Mental Health: Assessment, Factors, Recovery, and Urgent Risk Areas

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH 1
Mental Health
Student’s name
Institutional Affiliation

MENTAL HEALTH 2
Mental Status Examination
Mental health is a healthcare aspect with the ultimate focus on the psychosocial stability,
behaviour and the emotional status of an individual (Gilam, 2018). Thus, mental status
examination encompasses the in-depth assessment of the individual’s cognitive, affective and
behavioural components to determine the mental health problem. The mental health status
assessment provides relevant information that is useful in halting the progression of the mental
health problem to more severe mental health illness (Crouch, 2014). Various components of
mental status examination are assessed to arrive at the diagnosis of the mental health problem
and ultimately the process of recovery.
With due reference to the current psychological, behavioural and social state of Mr Chung,
it is definite that he has a mental health problem. In line with the case study, the components of
mental status examination to be evaluated are mood and thought content. Mood is the state of
inner feeling that is sustained over an extended period while thought content encompasses the
range of thoughts of the client. According to the diagnostic statistical manual (DSM-V), mood
problems are classified under the bipolar and other related disorders.
With regards to the subjective and objective data obtained from the assessment of Mr
Chung, it is evident that he is experiencing a disturbance in mood. The most notable observation
of the mood instability in Mr Chung is the flat mood and tearfulness with a sad and restrictive
affect. Moreover, he states that has been experiencing low mood and feeling of worthlessness.
The visible expression of mood, affect, is consistent with the prevailing attitude as the client
assumes a rounded shoulder posture and a transfixed stare on the floor. Mood instability
typically manifests in significant impairment in general activity and social functioning of the

MENTAL HEALTH 3
individual (DSM -V). The disability is observed in Mr Chung’s decreased ability to interact and
participate in the care of baby Charlotte as well as a feeling of being a failure at work.
On the other hand, the client’s thought content demonstrates impairment in the overall
mental health wellbeing. On evaluation, a myriad of thought is running through Mr.Chung’s
mind of which some are detrimental to his general welfare. He is anxious about his health with
feelings of worthlessness and suicidal ideations. Also, he contemplates the lethal drugs to take
away his life. Depressive and stress-related disorders result in alteration of the thought content as
is in the case of Mr.Chung. According to the DSM-V, disturbed thought content poses a high risk
for suicidal ideations as well as impaired social and operational functioning. In the expression of
his thoughts, the client’s beliefs of hopelessness and that any treatment will offer no help are the
observable thought content disturbances that complicate his already altered mental health well-
being. The combination of social and workplace stressors are the cause of the disorganised
thought content of the client, but the client views self as the genesis of his current problems. The
client has been overwhelmed by hopelessness, and thus recovery should focus on restoring hope
and sense of self -worth to promote positive living (Townsend, 2017).
Factors Contributing to the Development of the Client’s Current Mental Health Status

MENTAL HEALTH 4
The stressors in a person’s experiences are observed in the social functioning and the
mental stability of the person (Moodley & Ocampo, 2014). The extent of the stressors determines
the level of impairment relative to the vulnerability of the individual. The stress-vulnerability
model stipulates that a triad of factors is responsible for the development of mental health illness
(Fernando, 2014). These factors include stress, coping skills and the level of vulnerability. It is
evident that Mr Chung has had challenging experiences in life that predispose him to the current
mental instability. The main factors affecting the client are long working hours with associated
heavy workload and anxiety over the deteriorating state of his health.
As a result of the client’s inability to cope successfully with the stress, impairment in
overall mental and social functioning develops. For example, due to the long working hours and
high workload, Chung was unable to participate fully in planning for his wedding. Moreover,
after the baby’s birth, he only had one week off. This situation of absence from the family makes
Chung feel inadequate in his roles since he cannot take care of the ailing wife. Consequently, he
feels worthless and a let down to the family. Secondly, due to exhaustion at work, he committed
a drug error and as a result, was subjected to investigation by the medical board. This posed an
impediment to his professional development as he desires to undertake study for promotion.
Therefore, Chung feels that his ordeals are self-imposed thus aggravating his mental instability.
Another factor leading to Chung’s current mental status is the anxiety over his deteriorating
health. The recent experience of palpitations, chest pains and breathlessness have diminished
Chung’s perception of purpose in life. This is indicated by expression of fear that he might have
a heart attack and die. Further, he contemplates on taking drug overdose for suicide. Citing that
he is hopeless is a sign of ineffective coping skills.