Symptoms And Treatment Of Mental Illness

As defined by experts, a mental illness is a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and involves changes in thinking, emotion, behavior, interpersonal interactions, daily functioning, or a combination. The causes of mental illness are complex and vary depending on the theories associated to the different biological, psychological, and environmental factors. The etiology of mental illness is based on five broad models: biological, psychological, behavioral, cognitive, and social.

Mental illness is a term which is used when a persons mind is affected in some way by a group of illnesses (Ministry of Health [MOH], 2012).

Mental health is defined as the state of satisfactory use of mental function, which results in productive activities, interactions, adjustment to change and coping with challenges (Healthy People 2020, 2012). It is fundamental to one's personal well-being, his interpersonal relationships, and fruitful participation in, and contribution to, society in general. Mental illness or mental disorder refers as a whole to all diagnosable disturbances of the mind. These disturbances are characterized by changes in thinking, mood, and/or behavior, which produce pain, discomfort, abnormal functioning or death. Mental illnesses are serious medical conditions, which cannot be overcome by simple will power. They are not caused by personality weakness or intelligence (Healthy People 2020; NAMI, 2012).

The shutdown of state mental hospitals and lack of available financial and institutional resources force mentally ill people to the United States Judicial System for mental health. Every year thousands of people are arrested for various crimes and they are sent to jail. Sixteen percent of these people have some type of mental health problem (Public Broadcasting System , 2001). When we consider that the United States has the largest incarcerated population in the world at 2.2 million, this number is staggering (Anasseril E. Daniel, 2007). This is about 1% of the entire population of the United States. There are many reasons as to why the situation has taken such a bad turn and when the history of the treatment of mental illness is examined one can see how the situation developed into the inhumane disaster it is today.

Forget all the stereotypes of mental illness. It has no face. It has no particular victim. Mental illness can affect an individual from any background and the black community is no exception. African Americans sometimes experience even more severe forms of mental health conditions because of unmet needs and barriers to treatment. According to the Office of Minority Health, African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious mental health problems than the general population. That’s why UGA third year Majenneh Sengbe is taking action as the co-founder of her upcoming organization Black Minds Daily.

A mental disorder, also known as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a diagnosis by a mental health professional of a behavioral or mental pattern

“Mental illness refers to a group of disorders that affect the way a person thinks, feels and acts”(“WHAT is mental illness?”). “Mental illnesses include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and personality disorders.

Ms. A is a 28-year-old married, executive who sees the clinician for symptoms over the last three months. Ms. A experiences trouble sleeping and nervousness. Ms. A states she is in good health and used to use substances, but has not used any substances in the last five years. She has had a 15-pound weight loss and fatigue. She has worrisome thoughts that her husband will leave her after his last business trip. She is irritable and restless, and states that even when she is in a relationship, she has feelings of emptiness. (The case study, n.d.).

Among the world of mental health there exists many unexplained disorders. Most of these psychiatric disorders occur for no reason and without conscious control. However, in the section of somatic symptom disorders there exists diagnoses of people with factitious disorder whom intentionally pretend illness in order to fulfill their emotional needs. For the FD client, there is a strong urge to assume the role of “patient.”

Art therapy treatment is a type of expressive treatment that uses therapist specialist materials, for example, paints, chalk and markers. Therapist specialist treatment joins conventional psychotherapeutic speculations and strategies with a comprehension of the mental parts of the imaginative procedure, particularly the emotional properties of the diverse art therapy materials. Therapist specialist treatment includes the making of art therapy so as to expand familiarity with self as well as other people. This thus may advance self-awareness, build adapting aptitudes, and upgrade intellectual capacity. It is taking into account identity speculations, human improvement, brain science, family frameworks, and art therapy instruction. Art therapy specialists are prepared in both therapist specialist and mental

Therapy in the form of making art is a beautiful combination, and that everyone from the mentally ill to the “normal” minded human could and can benefit from. Determining a specific situation or condition that can be assisted with Art Therapy is difficult, due to the fact that this healing tactic can reduce mental disorders in all. Dynamically Oriented Art Therapy applies emphasis on the unconscious mind for the source for spontaneous image; whereas, Art as Therapy relies on the soul healing power of the creative process of generating art. All the different approaches to Art Therapy all hold one key factor in common . . . the therapist themselves. The therapist creates the atmosphere, and forms a bond with trust and understanding. Art

Art therapy is a practice in which clients under the supervision of a certified art therapist use art to explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior, reduce stress and increase self-esteem (Ramirez, 2016). Through the art therapy treatment, the main goal is to restore a client's functioning and their sense of personal well-being (Thong, 2007). The therapeutic treatment involves the use of various art activities which include drawing, painting, and other hands on crafts decided by the client with direction from the therapist (Robb, 2012). The use of art as a therapeutic tool is implemented in pediatric, psychiatric, geriatric and rehabilitation (Robb, 2012). Participation in art therapy is not an instant

Art therapy is a common mental health vocation that utilizes the ingenious practice of art making to ameliorate and improve the mental, emotional, and physical healthfulness of people of all age groups. It is predicated on the credence that the creative operation involved in imaginative self-expression avails people to undertake conflicts and quandaries, develop interpersonal skills, manage comportment, reduce stress, increment self-esteem and self-cognizance, and accomplish understanding of themselves. Art therapy incorporates the fields of visual arts, human development, and the ingenious process with models of psychotherapy and counseling.

The way art was found to have a positive impact on therapy is considerately recent, in fact, art therapy before the 1940s wasn’t considered as a profession, and it wasn’t until then, that people started taking notice of the many benefits or arts. Throughout the early 20th century, established psychiatrists would only focus their attention on the arts from those produced by their patients suffering from mental disease. It is also during that time, that educators started discovering how arts created by children, showed a development on emotional and cognitive growth. It’s from these discoveries that from the 1940s to the 1950s, hospitals, psychiatrist and clinics started using art therapy, in conjunction with talk therapies (Malchiodi, 2013) to help patients recovered from distinct illness. Through all this time, art therapy became heavily emphasized due to the validation of improved recoveries, health, and wellness of their patient. Consequently, art therapy became more and more acceptable as an effective and valuable method of communication, evaluation, and treatments for children and adults in numerous sceneries. Currently, art therapy is attracting considerable attention from the medical field such as counseling, education, arts, psychology and psychiatry (Malchiodi, 2013).

What is Mental Illness? Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, moods, and ability to relate to others-and if severe interferes with all aspects of daily living.