{
    "id": 1013,
    "date": "2021-03-25T08:26:01",
    "date_gmt": "2021-03-25T02:56:01",
    "guid": {
        "rendered": "http:\/\/emindit.com\/?page_id=1013"
    },
    "modified": "2023-11-01T22:01:36",
    "modified_gmt": "2023-11-01T16:31:36",
    "slug": "what-is-mental-health",
    "status": "publish",
    "type": "post",
    "link": "https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/en\/what-is-mental-health\/",
    "title": {
        "rendered": "What is mental health?"
    },
    "content": {
        "rendered": "<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1013\" class=\"elementor elementor-1013\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-73f5387 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"73f5387\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e67b777\" data-id=\"e67b777\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74293d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74293d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 15-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental Health is as important as your physical health. Mental health is important at every stage in your life, from childhood and adolescence through to adulthood<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 It includes your ability to adapt to changes, cope with stress and develop meaningful relationships. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adolescence (10-19 years) is a unique phase with multiple physical, emotional and social changes. Some of these changes can be stressful especially if you have had an additional exposure to poverty, abuse, or violence it could impact your mental health.Young people (20-30 years) face challenges in choosing subjects to study in college, making career choices,finding a job, gaining financial independence and getting married.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of these changes can be stressful and you may need help and support especially if it starts affecting your sleep, eating habits, makes it difficult for you to get through the day, hampers your ability to form relationships and makes it emotionally difficult for you\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d1a32b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9d1a32b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 15-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large\">Mental Health Parameters<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d666b4b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d666b4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health is an integral and essential component of health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The WHO constitution states: &#8220;Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It includes emotional well-being, psychological well-being, social well-being and involves being able to<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">navigate successfully the complexities of life,<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">develop fulfilling relationships,<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adapt to change,<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">utilize appropriate coping mechanisms to achieve well-being without discrimination.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">realize their potential,<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have their needs met, and<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">develop skills that help them navigate the different environments they inhabit.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><h4><strong>ADOLESCENT AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH<\/strong><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WHO data<\/span><\/p><ul><li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and three-quarters by mid-20s <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">but most cases are undetected and untreated<\/span><\/li><\/ul><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suicide is the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Recently concluded National Mental Health Survey of India<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (2018)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> estimates the current prevalence of mental disorders in the age group of 18-29 yr at 7.39 per cent (excluding tobacco use disorder) and lifetime prevalence at 9.54 per cent. The prevalence of mental disorders (excluding SUDs) in the age group of 13-17 yr is reported to be 7.3 per cent. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most young people are presumed to be healthy but, as per WHO, an estimated 2.6 million young people aged 10 to 24 yr die each year and a much greater number of young people suffer from illnesses \u2018behaviours\u2019 which hinder their ability to grow and develop to their full potential. Nearly two-thirds of premature deaths and one-third of the total disease burden in adults are associated with conditions or behaviours initiated in their youth (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e.g<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. tobacco use, physical inactivity, high risk sexual behaviours, injury and violence and others). The behavioural patterns established during this developmental phase determine their current health status and the risk for developing some chronic diseases in later years<\/span><\/p><h4><b>Factors affecting mental health<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biopsychosocial model of mental health considers three major factors that contribute to mental health:<\/span><\/p><ol><li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Biological<\/strong> : genetics factors, physical illnesses,biochemistry,chemical imbalance. intellectual or physical disability<\/span><\/li><li><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Psychological <\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">factors:childhood experiences, temperament,coping skills, personality factors like attitude, biases, self esteem, resilience, life events that affect the individual (eg.accidents,illness,loss,abuse, bullying, violence),life skills<\/span><\/li><li><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Social factors<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">:influence of family, peers, teachers, community, social media, gender, religion, culture, socioeconomic status, poverty, lifestyle<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.hc-sc.gc.ca\/hl-vs\/mental\/index-eng.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good mental health<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is more than just the absence of mental illness. It can be seen as a state of mental health that allows one to flourish and fully enjoy life.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Everyone experiences down times in life. The ability to cope with negative experiences varies greatly from one person to another and, in large part, determines whether people enjoy their lives.<\/span><\/p><h4><strong>Some of the factors that affect the mental health of youth are as follows:<\/strong><\/h4><ol><li><strong>Self-esteem-\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">This is the value we place on ourselves, our positive self-image and sense of self-worth. People with high self-esteem generally have a positive outlook and are satisfied with themselves most of the time.<\/span><\/li><li><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Feeling loved-\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Children who feel loved, trusted and accepted by their parents and others are far more likely to have good self-esteem. They are also more likely to feel comfortable, safe and secure, and are better able to communicate and develop positive relationships with others.<\/span><\/li><li><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Confidence-\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Youth should be encouraged to discover their own unique qualities and have the confidence to face challenges and take risks. Young people who are brought up to have confidence in themselves are more likely to have a positive attitude, and to lead happy and productive lives.<\/span><\/li><li><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Family breakup or loss-\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Separation or divorce or the loss of a parent or sibling is extremely painful. Finding ways to cope and adjust to the changes wrought by these events is critical for everyone, but particularly for youth. How grief is handled can affect young people negatively for years to come. If children are having difficulty coping, professional help is recommended.