This is a concept paper of

Mr. Von Luis Allado

Mr. Melvin A. Bernante

Ms. Brigette Grace A. Basa

Ms. Allyssa Jane Cabrera

Ms. Anna Michaella C. Fedeles

Ms. Princess S. Salva

focusing on the

How to prevent Mental Illness and Maintain Mental Health to the people who are
suffering Mental Disorders

INTRODUCTION

Mental disorders or mental illnesses are conditions that affects your thinking, feeling,

mood, and behavior. They may be occasionally or long-lasting. They can affect your ability to

relate to others and function each day. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety

disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors. Mental disorders have

many causes - it may cause your genes and family history, your experience such as stress or

a history of abuse especially if they happen in childhood, use of alcohol or recreational drugs,

having few friends and feeling lonely or isolated. A mental illness can make you miserable and

can cause problems in your daily life, such as at school, work or in relationship. There are

many different mental disorders, with different presentations. They are generally characterized

by a combination of abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions, behavior and relationships

with others.

People with serious mental illness are not ill in isolation. Their families, extended

whanau, and significant others, whatever they think about the illness, cannot escape being

affected by it. “The lives of people with serious mental illness are inextricably involved with the

lives of those they love and care for, and the lives of those who love and care about them.”
(Mental Health Commission, 1998 p9). Traditionally families have been contributing to mental

illness - either as causing it or aggravating it (Riebschleger 2001; Marshall, Solomon et al.

2003; Rethink 2003). They have, at various times in the history of mental illness supported

institutionalization (by sending their relatives to psychiatric institutions (Jones 2002) or been

major players in deinstitutionalization (more recently). Many families have assumed a caring

role for people with experience of mental illness (Mason 1996). There are many stereotypes

about families of people with experience of mental illness including their being dysfunctional,

incompetent, burdened or brave (Banks 2003). The British Columbia Minister of Health’s

Advisory Council on Mental Health (2002) reports that these stereotypes have an impact -

families of people with experience of mental illness have strained relationships with others,

and experience fear, violence, anxiety, conflict, lowered self-esteem and guilt. Angermeyer,

Shulze et al. (2003) state succinctly that family members of people with experience of mental

illness are characterized by ‘responsibility’. That is “they act as the major caretaker, and have

a special emotional closeness” (Angermeyer, Shulze et al. 2003, p602).

To prevent or overcome the mental health disorders, reduce your stress level. Use

natural methods to control your stress. Take deep breaths for instance, do physical activity or

take time to relax. Have confidence in yourself. When you are experiencing difficult moments,

join self-help and support groups because this allows you to exchange with other people that

are in the same situation as yourself and this could help you better manage your emotions

while learning from others' experiences. You should also maintain a positive work environment

such as holding team meetings regularly, encouraging employees to participate in company

activities, planning employee training programs, establishing measures for preventing

psychological harassment and promoting civility in the workplace.

The main endeavor of mental health promotion was to focus on positive mental health

by building of strengths, competencies and resources (Barry et al 2007). Prevention on the

other hand aims to reduce the numbers, occurrence, intensity and extent of specific disorders.

They may seem to impact different outcomes but in practice, there is much common ground
between the two areas (Barry et al 2007). Research in the area of mental health reveals an

emerging awareness that considerable achievement in mental health will only be probable if

two factors are paid equivalent to along with treatment. One, promotion of mental health and

two, psychosocial factors in human development. According to Conyane (2004 pg. no 70)

‘Prevention is a goal both for everyday life and for service delivery, through which people

become empowered to interact effectively and appropriately within varying levels 9 of systems

(micro, meso, exo, and macro) and settings (individual, family, school, community, work)’.

Preventive interventions can shelve an increase in occurrence of new cases, in the duration

and severity of potential problems, and it can uphold strengths and optimal human functioning.

The purpose of the study is to know the ways on how to prevent the mental disorder

and to present the possible solutions to maintain our mental health. The following are the

research questions answered after the analysis of data gathered.

1. Does maintaining mental health keep the people from suffering mental disorders?

2. How will they prevent or overcome mental disorder? What are its possible ways?

3. How will they help the person who is suffering with mental disorder?

SUBJECTS AND RESEARCH LOCALE

We the researchers would like to conduct a one-to-one interview to ten random people

who are suffering mental disorders to help us explain, better understand, and explore research

subjects' opinions, behavior, experiences, phenomenon, preferences, and feelings. Open-

ended questions will be used so that in-depth information will be collected.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms have been operationally defined for clearer understanding of the

study.
 Mental disorder - also called a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or

mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning.

 Mental illness - also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of metal

health condition-disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Example of

mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders

and addictive behaviors. Many people have mental health concerns from time to time.

But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and

symptoms case frequent stress and affect your ability to function. A mental illness can

make you miserable and can causes problem in your life, such as at the school or work

or in elation or in relationship. In most symptoms can be manage with a combination

of medication and talk therapy (psychotherapy).

 Mental health -