Contemporary Issues in Mental Health: A Study of Psychology

This document explores the identification of contemporary issues in mental health, their implications in health and social care, and critical theories in psychology. It discusses various mental health issues such as anxiety disorders, bipolar affective disorders, depression, dissociation and dissociative disorders, and paranoia. It also examines the implications of social and political policies in healthcare and the use of cognitive, humanistic, and behavioral theories in addressing mental health problems.

Psychology

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
LO1..............................................................................................................................................................3
Identification of contemporary issues in mental health..........................................................................3
LO2..............................................................................................................................................................5
Implication of practices and policies initiative in contemporary health & social care.............................5
LO3..............................................................................................................................................................7
Critical theories.......................................................................................................................................7
LO4..............................................................................................................................................................9
Analysis of influence and implication of contemporary issues on mental health....................................9
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................10
References.................................................................................................................................................11

Introduction
The study of conscious as well as unconscious phenomena, thoughts and feelings is referred
to as psychology. Basically, it implies study of behavior along with mind with respect to peculiar
field of activity or knowledge (Adler, 2013). The levels of absence of mental illness or
psychological well-being are referred to as mental health. It illustrates functioning of satisfactory
levels of behavioral and emotional adjustments. To understand the concept of Mental Health and
Society NHS is taken into consideration. It is a publicly-funded healthcare system and renders its
services across United Kingdom that comprises of comprehensive range of offerings and free at
some point of usage for people. This report comprises of contemporary issues, implications of
practice and policy. Along with this, certain theories will be utilized with respect to these
practices.
LO1
Identification of contemporary issues in mental health
The state of well-being of individuals where they realizes their potential that enables them to
handle normal stresses of life by which they can work fruitfully and productively through which
they can make relevant contribution to community is referred to as mental health. It is an
essential and integral component of health. This is state of inclusive mental, social and physical
well-being which implies that it is not just a absence of infirmity or disease. Restoration,
protection and promotion of mental health is regarded as major concern of societies,
communities as well as individuals (Alfes, 2015). Mental health illustrates a general term which
comprises of symptoms that creates an impact on perceptions, thinking, behavior or mood. As
NHS, it can be difficult for some people cope up with relationships, work or any other demands.
This can be handled by counseling, medication or by making use of both. Some contemporary
issues with respect to mental health have been specified below:
 Anxiety Disorders: They implies group of mental health problems which comprises of
social phobias, panic disorders, post traumatic stress disorders, special phobias (like
claustrophobia, agoraphobia, etc.), anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorders.
If they are not treated then it will lead to depression (Bakken and Sageng, 2016). To deal
with this, employees of NHS opts for giving adequate support and treatment to people
who have anxiety disorders. Its treatment comprises of medication (tranquillizers and

antidepressants), anxiety management & relaxation techniques (such as meditation,
counseling, breathing exercises and hypnotherapy) and cognitive behavioral therapy
(alters the trends of behaviors, thinking and beliefs which triggers anxiety).
 Bipolar Affective Disorders: It is a mental health condition which comprises of cycles of
extreme high and low mood. The person who possess bipolar disorder will cycle among
feeling euphoric, enormously manic (energetic) and depression (very low feel). It varies
from person to person (Howatson-Jones, Standing and Roberts, 2015). Treatment along
with medication will minimize or eradicate symptoms through which overall impact will
be less intense. To treat this, employees of NHS have give antidepressant, anti-psychotic
medications, psychological therapies and mood-stabilizing medications.
 Depression: It is a serious situation which influences both mental as well as physical
health of individuals. This situation creates a strong impact on ways people act, feel and
think. It becomes difficult to carry out each day activities that interfere with relationships,
study and work. This creates a relevant impact on feelings, behavioral symptoms,
thoughts and physical symptoms. NHS furnishes adequate support to people which
enables them to cure and recover sooner. People need to understand their problems at
right time o that they can have on time guidance (Hung and et. al., 2015).
 Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders: Dissociation is a mental process in which
person disconnects from their feelings, sense of identity, memories or thoughts. On the
other hand dissociative disorders comprises of depersonalization disorder, fugue, identity
disorders and amnesia. The efficaciousness of treatments for dissociative disorders may
take years. Thus, it implies that there needs to be extensive as well as appropriate care
through which people can be assisted to cure from such kind of disorders. To deal with
such kind of situations, employees of NHS provides their patients with safe environment,
hypnosis, psychiatric drugs, psychotherapy along with stress management.
 Paranoia: It is the irrational as well as persistent feeling which makes people to subject
to intrusive and persistent attention by other people. This becomes complicated for
individual to work socially or develop close relationships (Keady and Thompson, 2016).
Treatment of this is dependent on situations which are diagnosed as per its cause that
comprises of medication or psychological therapy. This involves paranoid personality,
delusional and schizophrenia disorders. The diagnose of this critical due to exaggerated