<\/span><\/li><li><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Difficult behaviour-\u00a0<\/strong>When people are unhappy, they either\u00a0internalise\u00a0their unhappiness or act out. The latter usually appears as bad or difficult behaviour, such as using abusive language, being aggressive or violent, damaging property, stealing, lying, refusing to comply with requests or expectations at school or home, or displaying other inappropriate actions. If such behaviour is serious and persistent, the young person and his or her family might require professional help.<\/li><li><strong>Physical ill health-\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diseases, injuries and other physical problems often contribute to poor mental health and sometimes mental illness. Some physical causes (such as birth trauma, brain injury or drug abuse) can directly affect brain chemistry and contribute to mental illness. More commonly, poor physical health can affect self-esteem and people\u2019s ability to meet their goals, which leads to unhappiness or even <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cmha.ab.ca\/bins\/content_page.asp?cid=284-285-1258-1414&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">depression<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In such cases, receiving the best possible treatment for both the physical problem and the resulting psychological consequences is key to optimal recovery to good mental health.<\/span><\/li><li><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Abuse-\u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mental health of abused children is at great risk. Abused children are more likely to experience <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 16px;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cmha.ab.ca\/bins\/content_page.asp?cid=3&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mental disorders or mental illness<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> during childhood and into adulthood.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Abuse may be physical, sexual, psychological or verbal. It may not always be evident or easily recognized. Regardless of the form it takes, abuse cannot be tolerated. Children need to be protected from abuse and helped to overcome its negative effects. Abuse can cause feelings of low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, depression, isolation and anger; all feelings that impair a child\u2019s chance to lead a happy life.<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trust in others and feelings of being safe and cared for are key components to recovery from abuse. Few children are able to recover on their own. Support is critical, and professional counselling is sometimes required. If abuse is discovered early, the chances of a child returning to a healthy state of mind and avoiding serious mental disorders are greatly enhanced.<\/span><\/p><h4><b>What is the Mental Health Continuum?\u00a0<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mental health continuum is a range having mental health and mental illness at the two extreme ends. Depending on the internal and external state of a person at any time, he can lie at one point of the continuum and shift position as his situation improves or deteriorates.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are distinct markers within the mental health continuum:<\/span><\/p><p><strong><i>The Healthy Point<\/i><\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who lie at this point are generally satisfied and happy in their lives. They are emotionally well-balanced, stable, and goal-oriented.<\/span><\/p><p><strong><i>The Problem Point<\/i><\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the mid-range of the continuum. People who lie at this point may show some distress and inability to cope, but are capable of performing daily life functions.<\/span><\/p><p><strong><i>The Disorder Point<\/i><\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the end of the continuum, and as the name suggests, people falling under this category are unable to cope with stress and exhibit significant changes in their thoughts, behavior, and actions.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f80d9e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4f80d9e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 15-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"719\" height=\"244\" src=\"https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Mental-Health-Continuum-Model-e1564054358945.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10228\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Mental-Health-Continuum-Model-e1564054358945.png 719w, https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Mental-Health-Continuum-Model-e1564054358945-300x102.png 300w, https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Mental-Health-Continuum-Model-e1564054358945-18x6.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 719px) 100vw, 719px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67ec529 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67ec529\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><b>A Look at the Mental Health Continuum (MHC)Diagram<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We experience stress every day, and sometimes it does take a toll on our happiness and well-being. Many of us succeed in overcoming the anxiety and bounce back to life, and their inner balance remains intact. But some unpleasant encounters dishevel the mind, and we might need a little support at those times to get back on our feet.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the primary responder to stress, we should pay equal importance to the daily struggles as we pay to the more significant adversities. For example, exams, relationships, or financial crises are substantial stressors that can alter our mental stability in a day. However, equally potential stressors lie in daily worries such as\u00a0 arguments with parents, keeping safe during Covid.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The theory of MHC states that while identifying which point we lie at the present moment, we must consider all the little things that upset us, and work on minimizing them altogether. The continuum describes the different mental health conditions along with their physiological effects and suggests ways to improve both.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The diagrammatic representation of MHC depicts:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthy and adaptive coping state.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mild and reversible distress state.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe and persistent impairment.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clinically significant mental disorder.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important to remember that we all are capable of moving from one end to the other end of the continuum. Being in the red zone does not imply that we cannot be in the green zone again, and vice versa. Below is a brief description of the main features of the mental health continuum model:<\/span><\/p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><b>Stage<\/b><\/p><\/td><td><p><b>Characteristics<\/b><\/p><\/td><td><p><b>Ways to improve\/sustain<\/b><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Positive, healthy functioning<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stable mood with minimum fluctuations.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall calm and peaceful state of mind.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contentment with life.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-motivated and energetic.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physically healthy.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prioritize tasks.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Break problems into smaller chunks and address one at a time.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain a healthy lifestyle.<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neutral, reactive state.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nervousness and worry.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vulnerability to stress.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling overwhelmed.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-doubt causes anxiety to perform.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tiredness and lack of energy.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognize abilities and limitations.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get a healthy diet plan and fitness regime.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engage in more social activities.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get adequate rest.<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Damaged and moderately ill<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Persistent sadness and feelings of inadequacy.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Restlessness and irritability.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of motivation to take up new challenges.