Essay on Mental health is an Umbrella Term

Running head: ESSAY
Assessment 2: Written Assignment
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

ESSAY1
Introduction- Mental health is an umbrella term that refers to the state of
psychological wellness, which is marked by the nonexistence of mental disorder. It refers to
the state when a person functions at a tolerable and satisfactory level of behavioural and
emotional adjustment (Pilgrim 2019). Taking into consideration the perspectives of holism
and/or positive psychology, sound mental health often encompasses the capability of an
individual to enjoy life to the fullest, while maintaining a balance between psychological
resilience and life activities. According to the World Health Organisation (2018) mental
health comprises of the personal wellbeing, autonomy, inter-generational dependence,
apparent self-efficacy, proficiency, and self-actualisation of the emotional and intellectual
potential of a person. It also states that an individual’s wellbeing is associated with the
realisation of competence and ability to cope with life stressors, together with contributing
positively to productive work and the community as a whole. It is imperative to identify the
recovery from mental illness does not refer to cure from the disease. This essay will elucidate
the prominence of recovery principles, in relation to people suffering from mental illness.
Historical background- Deviant behaviour has been considered unnatural, and a direct
replication of the war between evil and good since time immemorial. In ancient
Mesopotamia, mental disorders were considered the action of particular deities (Annus 2019).
Likewise, mental illnesses in China were treated using emotional therapy and traditional
Chinese medicine. During the middle age, concepts of mental disorder in Europe were based
on an amalgamation of magical, transcendental, diabolical, and divine powers. These were
treated with bloodletting, whipping, and purges. Later on during the 16th-18th century, jails,
local workhouses, and poorhouses were established for the people who were considered
insane. According to Groenow (2018) the term ‘mental hygiene’ was coined by William
Sweetser, at the middle of the 19th century. This was followed by a definition of mental
hygiene put forth by Isaac Ray. He defined it as the art of protecting the mind against

ESSAY2
different influences and incidents, considered to decline its qualities, disrupt its movements,
and damage its energies. Moreover, Dorothea Dix played an important role in providing
assistance to people suffering from mental illnesses and also took efforts to unravel the sub-
standard environment to which these people were subjected to (Farreras 2019). Prior to this
mental hygiene movement, people with poor mental health were neglected and isolated from
others, typically left with inadequate clothing in appalling settings. This was followed by
formulation of a taxonomy for a range of mental disorders by Emil Kraepelin (Steinberg and
Strauß 2019). Soon after, the anticipated disease model related to abnormality was exposed to
examination and measured normality to be comparative to the geographical, physical, and
cultural features of the target group.
Impacts- Poor mental health was considered as a moral issue during older times,
hence the treatment predominantly focused on punishment for the sin committed by the
affected person. When people were put in poorhouses or local workhouses, they were
subjected to forcible confinement or restraint. Restraint resulted in muscle weakness, heart
stress, poor circulation, strangulation, social isolation, and behavioural modifications (Rose et
al. 2017). It was perceived as traumatising and anti-recovery. According to Winn (2016)
trephination was one of the earliest kinds of treatment that encompasses making a hole in the
skull of the person using bore, auger or a saw. This was dehumanising and life threatening
since it had the potential of causing death or permanent injury to the brain tissue. People were
also subjected to exorcism and mystic rituals due to lack of understanding about mental
illness. This religious practice of eliminating spiritual entities and/or demons directly
impaired recovery since it caused serious harm to the affected people (Loue 2017).
Recovery approach- Considering the perspective of people suffering from mental
disorders, recovery suggests obtaining and retaining hope and optimism, social inclusion
gaining a sound awareness of ones disabilities and competence, engaging in an active life,