sense of mistrust which is very common in mental health. Along with this, people with
such kind of problems tend to stay away from hospitals, doctors along with other medical
settings as they think they will be harmed. An employee of NHS provides their patients
with adequate services which involve medications, therapy, coping skills and in case
there is emergency then they admit them (Papadopoulos and Pezzella, 2015).
These are the major contemporary issues which are being faced by people with respect to
mental health but there are many more which have to be taken into consideration by medical
practitioners. This will aid individual to have solution to their problems as well as provide them
with adequate solutions which will lead them to have mental well-being. Mental health leads to
creation of wide problems and it is necessary that they are recognized at initial stages before it
becomes adverse. The reason behind this is that it will lead NHS to furnish adequate services as
per the best solution which is available with them.
LO2
Implication of practices and policies initiative in contemporary health & social care.
The official statements which are being given by health authorities or government which
renders complete directions is referred to as mental health policy. The overall directions are
being furnished by them for formulation of vision, principles, objectives and values through
establishment of broad model to attain them (Poreddi and et. al., 2015). This is critical as it will
enable to coordinate via a identical vision, services and program associated with mental health.
The policy document comprises of official government guidelines fir interconnected areas for
directions or actions which will be carried out for improvising mental health. These must be
accompanied according to action plan which will aid within peculiar actions that will lead to
attain policy objectives. They are illustrated below:
Social Policies in Healthcare: It is considered as crucial aspect of illness or diseases which
are found in areas of social development. In this the facts have to be taken into consideration that
racial and poverty discrimination acts as a probable cause for mental health or ill health. This is
done to enhance the quality as well as quantity of health services that are being receive. Health
policies must be altered for eliminating discrepancies which prevails within (Pullen and et. al,
2015). But social policies have an affirmative instance within enhancement of health for this
must be integrated with general social policies. NHS (National Health services) are subsidized by

public so that patients can attain primary health care services which are being rendered by
private medical practitioners at free of charge. In addition to this, public health services must be
provided to people at free or minimum charges unless they want to be treated like private
patients. It must be choice of a patient the kind of services that are needed by them.
Political Policies in Healthcare: The universal and comprehensive policies are involved
with respect to healthcare. The universal aspect comprises of benefits which are given to people
irrespective of their age so that they can have a healthy life. The comprehensive perspectives
involves that each people or inhabitants of United Kingdom even the foreigners who are living
within Britain are given National Insurance number from the time they have born (How are the
political promises for health and social care stacking up?, 2020). They are provided with a
certain degree of social security. Few aspects with respect to this are specified beneath:
Strong Labor Movements: In case labor movements are well built then probably working
situations will be more constructive. It has been found that working situations are associated with
health results like illness related with chemical and physical exposures, traditional occupational
diseases, psychological factors and many other aspects are there which have vital role in mental
health.
Public benefits are high for everyone (universalism): These benefits are being furnished for
entire life of person which enables investments that are directed to each which will facilitate
access to public services (social care, home care, maternity care, healthcare, education and many
others) (Townsend and Morgan, 2017). The benefits provided by welfare state denote that it is
being protected so that adverse conditions (sickness, unemployment and various other aspects)
can be efficaciously handled that are associated with inferior health results. In context of mental
health, it is crucial to mention health services are financed via taxes so that healthcare services
can be permitted to all so that cost of illness can be covered. But if there is absence of health
coverage then it will lead to poor health as well as minimized usage of preventive and curative
services.
Employment Policies: Studies which have been conducted and are compared with self
perceived health of females both who are in paid work and not which illustrates shielding impact
of employment (Varcarolis, 2016). Income provides women with peculiar economic

