Essay Sample: Mental Health Literacy Programme

Introduction

Mental health disorders are common problems affecting numerous persons around the world. Nevertheless, most persons have an incomplete understanding of the concepts of mental health and mental health disorders (Pilgrim, 2014; Jorm, Korten, & Jacomb 1996). Additionally, a significant number of persons are not informed about the diagnosis and methods of treatment available for mental health conditions (Quality Care Commission, 2015). As such, it imperative to conduct an effective public education, program aimed at informing the public about mental health. This essay is a draft of a mental health literacy programme aimed at educating the public about the interventions available for treating bipolar disorder.

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Bipolar Disorder

The condition is also referred as manic depression. Persons suffering from bipolar disorder experience alternating sessions of unusually intense emotions. They are also characterized by a significant change in their sleeping patterns and activity levels. Additionally, most persons with this mental condition portray an unusual behaviour in executing their day to day functions. Such distinctive periods in the mental state of persons suffering from bipolar disorder are referred to as mood episodes. In addition, the mood episodes of bipolar disorder vary from one person to the other.

How Bipolar Disorder Condition Has Been Misunderstood in the Past

Due to the similarity in the symptoms of the condition with the symptoms of ordinary depression, bipolar disorder has often been misunderstood (Workman & LaCharity, 2015). Moreover, most persons suffering from the bipolar disorder condition fail to seek the right medical assistance (Miklowitz, 2011). This is because such persons lack sufficient knowledge of identifying the key symptoms of bipolar disorder and instead, they seek medical assistance for ordinary depression.

Interventions for Bipolar Disorder

The treatment of bipolar disorder starts with the diagnosis of the condition. A person suspecting to be suffering from this medical condition should first visit a mental hospital for a physical exam. This should be followed by a psychiatric assessment of the condition by a psychiatrist. In this case, a psychiatrist must compare the clients symptoms with those symptoms of the condition approved by the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Additionally, in the event the client is found positive for the condition, he can be offered antipsychotics, antidepressants as well as anti-anxiety medications.

Implementing a Literacy Program

A literacy program is an educational tool designed to empower a targeted audience pertaining a particular topic. In this case, the program will be essential in helping the public to be in a position to ascertain the symptoms of bipolar disorder in themselves. Consequently, they will be in a position to seek medical intervention to manage the mental condition. Moreover, it will aid in reducing the stigmatization of persons with mental disorders by their peers (Jorm & Wright, 2008). The components that will be covered in the literacy program are outlined in the chart below.

Chart for Literacy Program Outline for Bipolar Disorder

Topic Outline Definition Rationale For Implementing the Literacy Program

Bipolar Disorder A mental condition characterized by alternating sessions of unusually intense emotions. Numerous persons lack sufficient knowledge to identify the key symptoms of the condition.

Bipolar Disorder Literacy Program It is an educational training session that will be offered to the public on bipolar disorder. The program will be aimed at empowering the public with the knowledge of identifying the symptoms of bipolar disorder on people.

Program Delivery The method through which the literacy program will be delivered. A one-day training session focused on training the public about bipolar disorder will be held at the local town hall.

Target Population The people who will benefit from the training. Bipolar disorder can affect persons of all ages. As such, both adults and children will be welcome to attend the training event.

Measuring the Programs Outcome The method used to ascertain whether the program will benefit the public. A questionnaire survey aimed at collecting information pertaining the effectiveness of the bipolar disorder literacy program will be conducted five months after conducting the program. This will allow sufficient time for the public members to use the skills obtained from the program in identifying and seeking interventions for bipolar disorder.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the symptoms of bipolar disorder have often been confused with the symptoms of ordinary depression. As such, an effective literacy program focused on training the public about the conditions is essential. Moreover, the interventions for the condition should start with a physical examination from a doctor and later followed by a psychiatric assessment from a psychiatrist. Additionally, if a person is diagnosed with this conditions, the best intervention that should be administered to him/her includes the use of antipsychotics, antidepressants as well as anti-anxiety medications.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Jorm, A. F., Korten, A. E., Jacomb, P. A., Christensen, H., Rodgers, B., & Pollitt, P. (1996). Mental health literacy: A survey of the public's ability to recognise mental disorders and their beliefs about the effectiveness of treatment. Medical Journal of Australia, 166(4), 182186.

Jorm, A. F., & Wright, A. (2008). Influences on young peoples stigmatising attitudes towards peers with mental disorders: a national survey of young Australians and their parents. British Journal of Psychiatry, 192(2), 144149.

Miklowitz, D. J. (2011). The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide, Second Edition: What You and Your Family Need to Know. New York: Guilford Press.

Pilgrim, D. (2014). Key Concepts in Mental Health (3rd ed.). London, U.K.: Sage.

Quality Care Commission. (2015). Right here, right now: Peoples experience of help, care, and support during a mental health crisis. Retrieved from http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/20150611_righthere_mhcrisiscare_summary_3.pdf

Workman, M. L., & LaCharity, L. A. (2015). Understanding Pharmacology: Essentials for Medication Safety. Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences.