Understanding Mental Health and Illness: A Case Study Analysis

Running head: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
Introduction:
The provided case study deals with a 22 year old female client Georgia, who is
supposedly a victim of acute anxiety. She has reported to feel symptoms of anxiety for a
considerable period of time. She has shifted from her full time course to part time course because
of her inability to cope with academic stress and fear of failure. The client has further revealed
her inability to learn driving because she found it stressful and almost met with an accident to be
the reasons why she has given up driving. Further, the client has mentioned to feel exhausted
most of the times with shortness of breath, abnormal sleeping pattern and accelerated heart-beat.
The case study also mentions the client’s mother to be suffering from acute anxiety. This essay
would present a discussion on the understanding of the mental health. It would further highlight
the existing relationship between physical and mental health. Also, the potential recovery process
would be explained in relation to the best evidence-based interventions and the professional
implication while dealing with the client.
Understanding mental health and illness:
Mental health illness can be defined as the disturbed state of mind that affects the normal
process of thinking of an individual (Zaretsky,2013). It can be said that the illness is not just
restricted to how one thinks, but also affects how one feels, acts or perceives the immediate
environment. Studies mention that the detection of a mental health is exceedingly difficult on
account of the absence of detectable physical symptoms (Vives et al., 2013); (Zaretzky,2013).
Also, the severity of the symptoms and the process in which an individual is affected from one
individual to the other varies significantly. It should also be noted that the success rate of the
recovery process broadly depends upon the initial detection of the symptoms.

2CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
A combination of genetic, environmental and personal experience can lead to the
triggering of a mental health disorder. Researchers have identified some common mental health
symptoms that include, severe mood swings, social withdrawal, sleep abnormalities, substance
abuse, hallucination and suicidal-ideation (Zannas & West, 2014); (Trigueri-Mas et al., 2015).
On feeling one of these symptoms it is recommended to immediately seek professional help. The
psychotherapist then examines the patient based upon Mental State Evaluation Score and
diagnoses the possibility of developing a mental health disorder. On the basis of the diagnosis,
therapeutic interventions are suggested to the patients.
In close association to the provided case study, the vulnerability model can be used to
explain the probable cause of anxiety in the patient. The stress vulnerability model highlights
two important aspects that could possibly serve as the pathway to develop stress and anxiety
(Zannas & West, 2014). The first being the pre-existing genetic trait and the second being the
environmental influence (Zannas & West, 2014). As has already been mentioned that the client’s
mother has anxiety, it can be said that the client has developed the disorder on account of the
genetic inheritance and also because of the environmental influence of academic stress. Also, the
reluctant approach of the client to socialize, constant feeling of exhaustion and abnormal sleep
pattern can be tightly linked to the symptoms of mental health disorder.
Relationship between mental health and physical health:
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health to be a complete wellbeing of
physical, mental and social health and not just the absence of an infirmity (WHO, 2014). It can
thus be said that the mental wellness is tightly linked to the physical well-being of an individual.
Researchers have evaluated the existence of multiple associations between mental health and

3CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
physical health and have predicted the corresponding impact on the quality of life, demand of
health care assistance and consequent impact on the society. As mentioned in the studies, it can
be sad that poor mental health serves as a risk factor to develop chronic illness and deteriorate
the physical health (Spielberger et al., 2017).
In addition to this, it can also be said that mental health patients possess a higher
probability to develop chronic physical disorders (Spielberger,2013). Similarly, people with
chronic physical illness are at an increased risk of developing a mental health disorder. The
social determinants of health affect physical as well as the mental health of the individuals. In
order to ensure prevention, it is important to incorporate elements such as access to nutritious
food, ensuring adequate income, enhancing physical activity and access to social support and
inclusion (Vives et al., 2013).
The determinants can effectively reduce the risk related to the development of a physical
health disorder or mental imbalance. Researchers mention that, the first step of complete
wellness requires the identification of the connection between physical and mental health and
accordingly devise strategies to effectively deal with the complications that can benefit both the
physical as well as mental health (Vives et al., 2013).
In relation to the case study, it can be said that Georgia, has been perturbed because of
her anxiety problems and fear of failure. This can be attributed as the major reason why she has
not been able to shine on the academic front and has not been able to deal with general abilities
such as learning how to drive. Further, this has made her pragmatic and affected her ability to
socialize. It has affected her sleep pattern and this might affect her physical health considerably,
making her weak and susceptible to chronic illness disorders such as cardiac complications.