Mental Health Challenges and Interventions

This assignment delves into various aspects of mental health, including the challenges faced by individuals with co-morbid mental illness, the concept of recovery, and the impact of physical health on mental well-being. It also examines specific mental health conditions like social anxiety disorder and Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD), along with perspectives on positive psychology and cultural considerations in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health. Finally, it touches upon public perceptions of mental illness and the relationship between anxiety vulnerability factors and psychedelic drug use.

Running head: IMPLICATIONS OF ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH
Implications of addressing mental health
Name of the University
Name of the Student
Author note

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IMPLICATIONS OF ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH
Introduction
Billions of people around the world suffer from mental illness but the knowledge
regarding this illness is limited. Very few people are aware of this illness and very often people
tend to stereotype it with madness or insanity (Giandinoto & Edward 2014). However, it is a
wrong notion.
The essay tries to provide a detailed explanation of mental health and mental illness. In
addition, the essay highlights the relationship mental health has with physical health of an
individual. Anxiety, altered mood and altered perception are some forms of mental illness.
The case chosen for the study is that of Tom with an altered perception.
Understanding mental health and mental illness
In order to understand mental health and mental illness, it is important to realize first what it
actually means. The World Health Organization has defined mental health as a condition of
well-being where individuals understands own potential, can deal with the usual stresses of life,
can work efficiently and are competent to contribute to their community. Mental illness on the
other hand means the opposite of it (WHO.int 2018). It also refers to disorders usually
distinguished by imbalance of mood, behavior and thought. It implies a person’s inability to
take pressure or stress. In addition, it also means being excessively preoccupied with a minor
incident that might not hold much significance. People suffering from mental illness are often
categorized as abnormal and dangerous. It is but a negative attitude towards those suffering
from this illness and it must be changed.

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In Australia, almost half of the population develops or suffers from mental illness at least once
in their lifetime, says a report published by the New South Wales health commission
(Nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au 2018). Reasons for mental illness can vary from being
genetic to community related to personal crisis and so on. Australians have varied perceptions
regarding mental illness owing to their varied cultural backgrounds comprising Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander people amongst others.
Relationship between mental and physical health
When an individual suffers from mental illness, there is an obvious deterioration in her
or his physical health. To assume that a person with mental disorder would be physically sound
is not a sign of a good mental health practitioner. According to Bhugra, Kar and Lawton-Smith
(2014), mental health and physical health possess intricate and bi-directional affiliation. One
has direct as well as indirect affect on the other. Innumerable examples are there that further
concretize this relationship. Mental illness like depression, anxiety or altered perception
handicaps a person’s ability to comprehend his or her surroundings, a loss of appetite amongst
other things. In fact, these disorders often lead to self-injuries when people diagnosed with this
illness try to harm self.
Ohrnberger, Fichera and Sutton (2017) point out that the physical health of a person in
the past have an effect on the mental health of that person in the present and likewise. This
statement is largely correct because a sound physical health enables a person to stay fit and
feel positive about him or her. Similarly, a good mental condition empowers individuals to feel
good about them and stay fit and healthy all the time. If someone had a history of poor physical

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health, it results in the person’s inability to feel motivated and he or she finds it difficult to
regain the strength to even try. Mental disorders in the past have major chances of recurrence
and when that happens, it immediately affects physical health of the individual (Gates et al.
2015).
Understanding of personal recovery
Personal recovery, when viewed from the perspective of a diagnosed person, refers to
the regaining and preserving of hope, going back to the active life, social identity and such
(Schrank et al. 2014). Those who suffer from a disorder like altered perception, find it the most
difficult to recover from the distressed situation. Tom, a 19-year-old young man suffers from
the altered perception disorder. A closer look at his personal life reveals that he had faced
personal crisis at a very young age when he lost his father. He did not get enough time to
recover from this personal loss as he was burdened with the responsibility to look after his
mother and four young siblings. To add to that, Tom also had to bear the shock of losing two of
his close friends within a period of three years, as they committed suicide. It is evident from the
incidences that he had to go through immense mental stress that led to him being diagnosed
with altered perception disorder.
Mental health practitioners in the present era have the advantage of being trained in personal
recovery that enhances the treatment of persons with altered perception and related disorders
(Health.gov.au 2018). In case of Tom, hence, it is important for the practitioner to be personally
involved and treat him not merely as a patient but someone close. In order to achieve this, the
practitioner may take cues from his or her personal experiences and apply competently to help

