World health organisation:
Health- “state of (complete) physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease
or infirmity” (WHO, 1948)
Mental health- “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope
with hormonal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to
her or his community” (WHO, 2001)
Mental health difficulties are when our experience differs
from these. Differences in the way we think, feel, and
behave
Differences that are typically considered:
Socially and culturally unusual
To negatively affect the individual (sometimes those around
them)
According to DSM-5 (APA< 2013) mental health conditions include:
Depressive disorders
Anxiety disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia spectrum & psychotic disorders
Eating disorders
,Mental health
A range of views exist on causes of mental health difficulties
Biological Psychological Social
Genetics Cognitive processes biases Relationships
...
Brain stricture
Neurochemistry -
Beliefs about self & world
Conditioning
Social inequality & discrimination
Trauma
,Mental health Stigma in mental health
A mark that is perceived as signalling that someone is compromised or “tainted” by an attribute
(Pescosolido, 2013)
M
Contributing factors:
~
Stereotypes
↑
Prejudice
-
Discrimination
Different forms of stigma relating to mental health difficulties: (Corrigan et al., 2015)
Public stigma Self stigma
, Mental health History of mental health
The understanding and treatment of psychological difficulties may reflect the values and beliefs of the
society of the time (Foucault, 1967)
3 types of explanation commonly appear:
Supernatural
Biological
Psychological