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall feeling of apathy and unexplained fatigue to perform daily duties.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deterioration in personal and professional relationships.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Substance and drug abuse.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Self-awareness.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to get to the root cause of stress.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seek help.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get an emotional support system (e.g., family, friends, kids, therapist, colleagues).<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe mental illness<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extreme anxiety-causing social isolation.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Extreme mood swings.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sleeping and eating disorders.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alcohol or drug abuse.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inability to perform daily responsibilities, including basic self-care.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marked deterioration in academic or professional achievements.<\/span><\/p><\/td><td><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Go for professional assistance.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to stay around others as much as possible.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow the treatment plan.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to regain your previous health routine.<\/span><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6add8b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6add8b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"660\" height=\"444\" src=\"https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MHC-Diagram-e1564057070322.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10229\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MHC-Diagram-e1564057070322.png 660w, https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MHC-Diagram-e1564057070322-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/MHC-Diagram-e1564057070322-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e91c49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e91c49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><b>The Illness-Wellness Continuum<\/b><\/h4><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. John Travis (1972) created the Illness-Wellness Continuum, intending to inspire people rather than treat them. He formulated the continuum and a Wellness Inventory with some valuable inputs on how lifestyle modification can bring a positive shift in mindset and move us to the wellness end of the continuum.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The concept focuses on building well-being through responsibility, emotional control, deep insight, and mindful, holistic awareness. The Illness-Wellness Continuum runs on three key concepts of well-being:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wellness is a process; it is always moving up and down, right, and left. Moving from one paradigm to another does not signify personal achievement or shortcoming, it is a natural process we all go through at some point in life.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Presence of illness does not imply the absence of wellness and vice versa. They differ in degree and do not follow an all-or-none principle.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At any point, we have the potential to push ourselves from illness to wellness.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key takeaway of the concept of mental health continuum is that human coping effectiveness is always changing. We have the potential to drive ourselves from the negative to the not-so negative, and finally to the positive end of the continuum.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0961445 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0961445\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large\">The Biopsychosocial model of Mental Health<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-95b6d89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"95b6d89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"740\" height=\"404\" src=\"https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bpsh.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10227\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bpsh.jpg 740w, https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bpsh-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/myemotionalfirstaid.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/bpsh-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80c7e1a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80c7e1a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we go through life and the environment changes, our brain and it functions also changes. Likewise, a person\u2019s genetic makeup and the environment they interact with will have a profound effect on their mental health, biological health and their brain functions. In order to truly understand someone\u2019s mental health, we must take into account all of the factors affecting them both positively and negatively in order to get a better picture of their overall health and well-being.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Drs. George Engel and John Romano, the biopsychosocial perspective is more appropriate when analyzing the causes of mental illness. This model introduces the idea that there are biological, psychological, and social determinants to mental health. This idea links the outside world to someone\u2019s biology and psyche.\u00a0 It also involves our consciousness, sentiments, and behaviors.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One reason why the biopsychosocial perspective is so useful is because it explains how some people who are seemingly \u201chealthy\u201d can get mental illnesses and why some are more prone to mental illness than others. Those who are mentally healthy most likely exercise, have positive energy and strong social bonds does not exempt them from mental illness. The biopsychosocial perspective gives evidence that although someone can be mentally healthy at some point in their life, they can still experience mental illness if their biopsychosocial balance is disturbed.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the biopsychosocial model, interactions between people\u2019s genetic makeup (biology), mental health and personality (psychology), and sociocultural environment (social world) contribute to their experience of health or illness.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biological influences on mental health and mental illness are varied, and include genetics, infections, physical trauma, nutrition, hormones, and toxins.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The psychological component looks for potential psychological explanations for a health problem, such as lack of self-control, emotional turmoil, or negative thinking.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social and cultural factors are conceptualized as a particular set of stressful events (being laid off, for example) that can differentially impact mental health depending on the individual and his or her social context.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The biopsychosocial theory posits that each one of these factors is not sufficient to create health or mental illness, but the interaction between them determines the course of one\u2019s development.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This perspective can give clinical workers many benefits when treating a mentally ill patient. They are now able to apply every aspect of the patient\u2019s life to their illness.\u00a0 Those with mental illness can now gain a sense of self-awareness. Mental illness sufferers can understand their health as a whole entity with several parts that function together. It also broadens the way we view a mental illness by no longer looking at it as a black or white issue. The biopsychosocial perspective also challenges the stigma on mental illness by enabling people to realize that anyone can suffer from a mental illness because we all have biological, psychological, and social influencers<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>",
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        "rendered": "<p>Mental Health is as important as your physical health. Mental health is important at every stage in your life, from childhood and adolescence through to adulthood.\u00a0 It includes your ability to adapt to changes, cope with stress and develop meaningful relationships. Adolescence (10-19 years) is a unique phase with multiple physical, emotional and social changes. [&hellip;]<\/p>",
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