This assignment will aim to provide the knowledge to understand the key symptoms of mental health and their treatment, it will go to explore signs of aggressive behavior and how to diffuse and control the situation. It will continue to identify the role of therapeutic communication skills in Mental Health both verbal and non-verbal as well as its strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, it will identify the different agencies working in the field of mental health and the support that these agencies offer individuals experiencing mental health illnesses.
Mental health condition considers an individual’s psychological, social, and emotional well-being. Mental health affects an individual’s way of thinking, the way they feel, and how they behave. It is a state in which an individual can recognize their ability to adapt to changes and cope with the stresses of everyday life, whether they can handle simple or complexed situations, how well they are able to make sound decisions and how well they relate to others in society (Mental health.gov, 2020).
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The key symptoms of mental health illnesses are as follows: extreme mood changes highs and lows confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate excessive fears or worries or extreme feeling of guilt withdraw from friends’ families and activities significant tiredness, low energy, problems sleeping and change in hygiene.
The impact of mental health problems can be identified in three key stages emotional, physical, and behavioral. Individuals may experience feelings of anxiety, fear, depression, and stress. The impact of physical mental health can lead to non-insulin diabetes or even cardiovascular disease and some individuals may consume excessive alcohol intake and drug misuse. Behavioral stage can be signs of self-harming, anger or even aggression, some may experience delusions, and some might engage in risky behaviors (Mayoclinic, 2021).
There are several management and treatments approaches that could be used in mental health illness, talking treatment therapies, arts and creative therapies, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), complementary and alternative therapies and medications being the commonest. There are antidepressants which is probably the most prevalent of all the medications used for those individual’s experiencing depression, anxiety and eating problems. Antipsychotic medication is used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia or even extreme cases of anxiety. If suffering from sleeping problems, then the doctor might likely prescribe sleeping pills or minor tranquilizers to help keep you calm. Lithium is a type of stabilizer that doctors will prescribe an individual experiencing extreme mood swings such as bipolar disorder (Mind, 2021). These antipsychotic medications will not cure the psychosis part of mental health and when taking on a long-term basis can be highly addictive, and with all medication can have a numerous amount of side effects. However, these medications can reduce and control many of the symptoms certain individuals are experiencing. Many of the medications come in tablet form, but for those who do have a hard time swallowing tablets could also be taken in liquid form (Better Health Channel, 2019).
Another manageable treatment that could be used in mental health illness is the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a type of talking therapy which helps change the way the individual thinks and behave. Several researches show that cognitive behavioral treatment, is the second commonest of all the treatments used to treat individuals suffering with anxiety and depression as well as other mental and physical health problems. With all treatments comes with its advantages and disadvantages, cognitive behavior therapy can be as effective as the medications used to treat mental health illness, and after treatment can be a practical and helpful strategy to the individual’s everyday life to manage with future stresses and other difficulties. Strong commitment is needed from the individual, the cognitive behavior therapist can only help and give advice, they cannot make the problem disappear, only the individual can do this with sheer cooperation. Cognitive behavior therapy may not be suitable for individuals who experience complexed mental health needs or who has learning difficulties and does not address factors such as society and families that can have a weighty impact on the individual’s health and well-being (CBT Clinic, 2021).