independence along with enhancement in their power while furnishing their activities. Apart
from this, job environment renders enhanced opportunities for building up self-esteem along
with confidence through which decisions can be made, experiences and social support that will
enhance satisfaction is life in all the aspects like health and social well-being (Vijayalakshmi and
et. al., 2015).
Income & low socioeconomic inequalities: Various debates have been occurred which
illustrates income inequalities that are associated with adverse health results. This involves two
perspectives, psychological pathways like perceptions of place within the social cohesion,
hierarchy and psychological situations or interpersonal trust at work (lack of control, social
support, and stress) will render enlightenment with respect to health effects associated with
income inequalities. The other perspective is a neo-material pathway which is dependent on
significance material factors like living situations, investments, income along with lack of
resources. This will lead them to have poor health.
These are political and social policies which have been formulated by government as well as
organization to provide enhanced services to people so that they be mentally sound. To furnish
them with adequate health care well being this is crucial that relevant policies are formulated as
well as utilized while delivering them (Adler, 2013).
LO3
Critical theories
The coherent group of propositions which are being developed for explaining phenomena or
group of facts within a natural world as well as repeatedly confirm via observations or
experiments is referred to theory. NHS can opt for different theories depending upon person they
are treating and problems which are being faced by them. Some of them have been illustrated
below:
Cognitive theory: It asserts a cognitive process which acts as center of behavior, emotions
and thoughts. It is given by Aaron Beck and Albert Ellis which emphasize on what people thinks
forward for instead what they do. This aids within having explanation along with resolving
abnormal behavior (Alfes, 2015). Here, employees of NHS have to acknowledge what kind of
hypothesis as well as attitudes people have towards life or other aspects. This creates a relevant

impact on their thoughts along with perception that will furnish influence on conclusion which
are derived. There exist different cognitive problems such as attitude, assumptions that are
inaccurate, disturbing and illogical which leads to abnormal functioning. This theory will assist
people to overcome problems by development of more functional ways associated with thinking.
By creating a significant impact on thought, it completely alters the way in which they act and
feel (Bakken and Sageng, 2016). Employees of NHS aids people recognize unconstructive
thoughts, biased and logical interpretations that may dominate way in which they think so that
they are not depressed due to any reason.
Humanistic Theory: Here, emphasis is laid on assisting people to attain to their highest
potential in which people are grouped. This involves three major kinds of theories, they are:
Client-Centered theory: It is being given by Carl Rogers in which supportive
environment is formulated for their patients to look honestly s well as openly at themselves. In
this case, an employee within NHS illustrates crucial qualities like accurate empathy (skillful
listening), genuineness (sincere interaction) and affirmative regard (complete acceptance)
(Howatson-Jones, Standing and Roberts, 2015).
Gestalt theory: This is proposed by Frederick Perls in which focus is laid on experience
attained by client within peculiar time frame. A frequent technique within this theory is role
playing in which practitioners of NHS gives instructions to act as per different roles to ‘own’ as
well as accept feelings which made them uncomfortable at some instance of time.
Existential theory: In this case, individuals are inspired to accept their responsibilities for
their problems and lives. It will enable them to acknowledge their freedom that will allow them
to choose what they want to do so that they can amplify meaning of their life.
Behavioral Theory: This implies that actions are dependent on experience which is attained
in life. Treatments and explanations depend on principles of practices or learning through which
behavior alters with respect to environment. The primary concept is conditioning which denotes
simple forms of learning which comprises of stimuli (Hung and et. al., 2015). This seeks to
determine behavior which is responsible to cause issues to people as well tends to alter their
behavior with principles of classical & operant conditioning and modeling. For an example,
classical conditioning will be a systematic desensitization that is liable for altering abnormal

