MENTAL HEALTH AND
ILLNESS
Outline
• The concept of mental Health
• What factors affect mental health?
• What are the causes of mental
illness?
Mental Health
• There is no health without mental health
• WHO (2001b, p.1) defines health as “…a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-being and
not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.
• WHO (2001d, p.1) defines mental health as “a state
of well-being in which the individual realizes his or
her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses
of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is
able to make a contribution to his or her
community”.
Mental Health cont’d
• Mental health includes "subjective
well-being, perceived self-efficacy,
autonomy, competence, and self-
actualization of one's intellectual
and emotional potentials, among
others.
Mental Health cont’d
• Mental health is an integral part of
health
• Mental health is more than the
absence of mental illness
• Mental health is intimately connected
with physical health and behaviour.
Factors that influence Mental Health
• Economic- poverty, education, unemployment,
working conditions
• Biological- physical illnesses
• Social- insecurity, hopelessness, rapid social
change, violence, human right violations, housing
etc.
• Political - political tension, violence and instability
• Lifestyles- sleep, physical exercise, dietary
behaviours etc.
The concept of Mental Illness
• A mental illness is a condition that impacts a
person's thinking, feeling or mood and may
affect his or her ability to relate to others and
function on a daily basis.
• A mental disorder is a psychological syndrome
or pattern, which occurs in an individual, and
causes distress via a painful symptom or
disability, or increases the risk of death, pain,
or disability.
The concept of Mental Illness cont’d
• However it excludes normal
responses such as grief from loss of a
loved one, and also excludes deviant
behavior for political, religious, or
societal reasons not arising from a
dysfunction in the individual.
Causes of Mental Illness
• Biological-Hereditary, Neurochemical
& Neuroanatomical.
• Psychological- Behavioural, Cognitive
etc.
• Sociocultural- violence, trauma,
poverty etc.
In summary
• Mental Health-The successful performance of mental
function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling
relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to
change and to cope with adversity.
• Mental Illness- refers collectively to all mental disorders,
which are health conditions characterized by alterations in
thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof)
associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.
• Mental Health Problems- Signs and symptoms of
insufficient intensity or duration to meet the criteria for any
mental disorder.
Clinical Thinking
How can we apply our
understanding of mental
health and illness in public
health practice?
