It is mostly difficult to precise mental health and illness. The society`s culture affects the values and beliefs of the individuals and the people in the society vastly which ultimately results in influencing the way the society sees mental illness and health. Mental health refers to the state of being socially, emotionally and psychologically well mainly by satisfying their effective behaviour, interpersonal relations and coping up with emotional stability and positive self-concept. Several factors which influence the mental health of a person are categorized as individualistic, interpersonal and cultural or social. While mental illness refers to the mental disorder which is shown as a psychological syndrome or clinically significant behaviour which occurs in humans because of the stress or distress that he/she is dealing with at the present time. This causes the individual to suffer with increased pain, loss of freedom, disability and sometimes death.
The concept of asylum was begun by William Tukes and Phillipe Pinel which was termed as a safe refuge that provides protection to individuals who are mentally not stable or who are beaten, starved or whipped. Sigmund Freud along with Eugene Bleuler and Emil Kraepelin started the treatment of mentally disordered individuals and developed the scientific study of psychiatry as well as the treatment and diagnosis of individuals suffering from mental illness. Freud asked the society to watch humans with an objective view, study their mind, the disorders they are dealing with and the treatment can be decided thereafter. While Bleuler began by schizophrenia and Kraepelin started by classifying the disorders by analysing the symptoms.
Mental illness treatment was started in around 1950 having a great leap and along with the development of the drugs which are used in treating mental illness or psychotropic drugs. Thorazine (Chlorpromazine) is a drug which works as an antiseptic and an antimanic agent called lithium was the first drug which were developed to treat individuals suffering from mental illness. In recent times, an antiseptic, Haloperidol (Haldol), monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressants; antianxiety agents known as benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants were introduced for the treatment of mental illness.
Reasons For Mental Illness
The estimates by National Institute of Mental Health shows that for over 26% Americans are diagnosed with mental illness which is approx. 57.7 million of the total population in the 21st century. Being a serious mental disturbance, it impairs everyday practices and activities. This illness is also the main reason of disability in Canada and USA mainly for those aged between 15 to 44 years. Another for the cause of mental health and mental illness is homelessness and it is shown that around one-third of adults are homeless which causes them severe pain and becomes a reason for mental illness.
The Need for Psychiatric Nursing
Psychiatric nurses help individuals suffering from mental disorders by maintaining a therapeutic relation with them. The main components of mental health and illness revolve around the interpersonal relations of individuals and the communications and interactions made between the clients and nurses. Understanding and empathy is the most important role played by nurses which a positive balance for patients. They help them in making them understand their importance of existence. Individuality care is another role played by nurses and this makes the patients feel that they are respected and valued. Providing support and being available for patients is also a role played by them. Demonstrating self-awareness and respect is also an important role.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, mental health and illness are considered to be dangerous as it shows detrimental effects on humans. Psychiatric nurses play a significant role in treating those with mental illness. It is important for people and society to understand how mental illness can be reduced and how nurses help in treating mental illness and play the role of a nurse.