Promoting Mental Health: Analysis of a Case Study

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This article analyzes a case study of a patient suffering from acute anxiety and depressive disorder and provides insights into promoting mental health. It discusses the DSM-V model, stress vulnerability model, and the importance of respect and empowerment for mentally challenged individuals.

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Running Head: PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH
Promoting Mental Health
Name of Student
Name of University
Author note

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PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH
The patient might be suffering from acute anxiety and depressive disorder if analyzed
through the components of Mental State Examination (Cumming et al, 2013). He might be
suffering from malnutrition due to anorexia. The weight loss suggests poor healthcare and he
exhibits morbid disinterest in regular life. His response on being approached for the interview is
indicative of his morose state of mind. His behavior reflects a certain exhaustion characteristic of
patients suffering from depression. He stares into the void with an empty look and slumps back
on his chair, avoiding eye contact or conversation with anyone. His movements are limited and
demonstrates a despair. Moreover, there is a noticeable disparity between mood and affect in his
temperament. This is evident in the incongruity between what Chung feels inside and how that
turmoil finds expression through his dismal attitude. The ailment has affected his speech as he
struggles with spontaneity and pace. Chung’s thought process and the components is a
confirmation of his depressed state. As per the study, Chung is suffering from derailed thoughts
that eventuates to suicidal tendencies and other general malfunctioning. He is preoccupied with
self-degrading thoughts and suffers from delusions that stem both from internal and external
factors. He is further tormented by certain obsessive thoughts relating with his failures in life and
his gloomy disposition has also affected his cognitive abilities. Chung’s insight into his disorder
is significant in the MSE analysis. He recognizes his condition as mental illness but does not
reject or comply with treatment since he is aware that his condition is self-imposed. This
eliminates the chances of dementia which makes consent to treatment a vital factor before any
proceedings (Boton et al, 2014). Chung’s case has to be examined in a cross-cultural context
since a good amount of his depression is rooted in his immigrant experience and the fact that he
feels increasingly anxious due to the detachment from his Chinese origin.
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PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH
Applying the DSM-V model in Chung’s case does not categorize him under the
sequential orders since it is not given whether he had suffered similar phases in childhood and
adolescence (Thomas et al, 2013). Under section 2 of the model, Chung suffers from
bereavement and anxiety disorder. He has panic attacks and anticipates cardiac arrest, separation
anxiety is another factor driving his trauma and stress related disorders. He might suffer from
PTSD, pertaining to the difficulties he had in the initial stages of the life in Australia. His
derangement from parents, followed by the accident at workplace are reasonable instances for
justifying the diagnosis. Eating disorders affect his physical health as he rapidly loses weight.
Disturbed sleep, or a condition known as the sleep-wake syndrome is apparent in him, as he
cannot have enough sleep due to insomnia and wakes up at three in the morning owing to
mismanaged routine in his work shifts. From what is observed in his behavior, Chung appears
anti-social. He has resigned into a self-initiated isolation although there is no signs of
neurodevelopmental disorder in his behavioral pattern. The patient shows symptoms of anxiety,
stress, depressive, eating and to some extent dissociative disorders as analyzed under the second
section of DSM-5.
The Stress Vulnerability Model introduced by Zubin and Spring examines the
psychological, social and biological elements of an individual and how these elements are
integrated together as a person’s ability to deal with stress. Everyone has a level of vulnerability
or a proneness to develop certain psychosis. Those with low vulnerability are less likely to
experience psychosis than those with more vulnerability. If a person experiences great deal of
stress, the possibility of falling victim to mental disorders is higher. The model analyzes the
ability of individuals to deal with stress and how that affects their mental health. Pertaining to
this model, the two major contributors to Chung’s current status of mental health is his hectic
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working shifts and the detachment he feels from his roots and family, especially his daughter.
His continued sleep-depravity is induced by heavy work pressure that requires him to do night
shifts and work continuously for long hours. For analyzing his stress vulnerability with respect to
this contributing factor, it must be considered that Chung was previously subjected to several
workplace and medical board investigations following the drug error during his formative years
as a medical student. This mishap in the past compels him to be more cautions and invest more
time and energy in the work field. Overstressing takes a toll on his mental health as he is
observed recoiling into a cobweb of depression, anxiety and self-loathing (Boss et al, 2016).
Excessive stress makes him more vulnerable to developing the mood disorders recorded in the
study. The palpitations and chest pains he experiences might be due to the tremendous pressure
at work that disables him from participating in filial responsibilities and restricts his self-time.
Secondarily, the birth of Charlotte and Harriet’s health complications are perilous stressors that
make him feel all the more impotent in carrying out the responsibilities of father and husband.
Chung feels increasingly detached from his cultural roots and family, especially his daughter and
that stresses him out to the point of developing the observable neuroses. His sense of self was
challenged first with the medical error, which later concretized with the lack of Chinese cultural
reference at the wedding before finally hitting rock bottom with the birth of his daughter and the
detachment that is imposed on him by work pressure and excessive involvement of Harriet’s
family. Chung feels unproductive both at work and home which is a potential root cause of his
stress and this feeling of inefficacy pushes him further into the pit of paranoia and extreme
despair (Smollan, 2015). What the patient requires is a thorough counselling session where he
can be convinced into undergoing treatment for the diagnosed ailment.

