Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Essay on understanding mental health
Essay on understanding mental health
Essay on understanding mental health
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Essay on understanding mental health
Mental health is being aware, accepting yourself, and striking a balance in all aspects of your life like social, spiritual, physical, economical, and mental (Association, 2001). Mental health can be described as our positive interactions with the context and events in our life, and having the ability to cope with life’s stressors. Mental health problems can begin at anytime during your life (CAMH, 2010). In fact anything can make it difficult for an individual’s ability to interact effectively, and may lead into a mental health problem (Association, 2001). People with a psychosis have difficulty dealing with day to day. Living in poverty or an abusive environment places serious strain on an individual’s mental health (Association, 2001). There is thought to be three causes to mental illness (Association, 2001). The first is genetic and some researchers suggest the mental illness is inherited (Association, 2001). Psychological is the second and this is when the individual expresses low self esteem which can lead to depression. The third is socio-cultural, or stressor of life. This is when the family structure or ways of communication could induce abnormal behaviour (Association, 2001). Concurrent Disorders describe a condition in which a person has both a mental illness and a substance abuse problem (Network, 2008; Association C. M.). Concurrent Disorders are often referred as duel diagnosis, duel disorders, and co-occurring (CAMH, 2010). The title is used widely, and it involves many different combinations (Association C. M.) However, there is no simple cause of concurrent disorders, as each person is different (CAMH, 2010). People choose to self medicate as a way to feel better, causing them to become dependent on the sub... ... middle of paper ... ...ddiction.htm Association, C. M. (n.d.). Canadian Mental Healt Association, Ontario. Retrieved from Concurrent Disorders: www.ontario.cmha.ca/about-mental-health.asp?cID=7597 CAMH. (2010, October 21). Center for Addiction and Mental Health- Information About Concurrent Disorders. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Canada, H. (2009, December 16). Best Practices- Concurrent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders. Retrieved from Intergrated Treatment: www.hc-sc.gc.ca David Capuzzi, M. D. (2008). Foundations of Addictions Counseling. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. Network, C. W. (2008, May). About Concurrent Disorders. Retrieved from Central West Concurrent Disorders Network: hppt://centralwestcdn.ca/about-concurrent-disorders Wikipedia. (2011, January 15). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from Detoxification: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detoxification
Co-occurring disorders is a term that can be very broad and can describe different conditions that happen or occur at the same time. For the purpose of this essay and from the mental health perspective co-occurring disorders refer to someone who has a substance use disorder such as alcohol or drugs, and also has a mental disorder such as depression or any other mental illness. According to a study conducted in 2014 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) adults 18 and over who were surveyed reported having a substance use and/or mental illness. “Of these, 7.9 million people had both a mental disorder and substance use disorder” (SAMHSA, 2016). This essay will provide general history information about co-occurring disorders, how the term came about, treatment integration and the quadrants, as well as a personal view on the use of the co-occurring term.
Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry 56.1 (2011): 3-4. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 14 May
Co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders are quite prevalent in today’s society. Treatment and prevention of co-occurring disorders are both critical topics. However, professionals across the board cannot seem to agree on what is the best way to approach these topics. Perhaps the most ‘at-risk’ demographic for substance use are adolescents, ages 12 – 17. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA], 2011) Thankfully, more and more research has been conducted in the areas of adolescents and co-occurring disorders over the past few decades. However, since treating and preventing co-occurring disorders in adolescents is so monumental for their proper development and for their future as adults, the research must continue.
Sacks, S., Chandler, R., & Gonzales, J. (2008). Responding to the challenge of co-occurring disorders: Suggestions for future research. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 34(1), 139-146
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2009). Results from the 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings (Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H-36,HHS.PublicationNo.SMA09-4434).Rockville,MD,p.25., http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k8nsduh/2k8Results.pdf
Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria. (2008) Understanding dual diagnosis: mental illness and substance use. Retrieved from http://www.mifellowship.org/sites/default/files/styles/Fact%20Sheets/Understanding%20Dual%20Diagnosis.pdf
"Prevalence, Severity, and Comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2013. .
Co-occurring disorders or dual-diagnosis are terms used to describe clients with an SUD and mental illness. Much like the chicken and the egg, professionals continue to discuss and argue whether the substance use disorder (SUD) contributed to the mental illness, the mental illness led to the SUD, the mental illness and SUD co-exist, or whether the two are interconnected. While the verdict is still out, what is known is there are complications and challenges in using this diagnosis. There are also problems related to this subpopulation and treatment options used.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fourth Edition. Arlington : American Psychiatric Association.
Association, A. P. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, (DSM-IV-TR). Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2000.
Saisan, Joanna, Melinda Smith, and Jeanne Segal. "Substance Abuse and Mental Health." Help Guide. N.p., Feb. 2014. Web. 7 Apr. 2014. .
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR. (4th ed.). (2000). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.
Kessler et al. (2013). The Epidemiology of co‐occurring addictive and mental disorders: implications for prevention and service utilization. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 66(1), p. 17-31.