Research Paper on Mental Illness: 500 Million Affected Worldwide

Introduction

Mental illness or disease is a mental or behavioral pattern that causes critical distress or impairment of individual functioning. Such characteristics may be relapsing, persistent, and remitting, or occur in a single phase. Mental diseases have been a prevalent issue in societies. According to (Gunn 2015), at least 500 million individuals worldwide are suffering from behavioral or mental disorders. Statistically, 22 million have schizophrenia, 134 million suffer from alcohol or drug dependence, and 200 million suffer from anxiety and major depression (Mollard & Brage Hudson, 2015). Strategies and objectives have been implemented to enhance care for people living with psychological challenges. Nonetheless, there is a need for intervention from health community members to achieve such goals. Their response will help understand the correlation between physical and mental health as well as explaining trauma-informed care in detail.

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Two Mental Challenges Affecting a Community

Objectives are formulated based on priority and urgency. The suicide rate has been a significant issue affecting the society with a prevalence of about one individual in 2, 000 commit suicide annually (Tyrer, 2014). Young adults between the ages of 18-24 years are the most affected by the increased suicide rate. Reducing suicide rate is one of the community's objective because it is a severe public health challenge but preventable with timely, evidence-based interventions. Additionally, for societal responses to be effective, there is need for a comprehensive suicide prevention strategies. The second issue affecting a community is the prevalence of major depressive disorders (MDEs) between adolescents aged 12-17 years (Tyrer, 2014). In 2018, approximately 19% of adolescents between the ages of 12-17 years suffered from major depressive disorders (Mollard & Brage Hudson, 2015). It is a significant issue that needs to be addressed by society because its prevalence has been increasing systematically since 2014 when it was at 14.6 for the same age group (Mollard & Brage Hudson, 2015). The constant rise of individuals suffering from major depressive disorders in the group mentioned above indicates the need for society to intervene and reduce both suicide and major depressive disorders.

Role of Nurses in Minimizing Mental illnesses

Nurses are in a unique position to make a positive impact on society. Nursing practitioners can utilize their position of trust to guide the community to recognize the role and chance for advocacy to end stigma (Mollard & Brage Hudson, 2015). Similarly, nursing practitioners may enlighten the community concerning symptoms of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety in public meetings to help the organization seek medical and psychological assistance when the manifestation is at an early stage.

The Correlation between Physical and Mental Health and Impacts.

Multiple correlations between physical and mental health impact substantially an individual's quality of life and healthcare demands. The relationship between physical and mental health care include:

• Individuals with adverse physical challenges are at peril of developing psychological difficulties.
• Poor mental health is a peril aspect of adverse physical issues.

The social determinants play a critical role in influencing mental and physical health. It creates chances to minimize risk factors associated with aspects of physical and psychological health and increase protective factors. The understanding the association between physical and mental health is the initial step in developing initiatives to support people suffering from chronic physical challenges and mental illnesses.

How Mental Health Disorder Can Lead To Physical Issues

Physical and mental health have a bi-direction and complex association. An excellent example of how mental health disorder can lead to a physical condition is the association between schizophrenia and osteoporosis.

Schizophrenia and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition linked with low bone mass and probable fractures. According to (Tyrer 2014), individuals with schizophrenia are at an increased risk of developing the situation and thus increased chances to experience bone fractures. The study depicts that schizophrenia almost double one's chance of developing low bone density. Similarly, one in two individuals with schizophrenia has a lesser bone density and an enhanced peril of developing osteoporosis.

Trauma-Informed Care and Its Intervention to Children Suffering from Trauma

Trauma-Informed Care is an institutional structure and treatment strategy which involves responding, recognizing, and understanding the effects of trauma. Trauma-Informed Care also encourages psychological, physical, and emotional safety for clients and guides survivors to rebuild a sense of empowerment and control (Mollard & Brage Hudson, 2015). Additionally, Trauma-Informed Care increases the effectiveness of the child-serving framework by emphasizing on a universal language. A shared language helps formulate a collaborative understanding of trauma and practical strategies to address its impact. For instance, Trauma Systems Therapy improves awareness among caregivers in schools, home-setting, and society. It entails that a child's inability to regulate behavior or emotions does not mean a child is "bad," but instead that a social environment is not fulfilling the desires of the child in distinct ways.

Conclusion

Mental disorder is a behavioral pattern that causes impairment of physical functioning or distress. Examples of mental illnesses include schizophrenia, anxiety, diabetes, and major depressive disorders. Increased suicide rates and major depressive disorders are some of the mental disorders prevalent in a society that needs intervention from health care members such as nurses to minimize their prevalence, especially in young adults between the ages of 12-17 years. Consequently, there is a correlation between physical and mental health, with a good example is the link between schizophrenia and osteoporosis. People with schizophrenia have a low bone mass and an enhanced risk of developing osteoporosis.

References

Gunn, S. (2015). The third ten years of the World Health Organization: 1968-1977. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 88(11), 876-876. Doi: 10.2471/blt.10.077313

Mollard, E., & Brage Hudson, D. (2015). Nurse-Led Trauma-Informed Correctional Care for Women. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 52(3), 224-230. Doi: 10.1111/ppc.12122

Tyrer, P. (2014). Personality dysfunction is the cause of recurrent non-cognitive mental disorder: A testable hypothesis. Personality and Mental Health, 9(1), 1-7. Doi: 10.1002/pmh.1255