reactions for peculiar stimuli. The employee of NHS will make use of this method for particular
phobia so that individual can acknowledge in what way they can react calmly with respect to
feared situations or objects (Keady and Thompson, 2016). The person will confront or imagine
feared situation or object on the basis of least feared to most fear.
LO4
Analysis of influence and implication of contemporary issues on mental health
The impact of mental health problems can be adverse on both individuals as well as
organization in which they are delivering their services as there will be a relevant decline within
their services. Within the workplace, mental health will lead to several consequences. They are
illustrated below:
Absenteeism: Increase in overall sickness will lead them to have frequent short interval
absence, poor health due to burnout, stress or depression (Papadopoulos and Pezzella, 2015).
Along with this, there will be a relevant impact on physical conditions like heart disease, skin
rashes, sleeping disorders, low resistance to infections, high blood pressures and many other
impacts will be there.
Work Performance: The levels of concentration on work will be declined which will lead
to reduction within the efforts made by them through which overall productivity as well as
results attained will not be precise. Furthermore, rate of errors will maximize, increased number
of accidents while delivering their services, deterioration within planning, control over work as
well as poor decision making.
Relationships at Work: There will be unfavorable impact as relationship with colleagues
will also be impacted. When precise results are not attained then blame game will start that will
influence relation with customers as well as employees and will also create disciplinary issues.
These are some implications of mental health within workplace but firm can eliminate their
impact up to some extent by incorporating social responsibilities within their day to day routines
and practices (Poreddi and et. al., 2015). Along with this, employees can be provided with
improvised working environment like enhancement within interaction, independence at work,
occupational safety and many other aspects. Training must be provided to them so that they can
have learning opportunities through which they will be able to enhance their skills as well as

make their use while delivering services. Along with this, health must be promoted by having
physical activities and prevention of substance abuse. Along with this, working premises need to
formulate adequate strategies so that any kind of biasness or fairness and even discrimination
either due to age, sexuality or any other reason do not take place as these are considered as major
factors which creates strong impact on the way in which people behave and react to certain
situations. These aspects must be taken into consideration by organization to ensure that people
have adequate working environment (Pullen and et. al, 2015). Furthermore, firms like NHS need
to have adequate counseling session so that exact problem can be explored like what is bothering
person so that they are reacting in specific way. It will aid them to understand either its stress,
depression or anything else and accordingly services can be furnished by them.
Conclusion
From above it can be concluded that, mental health refers to state of well-being of an
individual where they realize their potential to deal with different situations or stress which
occurs in life so that they can deal with it productively. There are various issues with respect to
mental health that are being faced by people. For an instance depression makes people feel alone
and even do things which they might have never thought. Such kind of actions needs a proper
care so that before a thing becomes adverse they are being handled. For doing so, organizations
and government have formulated various policies so that adequate treatment can be provided to
individuals without any kind of discriminations. Furthermore, health practitioners opt for
different theories to understand individuals and accordingly provide services to them. There can
be a adverse impact on individuals as well as close one who have any kind of contemporary issue
so significant care and treatment must be provided to them.

References
Books & Journals
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measuring patient-centered care and safety in psychiatric mental health
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and mental illness: A review of empirical studies 1994–2013. Archives of Psychiatric
Nursing, 30(2), pp.286-291.
Howatson-Jones, L., Standing, M. and Roberts, S., 2015. Patient assessment and care planning in
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undergraduate nursing students in Taiwan: A questionnaire study. Nurse education
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Keady, J. and Thompson, R., 2016. The community mental health nurse. In Educating
Professionals (pp. 59-78). Routledge.
Papadopoulos, I. and Pezzella, A., 2015. A snapshot review of culturally competent compassion
as addressed in selected mental health textbooks for undergraduate nursing
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Pullen, L., McGuire, S., Farmer, L. and Dodd, D., 2015. The relevance of spirituality to nursing
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Townsend, M. C. and Morgan, K.I., 2017. Psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care
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Varcarolis, E. M., 2016. Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing-E-Book. Elsevier
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Vijayalakshmi, P. and et. al., 2015. Bachelor of nursing student'attitude towards people with
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Online
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