According to Healthline (2019), aggressive behavior can cause physical and emotional harm to others. It may range from verbal abuse to physical abuse. It can also involve harming personal property. Some signs of aggressive behavior can be harassing or threatening to harm someone through online social media, texted messages, and emails. Punching, slapping and or kicking a person or object, it can be destruction of property or invading another person’s personal space. Unfortunately, aggressive behavior can even be as grave as sexual assault and shooting or stabbing. Aggressive behavior can be caused by a numerous of factors such as genetics, individuals with a family history of mental illness for example bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, autistic spectrum or schizophrenia to name a few, is highly likely to struggle with aggression, other factors such as the Environment in which you live can influence you displaying signs of aggressive behavior, this can be a result of someone else’s actions of aggressive behavior, surviving a trauma, the individual could be experiencing stress and frustration, have a history of substance abuse, struggling with relationship skills, or it could be that the individual resides in an area filled with violence and crimes and could have also been a victim of a crime themselves (Valley Behavioral Health System 2021). When faced with controlling violent situations there are some very good strategic ways to diffuse them. Try to stay calm and do not attack or get defensive, observe the situation, and focus on how the individual is behaving. Listen and clarify determine needs, in other words observe and listen, try to find out what is wrong and why they are upset. Another strategy is being empathetic and responsive, show that you care and that you acknowledge them. Find common ground, agreed points or shared vision, this is trying to get a clear picture of what the individual needs and how closely they are to achieving them also what works well and what can be improved on. Clarify boundaries and be clear on set rules. Focus on facts, tasks, and priorities, support the individual to not focus so much on their emotions or the past but to fucus more on the future. Show interest by following up communication, summarizing what they have said. Work on a solution and agree on a strategic plan of action as a way forward (SmartCompany, 2015).
Mental health professionals will need to know how to communicate with patients that suffers with mental health problems, such communications are therapeutic verbal and non-verbal communication skills. This will help the patients to manage with their problems more and help them feel in control (Quill, 2021). Non-verbal communications are: active listening using non-verbal cues such nodding of the head will show the patient that the professional is listening, showing interest and understands what they say - no response, non-judge mental, accepts patients’ feelings, beliefs, and thoughts. Silence can be a very effective non-verbal communication, this gives patients the time and space to think through and process the topic of a conversation (American Nurse, 2021). A hand touch, or a hug helps to improve an individual’s mental health, provides a sense of warmth, and makes them feel cared for (Psychreg, 2020).
Verbal communications can be:
- Hope and humor. Sharing of hope and humor can assist patients to get through a present situation, professionals can then build a rapport with the patients, and the patient can be in a positive state of mind.
- Reflecting: this is when a patient asks the professional for advice with a problem or a situation they are experiencing. The professionals can then revert the question back to the patient making it so that the patient becomes responsible for their own choices of action, it encourages patients to think of ways to solve the situation themselves.
- Giving recognition. According to American Nurse (2021), recognition acknowledges a patient’s behavior and highlights it without giving an overt compliment. A compliment can sometimes be taken as condescending, especially when it concerns a routine task like making the bed. However, saying something like ‘I noticed you took all of your medications’ draws attention to the action and encourages it without requiring a compliment.
I believe I am highly skilled at making individuals smile or laugh by the use of humor, I also feel that I am a very active listener by listening and only responding to an individual with cues such as the use of eye contact and nodding of head. I do believe that I can improve myself in areas such as touch, because I like to hug a lot, I sometimes forget that I need to ask the individual first, this might be ok with a close friend or relative but could come across in the wrong way if working with individuals with mental health. I also need to improve on using closed ended questions only when necessary, especially if I am trying to get the individual to elaborate more on their feelings and situations when speaking.
There are a several agencies that work in the field of mental health. Mind Group provides information and support on mental illness. Rethink Mental Illness supports people who experiencing severe mental illness and complexities using various therapies networking and local group sessions. Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust-Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust provides a comprehensive mental healthcare service for residents of Birmingham and Solihull, and a range of specialist mental health services to communities across the West Midlands and beyond. Forward Thinking Birmingham Mental Health Services is the provider of mental health services for people to the age of 25. The service can be accessed through referrals from social care and health services for counselling. These agencies work in partnership to provide mental health information and support to individuals experiencing severe mental illness or complexities. This support if offered through networking in community hubs, hospital admissions, talking therapies, crisis interventions and counselling.
In conclusion of this assignment, I have identified that mental illness is more widespread of an ailment than first anticipated, manifesting itself in many ways and can affect all individuals. Mental health is not just a psychological form but also can be identified to affect your physical wellbeing. It is therefore important for mental health support agencies work together in partnership to minimize the suffering and stigma around mental health illnesses.
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