tough time

Lost motivation

Struggling I feel sad

I feel alone

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The prevalence of

Mental Illness in

Australia

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018. Mental health

services—in brief 2018. Cat. no. HSE 211. Canberra: AIHW.

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What is Mental Illness?

There are more than 300 mental disorders listed in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) - the handbook used to help
identify and diagnose mental illness.

Some of the main groups of mental disorders are:

Mood disorders (such as depression or bipolar disorder)
Anxiety disorders (such as social anxiety disorder)
Personality disorders (such as borderline personality disorder and narcissistic
personality disorder)
Psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia)
Eating disorders (such as anorexia nervosa)
Substance abuse disorder
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Anxiety
 Anxiety affects over 2 million people
in Australia.
 Anxiety is more than just feeling
stressed or worried.
 While stress and worry are common
responses to a situation where a
person feels under pressure – for
example, meeting work deadlines,
sitting exams or speaking in front of
a group of people – it usually
passes once the stressful situation
has passed, or ‘stressor’ is removed.
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Anxiety
 Anxiety is when anxious feelings don’t subside.
 Anxiety is when feelings of worry are ongoing and
exist without any particular reason or cause.
 It significantly impacts on a person’s ability to
cope with daily life.
 We all feel anxious from time to time, but for a
person experiencing anxiety these feelings
cannot be easily controlled.

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 Anxiety
Main types of anxiety conditions:

 Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)

 Specific phobias
 Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
 Panic disorder
 Social phobia

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Common Symptoms of Anxiety: Thoughts

“I’m going crazy”

“I can’t control myself”
“I’m about to die”
“People are judging me”
Upsetting dreams or flashbacks of a
traumatic event
Finding it hard to stop worrying
Unwanted or intrusive thoughts

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Common Symptoms of Anxiety: Behavioural

– Withdrawing from or avoiding fear objects or situations that cause

anxiety
– Urges to perform certain rituals to try and relieve anxiety
– Avoidance i.e. avoiding eye contact
– Difficulty making decisions
– Being easily startled

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Common Symptoms of Anxiety: Physiological

– Increased heart rate/racing heart
– Shortness of breath
– Vomiting, nausea or stomach pain
– Muscle tension and pain (e.g. sore back or jaw)
– Feeling detached from your physical self or surroundings
– Having trouble sleeping (e.g. difficulty falling or staying asleep)
– Sweating, shaking
– Dizzy, lightheaded or faint
– Numbness or tingling
– Hot or cold flushes
– Difficulty concentrating
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Depression

– Depression is more than just a low mood –

it’s a serious condition that has an impact on
both physical and mental health

– On average, one in six people – one in five

women and one in eight men – will
experience depression at some stage of their
lives.

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 Depression
 Depression affects how people feel about themselves
 People who are depressed may lose interest in work,
hobbies and doing things they normally enjoy.
 They may lack energy, have difficulty sleeping or
sleep more than usual.
 Some people feel irritable, and some find it hard to
concentrate.
 Depression makes it more difficult to manage from
day to day.
 A person may be depressed if, for more than two
weeks, he or she has felt sad, down or miserable
most of the time or has lost interest or pleasure in
most of his or her usual activities, and has also
experienced several of the signs and symptoms
across at least three of the categories in the lists that
follow.
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Common Symptoms of Depression: Thoughts

“I’m a failure”
“It’s my fault”
“Nothing good ever happens to me”
“I’m worthless”
“Life’s not worth living”
“People would be better off without me”

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Common Symptoms of Depression: Feelings

– Overwhelmed
– Guilty
– Irritable
– Frustrated
– Lacking in confidence
– Unhappy
– Indecisive
– Disappointed
– Miserable
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Common Symptoms of Depression: Behaviours

– Not going out anymore

– Not getting things done at work/around
the home
– Withdrawing from close family and
friends
– Relying on alcohol and sedatives
– Not doing usual enjoyable activities
– Unable to concentrate

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Common Symptoms of Depression: Physiological

– Tired all the time

– Sick and run down
– Headaches, muscle pain, fatigue
– Churning or upset stomach
– Sleep difficulties
– Loss or change of appetite
– Significant weight loss or gain

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How are behaviour and mental health related?

Behaviour includes our reactions,

the things we say, body language,
and gestures. Behaviour may be
affected by mental illness or other
mental disorders

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Mental Illness and Behaviour

Learning how mental illness affects behaviour, is important as your
interactions and communications with a particular client or patient may vary
given their current state of mind and existing beliefs.
 The behaviour of someone with a mental illness can often be
misunderstood. One such misconception is that “people with a mental
illness are lazy and weak, and if they tried hard enough they could ‘snap’ out
of it”.

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How can mental illness affect a person?

For an individual with a mental illness, there is often an inherit fear about the onset of the next episode,
confusion, and at times irrational beliefs; just some of the feelings that may be experienced by someone
with a mental illness.

They may also experience anger and bitterness due to the manner in which the mental illness is
affecting all aspects of their life.
They may be hypersensitive to criticism and feel as if others, including health professionals, do not
understand them or what they are going through. They may feel rejection from friends and relatives
and consequently isolate themselves.
They may experience an overwhelming sense of despair, loss of interest, lack of energy or motivation.

Angry outbursts may be demonstrated by somebody with a mental illness. This can be due to
delusions or hallucinations, inner frustration and conflict, or an inability to manage anger.

It is important for you as the practitioner to ensure your own safety at all times and seek assistance if
you feel threatened or unsafe.

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References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2018. Mental health services—in brief 2018. Cat. no. HSE 211. Canberra:
AIHW

Slade T, Johnston A, Teesson M, Whiteford H, Burgess P, Pirkis J et al. 2009. The mental health of Australians 2.
Report on the 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. Canberra: DoHA

WHO (World Health Organization) 2014. Mental health: a state of well-being. Geneva: WHO. Viewed February
2019, https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/

WHO (World Health Organization) 1946. Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted
by the International Health conference, New York, 19–22 June, 1946. New York: WHO

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QUESTIONS?

Thank you for listening 

La Trobe University CRICOS Provider Code Number 00115M

 Thank you
latrobe.edu.au

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CRICOS Provider Code Number 00115M © Copyright La Trobe University 2018