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The definition of respect that is applicable in case of interaction between two or more
indivuduals having their state of mental health intact is different from the interaction between a
mentally stable and a mentally challenged individual (Claes et al, 2013). It is very important that
we try to place ourselves in the position of the person who is suffering from some mental
problems. And that shall come about by showing respect to the mentally challenged person as a
person, regardless of the ailment (Szak and Kameg, 2013). Sympathy is not what accounts for
respect to for a mentally challenged individual, since it emanates from a feeling of superiority.
Being empathetic is the only way in which a mentally challenged person can be respected since
no individual incurs that form of problem deliberately. It is circumstances that drive people to
lose control over their minds. It is very important to keep in mind that the capacity to bear the
brunt of stress varies from one individual to the other. It is also not that strong-willed persons can
never be a victim to mental problems.
Mentally challenged individuals are persons with special needs. They are special not
because they deviate from the generally held conception and definition of normalcy. Rather, they
are special as they are in need of some special form of motivation to live their life to the fullest
once again, like they used to. Mental ailments deprives an individual of the basic capacities to
have control over their lives. They become devoid of any intuitive and intellectual capacities.
Empowering such individuals is one of the methods undertaken to re-instate the naturally
endowed thinking power in them (Naslund et al, 2016). They need empowerment not because
mental illness makes a person weak, rather they must rediscover the inner strength whose
sensation they have unfortunately lost. It is not that the chances of regaining them is lost forever,
it is a temporary phase which shall wither away with proper care (Clemet et al, 2016). Mental
Illness is more often than not treated negligently. An individual with the perfect state of mental
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health and a mentally challenged individual, both are in need of empowerment. Rather, it is
advisable that nascent signs of failing mental health be taken seriously so that all chances of a
metal breakdown be avoided.
As it has already been discussed that faltering of mental health to the extreme level is not
necessarily the end of all scopes to regain the original self of the ailing individual. One must
have patience and keep up the hope of recovery. The one helping out the mentally challenged
person to regain consciousness is equally in need of hopefulness as the latter. Mentally ill
individual is similar to an individual who is terminally ill, both the cases demand an immense
amount of hope on part of the loved ones. Recovery proceeds a gradual course given the
complex nature of the ailment. Such cases are susceptible to fluctuations. It can might as well so
happen that following a period of excellent recovery a resurgence back to the state of
deterioration can be witnessed. Or, a patient with no sign of recovery can exhibit sign of
healthiness (Drake and Whitely 2014). The basic guideline to be followed in this aspect is to
keep hope as much as devoting effort to boost hope in the mind of the mentally challenged.
Chung’s case is a testimony to the perils of stress and the vulnerability of humans to
developing acute mental disorders due to lack of proper stress management. This calls for
mental health awareness and improved procedures for dealing with patients suffering from
depression and anxiety or any other kind of mental ailment to help them battle against the
illnesses.
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References:
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Boss, P., Bryant, C. M., & Mancini, J. A. (2016). Family stress management: A contextual
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Clement, S., Schauman, O., Graham, T., Maggioni, F., Evans-Lacko, S., Bezborodovs, N., ... &
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Drake, R. E., & Whitley, R. (2014). Recovery and severe mental illness: description and
analysis. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 59(5), 236-242.
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persons with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems: An explorative
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Naslund, J. A., Aschbrenner, K. A., Marsch, L. A., & Bartels, S. J. (2016). The future of mental
health care: peer-to-peer support and social media. Epidemiology and psychiatric
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Smollan, R. K. (2015). Causes of stress before, during and after organizational change: a
qualitative study. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 28(2), 301-314.
Szpak, J. L., & Kameg, K. M. (2013). Simulation decreases nursing student anxiety prior to
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