Practitioners for Mental Health and Wellbeing

A mental illness is a disorder diagnosed by a medical professional (doctors) which can be provided in private clinics or in hospitals. These professionals significantly interfere with an individual’s cognitive, emotional or social abilities and also provide treatments for mental illness. There are different types of mental illness and they occur with varying degrees of severity. Some mental illness takes more time more time to analyse in some cases, some people don’t realise they got mental illness until they are seen by a doctor. A mental illness may also interfere with cognitive, emotional or social abilities but may not meet the criteria for a diagnosed mental illness. Mental health problems often appear as a result of life stressors, and are usually less severe and of shorter duration than mental illnesses. These problems normally resolve itself with time or when the individual has the motivation to make the situation better. However, if mental health problems persist or increase in severity, they may develop into a mental illness which will need more action from doctors and may require treatments or even professional help such as mentors, councillors etc…

Mental health and older people’s services have many years been neglected by policymakers and given low priority in resource allocation, the combination of old age and mental health problems produces a double disadvantage within the broad care, the promotion of mental health and well-being in later life has been the least visible area of activity, due to because of how the practitioners have treated the patients and most practitioners grouped out as the rude staff and are unable to treat the patients with respect because they can’t handle the fact that the patient may have double disadvantages

The role for the social care practitioner to promote mental health and wellbeing is that they would need to contribute to the overall provision of services for all ages by managing a case load in line with pathways, with operational procedure such as assessments and working with all colleagues, including volunteers and peer-support leaders in order to gain the experience and build the confidence working with your peers and colleagues.

In the mental illness industry, there are a lot of types of mental problems such as Anxiety and panic attacks, Depression and Bipolar Disorder. In each of these disorders there are different types of treatments and each have its own way of being sorted.

• Anxiety and panic attacks is what we feel when we are constantly worrying about something, tense or even afraid. Overthinking about things that are about to happen or things that are going to happen in the future. Anxiety is natural, any human being can experience anxiety, some may suffer from anxiety more than others. This may happen when a human gets a feeling that they are under threat. Anxiety can be experienced by our thoughts, though our feelings to our physical sensations.
• Depression is most known as a disorder that affects peoples’ everyday life. This Disorder is a low mood that lasts for a long time. This will not stop anyone from having a normal life but makes life experiences a lot harder and seem less worthwhile which means nothing that is done is done properly. Depression can be life-threatening because it can make the individual possibly feel or want to be suicidal. Depression feelings can make a person feel sad or miserable about their life every day.
• Bipolar Disorder mainly affects a person’s mood. If an individual has Bipolar Disorder it is more likely they experience manic or hypomanic episode which makes them feel high, Depressive episodes can make someone feel low and potentially some psychotic symptoms which can happen during manic or depressed episodes. This Disorder may have a big impact on a individuals life. Individual may feel high or low moods are extreme and that swings moods are overwhelming.

Mental illness can affect relationships and family life and certain medications will have an effect of pregnancy and the ‘unborn child’. If taking medications, medical advice on conceiving prescribed medications should always be conceived in further actions and to be spoken about and sought. Its most know that having woman experiencing mental ill health for the first time in pregnancy is normal. Women may feel more vulnerable, anxious and insecurity and some may develop depression.

In mental health industry there are different type of professionals that support individuals. Each area has its own professional such as:

• Doctors (GP) Their job role is to talk through the problems in this case Mental health and illness. Doctors prescribe medicine for the right specific disorder, they also may refer the individual to a specialist counsellor or psychiatrist or mental health.
• Social Workers can offer the individual practical help and advice depending on the matters for example the accommodation and financial support such as benefits.
• Psychiatrist deals with the physical aspect of mental health such as for example drug therapy. Psychiatrist may work with psychologist and counsellors. Their job role is to discuss with the individual about their thoughts and feelings to work out strategies with the individual.
• Health visitors are basically qualified nurses with specialist training working for the community. Health visitors help individuals with mental health issues to be able to live in their own home. They help to keep healthy, helping with diet and exercise, be there for the individual, offer practical advice about everything such as food, hygiene and day to day living and let the individual know about other services that may help.

People’s attitudes are changing towards mental ill-health, this is because it is high on political priorities in order to maintain law and order in society and the political intervention has helped while the investment has shown good outcomes and this makes it better for the people of the communities but in a world where the population is getting older, it is very likely to see mental health as a condition in which majority of the population may probably suffer in different forms in their life time

National Strategy improves individuals with mental illness to have a better life. This strategy is basically improving the mental health and wellbeing of the population and keep people well and safe. They provide high-quality services that are equally accessible to everyone with different mental illness.

Section 117 aftercare – This section explains if you can eat free after-care under section 117 of the mental health act 1993. It explains what services you might get and when your care will end, after care means when you get the help after leaving the hospital. Some people who has mental health issues may have be to keep in hospital under the Mental Health Act can get free help and support after they leave hospital when treatment is done. The law that gives this right is section 117 of the Mental Health Act, and it is often referred to as ‘section 117 aftercare’.

Reference list

• Everymind (2019)  Understanding mental ill-health Available at https://everymind.org.au/mental-health/understanding-mental-health/what-is-mental-illness Accessed on 02/04/2019
• Skillsforcare (2019) Supporting and promoting good mental health and wellbeing Available at https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Documents/Topics/Mental-health/Mental-health-overview-leaflet.pdf Accessed on 02/04/2019
• Skillsforcare (2019) mental health Available at https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Learning-development/ongoing-learning-and-development/mental-health/Mental-health.aspx Accessed on 02/04/2019
• Mind (2013) Types of mental health problems available at
• https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/ Accessed on 02/04/2019
• NHS (2019) mental health problems and pregnancy available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/mental-health-problems-pregnant/ Accessed on 02/04/2019
• nidirect (2018) Mental health care professionals available at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/mental-health-care-professionals#toc-0  Accessed on 02/04/2019
• The information centre (2011) Attitudes to Mental Illness – 2011 survey report https://files.digital.nhs.uk/publicationimport/pub00xxx/pub00292/atti-ment-illn-2011-sur-rep.pdf Accessed on 02/04/2019
• GOV (2011) The mental health strategy for England available https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-mental-health-strategy-for-england Accessed on 02/04/2019
• Mind (2013) Leaving hospital available at https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/leaving-hospital/section-117-aftercare/#.XKXfOv6ouUk Accessed on 02/04/2019