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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following term:
Mental health
a general term that refers to the normal functioning of
emotional and intellectual abilities.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
1. Identify seven characteristics of mental health
These are characteristics of a person who is mentally healthy:
• Gets along with others
• Adapts to change
• Cares for self and others
• Gives and accepts love
• Deals with situations that cause stress, disappointment, and
frustration
• Takes responsibility for decisions, feelings, and actions
• Controls and fulfills desires and impulses in an appropriate
manner
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following terms:
Mental illness
a disease that affects a person’s ability to function at a
normal level in the family, home, or community; often
produces inappropriate behavior.
Situation response
a temporary condition that may be caused by a crisis,
temporary changes in the brain, side effects from
medications, interactions among medications, or severe
change in the environment.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
2. Identify four causes of mental illness
The following may cause or worsen mental illness:
• Physical factors such as
• Illness
• Disability
• Aging
• Substance abuse
• Chemical imbalance
• Environmental factors such as weak family relationships or
traumatic childhood experiences
• Heredity or family influence
• Stress, including coping abilities
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following term:
Fallacy
a false belief.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
3. Distinguish between fact and fallacy concerning mental illness
REMEMBER:
People who are mentally ill cannot control their illness and
choose to be well. Mental illness is a disease like any other
physical illness.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
3. Distinguish between fact and fallacy concerning mental illness
REMEMBER:
Mental retardation and mental illness are not the same thing.
One common point, however, is that residents with either
condition will need emotional support in addition to care and
treatment.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
4. Explain the connection between mental and physical wellness
REMEMBER:
Mentally healthy people can reduce stress and prevent some
physical diseases. People with mental illness may experience
more stress and therefore more illness.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
4. Explain the connection between mental and physical wellness
Think about this question:
What do you do to reduce or relieve stress in your life?
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Transparency 20-1: Good Communication with Mentally Ill Residents
• Use simple, clear statements and normal tone of voice (not
like speaking to children).
• Communicate respect and concern.
• Sit or stand at normal distance.
• Use posture that says you’re listening (body language).
• Be honest and direct.
• Avoid arguments.
• Maintain eye contact.
• Listen carefully.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
5. List guidelines for communicating with mentally ill residents
Think about this question:
Good communication is important with every resident. Why do
you think it might take a special effort to maintain good
communication with a mentally ill resident?
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following term:
Defense mechanisms
unconscious behaviors used to release tension or cope with
stress.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
6. Identify and define common defense mechanisms
The following are categories of defense mechanisms:
• Denial
• Projection
• Displacement
• Rationalization
• Repression
• Regression
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
6. Identify and define common defense mechanisms
REMEMBER:
All people use defense mechanisms at some time, but mentally ill
people tend to use them to a greater degree.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following term:
Anxiety
uneasiness or fear, often about a situation or condition.
Phobia
an intense form of anxiety.
Claustrophobia
the fear of being in a confined space.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following term:
Panic disorder
a disorder in which a person is terrified for no apparent
reason.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
a disorder in which a person uses obsessive behavior to cope
with anxiety.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
an anxiety-related disorder brought on by a traumatic
experience.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following term:
Apathy
lack of interest in activities.
Major depression
a serious mental illness which may cause mental, emotional,
and physical pain and disability; if untreated, it may result in
suicide.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following term:
Bipolar disorder
illness which causes a person to swing from deep depression
to extreme activity; also called manic depression.
Schizophrenia
brain disorder which affects a person’s ability to think and
communicate clearly.
Paranoid schizophrenia
a brain disorder that centers mainly on hallucinations and
delusions.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
7. Describe the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and
schizophrenia
REMEMBER:
Many signs of mental illness are simply extreme behaviors most
people experience some of the time. Recognizing this might
make it easier to understand mentally ill residents.
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Transparency 20-2: Mental Diagnosis 1
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Transparency 20-3: Mental Diagnosis 2
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Transparency 20-4: Mental Diagnosis 3
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following term:
Psychotherapy
a method of treating mental illness that involves talking
about one’s problems with mental health professionals.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
8. Explain how mental illness is treated
Mental illness can be treated. Common treatments include the
following:
• Medication
• Psychotherapy
• Electroconvulsive (shock) treatment—generally used only
when other treatments have not been successful
• Psychosurgery, a kind of brain surgery, may improve chronic
mental disorders
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8. Explain how mental illness is treated
REMEMBER:
• Residents with mental illness have the right to participate in
the planning of their care just as any other resident.
• Their private information must also be kept confidential, just
as the information of any other resident.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
9. Explain your role in caring for residents who are mentally ill
The NA’s role in caring for residents who are mentally ill includes
the following:
• Observe residents for changes. Document and report.
• Support the resident and family and friends.
• Encourage residents to do as much for themselves as
possible.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
10. Identify important observations that should be made and
reported
Report any of the following:
• Changes in ability
• Positive or negative mood changes (withdrawal)
• Behavior changes
• Comments about hurting self or others (including jokes)
• Failure to take medication or medication errors
• Real or imagined physical symptoms
• Events, situations, or people that upset or excite residents
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
Define the following term:
Substance abuse
the use of legal or illegal drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol in a
way that is harmful to the abuser or to others.
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Transparency 20-5: Signs of Substance Abuse
• Changes in personality, moodiness, strange behavior,
disruption of routines
• Irritability
• Changes in physical appearance
• Smell of cigarettes, liquor, or other substances
• Reduced sense of smell
• Unexplained changes in vital signs
• Loss of appetite
• Inability to function normally
• Need for money
• Confusion/forgetfulness
• Blackouts or memory loss
• Frequent accidents
• Problems with family and friends
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
11. List the signs of substance abuse
REMEMBER:
Illegal drugs are not the only substances that are abused. Even
over-the-counter medications can be abused if too many are
taken.
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Mental Health and Mental Illness
11. List the signs of substance abuse
Think about this question:
What substances commonly found in the home could be abused?
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11. List the signs of substance abuse
REMEMBER:
Residents who do not have doctors’ orders against drinking
alcohol and who live in a facility where alcoholic beverages are
allowed may drink alcohol if they wish to do so. NAs should not
make judgments or gossip.