MENTAL HELATH

Mental Health

Mental Health

Introduction

Mental health refers to the mental well being of an individual, with complete cognitive and normal responses. As defined by the World Health Organization, mental health is a condition of well-being, in which a person can realize his capabilities and can learn to handle normal stressors. The productivity, behavior and the community contribution of the individual are also associated with his mental health (WHO, 2011).

The ABS 2012 statistics are essential tools that can be used in determining the risk and prevalence of this problem in Australia. In a report of 2003, mental health problems are regarded as the most influential cause of time of existence lost due to disability in healthy years of an individual. The term mental health is not restricted to one disease. There are a number of health care mental disorders that might affect the mental health of an individual.

Australia has been spending around 20 billion dollars every year on its mental health patients and programs (ABS, 2012). Even though a number of steps are being taken to improve the condition, the prevalence rate is still high. In the mental health and well being survey report (SMHWD), more than 45% of the total population of Australia has, at some time in life, suffered from mental disorders. The mental health statistics are based on gender and type of disorder present. For instance, anxiety is the most commonly occurring mental disorder amongst women in Australia (ABS, 2012)

This document has taken an account on the mental health problems, the protective and risk factors related to mental health of an individual, and increase in awareness and care by using nursing professionals as the quality health care providers. The assignment has adopted a holistic approach with the incorporation of evidence based literature to support its data.

Discussion

Mental Health Nursing

Mental health is one of the most famous parameter of a person to remain sane and function accordingly. There are several factors that drives the mental health illness, and the type of illness usually depends on these factors (Lorna, Paul, Shane, 2012). The diagnosis for these disorders is done by using an international Classification of Diseases (ICD) or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)

The mental health nursing is a widely promoted and growing role in Australia. Over the past few years, the role of mental health nurses is going through radical changes incorporating education and training of individuals, and assessing the future risks and protective factors (Nolan, Smojkis, pp.374-379, 2003). Mental health problems are not limited to the general communities, but they are also found commonly occurring in the health care settings. These includes the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Services (ATODS), critical care units, sexual health clinics surgical and medical units, maternity, outpatients, baby health clinics, GP surgeries, day surgery, pediatrics, emergency department, and X-ray departments (Lorna, Paul, Shane, 2012).

The core quality of a mental health nurse is to have an excellent understanding and effective communication skills that would help to empathize with individuals ...