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Tom. Making social connections with the patient helps practitioners to understand their
predicament and treat them accordingly (Somerville et al. 2017).
Recognizing and responding to mental illness
Tom, as already mentioned, comes from a remote community located near Adelaide,
Australia. He had a job of a mechanic where he claimed that he heard voices telling him that he
was worthless and good for nothing. Now, hearing voices is a common thing for those coming
from remote communities (Parker & Milroy 2014). However, a vital symptom, it must not be
ignored by the health practitioner. Further, Tom also showed symptoms of agitation and
confusion and he was found conversing in strange ways with the customers. He is also a known
alcohol and cannabis addict. It is implicated that he might have been addicted to these after the
personal grievances he faced that include the death of his father and suicides of two of his close
friends in the span of four years. Ellison Wright and Sessa (2015) state that the use of cannabis,‐
a type of marijuana causes people to experience distorted visuals. In case of Tom, he perceived
that his boss had installed cameras all around to catch him committing mistakes. His condition
worsened after he left the job and his mother and aunt expressed worry regarding his volatile
and erratic behavior.
The symptoms indicate that Tom suffers from an acute mental disorder of altered
perception having close affinity with schizophrenia. Treating schizophrenic patients is an
extremely difficult and sensitive job for health practitioners. Litjens et al. (2014) comment that
reducing the intake of hallucinogen drugs could help in weakening symptoms of altered
perceptions. Further studies by Ursa (2016) confirm the reduced use of psychedelic drugs often

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used in place of hallucinogens, in helping patients with mental disorders. However, these
treatments could only help Tom recover from the physical slump but the practitioner has to
provide mental support along with medications to ensure his full recovery.
Implications for health professionals
Health professionals have to understand the patient’s condition thoroughly in order to proceed
with the treatment. Dealing with patients having a symptom as that of Tom is an extremely
sensitive task (Rapee, Titov & Dear 2014). Sometimes it might prove risky for the health
professionals themselves, as it is difficult to predict the behavior of the patient. In Australia,
health professionals have an added responsibility to be knowledgeable about the various
communities and behaviors that are considered normal in those communities. Stuber et al.
(2014) argue that individuals with acute symptoms of mental disorder with no previous records
of mental illness can be treated with proper care. Health professionals have only to realize the
circumstances that led to the individual’s present mental condition.
Viewing mental health and mental illness from the Australian perspective brings out
additional implications for professionals of health care. Dealing with patients belonging to
indigenous community involves understanding of their traditions, their perceptions about
mental illness, the restrictions, their superstitions and so on. Tom used to intake cannabis and
alcohol on regular basis. Cannabis, as studies have found, result in a person’s distorted
perceptions that Tom suffered from.
According to Ådnøy Eriksen et al. (2014), health professionals must not stop at cure of
the illness, rather they should make sure that the patient is leading a healthy life both mentally

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and physically. Professionals need to understand that Tom is a young lad who has gone through
extreme emotional shock at a very young age. They must allow Tom to express his anger, fear
and whatever feeling he has, freely in order to gain his trust. However, it must be bore in mind
that persons with this illness have a tendency to harm themselves and even others. Therefore,
proper safety measures have to be taken by health professionals before they proceed with the
treatment.
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be stated that being a health professional is both a fulfilling and risky
job. They have the opportunity to build new relationships on one hand and the risk of causing
further damage to one’s mental health. Whatever it is, health professionals must address
mental illness in a competent way making sure that the person they are treating is cured in
every way possible. The essay shed light on the implications for health professionals while
addressing mental illness by taking up the case of Tom who had altered perception disorder.

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References:
Ådnøy Eriksen, K, Arman, M, Davidson, L, Sundfør, B & Karlsson, B, 2014, ‘Challenges in relating
to mental health professionals: Perspectives of persons with severe mental illness’,
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, vol. 23, no. 2, pp.110-117.
Bhugra, D, Kar, A & Lawton-Smith, S, 2014, ‘Integration of Mental and Physical Health Services:
Lessons’, Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health, vol. 1, no. 1, pp.15-21.
Ellison‐Wright, Z & Sessa, B, 2015, ‘A persisting perception disorder after cannabis
use’, Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry, vol. 19, no. 1, pp.10-13.
Gates, J, Killackey, E, Phillips, L & Álvarez-Jiménez, M, 2015, ‘Mental health starts with physical
health: current status and future directions of non-pharmacological interventions to improve
physical health in first-episode psychosis’, The Lancet Psychiatry, vol. 2, no. 8, pp.726-742.
Giandinoto, JA & Edward, KL, 2014, ‘Challenges in acute care of people with co-morbid mental
illness’, British Journal of Nursing, vol. 23, no. 13.
Health.gov.au 2018, Recovery: the concept, viewed 8 Jan 2018,
<https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/67D17065514CF8E8CA257C
1D00017A90/$File/3.pdf >
Litjens, RP, Brunt, TM, Alderliefste, GJ & Westerink, RH, 2014, ‘Hallucinogen persisting
perception disorder and the serotonergic system: a comprehensive review including new
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1323.

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IMPLICATIONS OF ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH
Nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au 2018, Physical health and mental wellbeing, viewed 8 Jan
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health: A mediation analysis’, Social Science & Medicine, vol. 195, pp.42-49.
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