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Mental Health Exam Prep
DSM5: the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Most widely used for
classifying mental, drug and alcohol disorders
WHO definition of mental health: A state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or
her own abilities can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able
to make a contribution to his or her community
• An individual’s mental health is impacted by a range of social, psychological, and
biological factors
• According to the mental health act (2016) a mental illness is a condition characterised
by a clinically significant disturbance of though, mood, perception or memory
• 50% of Australia suffer from a mental illness
History
• Many changes in which people with mental health were perceived and cared for
• Mental health disorder used to be caused by spiritual or demonic possessions and
required mystical or brutal treatment
Mental health care today
• Centre’s on the client’s needs and uses the best available research to shape practice
• As a result mental health care is client-centred and evidence-based
• Early interventions involve provision of treatment and support to a person who is
experiencing or demonstrating the early symptoms of mental illness
At Risk Populations
• 50% of the population are likely to experience a mental health issue in their lifetime
• Refugee mental health is a growing area of concern
The Law, Ethics & Mental Health
• Unique set of legal and ethical issues underpin care
• These unique issues arise from the significant proportion of mental health services
provided to individual’s in a compulsory manner
• Compulsory (or involuntary) is treatment provided to a person who as a result of
mental illness is unable to consent to the treatment
• Health professional seek to protect individual’s from the consequences of behaviour
which can result from mental illness
The Mental Health Act (2016)
• Improve and maintain the health and wellbeing of a person who has a mental illness
and doesn’t have the capacity to consent to treatment
• Enable person’s to be diverted from criminal justice if found to have been of unsound
mind at the time of committing an unlawful act or being unfit for trial
• Protect the community if person diverted from criminal justice system is at risk of
harming others
, 2
The ACT aims to achieve these objectives through
• Safeguards the rights of persons
• Is the least restrictive of right and liberties or a person who has mental illness
• Promotes the recovery of a person who has a mental illness and the person’s ability to
live in the community
Australian Government National Mental Health Policy 2008
• Promotes the mental health & wellbeing of Australian community
• Where possible prevents the development of mental health problems and mental
illness
• Reduces the impact of mental health problems and mental illness
• Assures the rights of people with mental health problems/illnesses
NMBA standards
1. Nurses value quality nursing care for all people
2. Nurses value respect & kindness for self and others
3. Nurses value the diversity of people
4. Nurses value access to quality nursing and health care of all people
5. Nurses value informed decision making
6. Nurses value a culture of safety in nursing and health care
7. Nurses value ethical management of information
8. Nurses value a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable environment
promoting health and wellbeing
Mental and physical health
• Individual’s with mental health disorders are more likely to experience physical illness
• Mental and physical health are fundamentally linked
• People with mental health issues are at a high risk of developing a chronic condition
(such as heart disease, stroke and cancer)
Individual psychotherapy: one-on-one therapy providing the client with an opportunity to
examine the experiences that have shaped their life decisions and who they are
Motivational interviewing (MI): a form of interviewing which maximises a client’s ability to
change behaviour that is problematic
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): therapy that assists a person to develop more efficient
coping strategies that promote logical thinking and responses to everyday situations
Dialectical behavioural therapy: Similar to CBT but incorporates social skills training, dealing
with distress and acceptance of the person.
Group therapy: engagement of or more people in same therapy at same time
Family therapy: a treatment that recognises the role of the whole family in a client’s situation
and aims to impact the entire family system
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): used to treat severe depression. Involves application of
electrodes to head which an electrical current is delivered
Psychopharmacology: the use of medicines to treat mental health disorders.
Evidence based practice
• Allows us to improve our practice or give us other options
Mental Health Exam Prep
DSM5: the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Most widely used for
classifying mental, drug and alcohol disorders
WHO definition of mental health: A state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or
her own abilities can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able
to make a contribution to his or her community
• An individual’s mental health is impacted by a range of social, psychological, and
biological factors
• According to the mental health act (2016) a mental illness is a condition characterised
by a clinically significant disturbance of though, mood, perception or memory
• 50% of Australia suffer from a mental illness
History
• Many changes in which people with mental health were perceived and cared for
• Mental health disorder used to be caused by spiritual or demonic possessions and
required mystical or brutal treatment
Mental health care today
• Centre’s on the client’s needs and uses the best available research to shape practice
• As a result mental health care is client-centred and evidence-based
• Early interventions involve provision of treatment and support to a person who is
experiencing or demonstrating the early symptoms of mental illness
At Risk Populations
• 50% of the population are likely to experience a mental health issue in their lifetime
• Refugee mental health is a growing area of concern
The Law, Ethics & Mental Health
• Unique set of legal and ethical issues underpin care
• These unique issues arise from the significant proportion of mental health services
provided to individual’s in a compulsory manner
• Compulsory (or involuntary) is treatment provided to a person who as a result of
mental illness is unable to consent to the treatment
• Health professional seek to protect individual’s from the consequences of behaviour
which can result from mental illness
The Mental Health Act (2016)
• Improve and maintain the health and wellbeing of a person who has a mental illness
and doesn’t have the capacity to consent to treatment
• Enable person’s to be diverted from criminal justice if found to have been of unsound
mind at the time of committing an unlawful act or being unfit for trial
• Protect the community if person diverted from criminal justice system is at risk of
harming others
, 2
The ACT aims to achieve these objectives through
• Safeguards the rights of persons
• Is the least restrictive of right and liberties or a person who has mental illness
• Promotes the recovery of a person who has a mental illness and the person’s ability to
live in the community
Australian Government National Mental Health Policy 2008
• Promotes the mental health & wellbeing of Australian community
• Where possible prevents the development of mental health problems and mental
illness
• Reduces the impact of mental health problems and mental illness
• Assures the rights of people with mental health problems/illnesses
NMBA standards
1. Nurses value quality nursing care for all people
2. Nurses value respect & kindness for self and others
3. Nurses value the diversity of people
4. Nurses value access to quality nursing and health care of all people
5. Nurses value informed decision making
6. Nurses value a culture of safety in nursing and health care
7. Nurses value ethical management of information
8. Nurses value a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable environment
promoting health and wellbeing
Mental and physical health
• Individual’s with mental health disorders are more likely to experience physical illness
• Mental and physical health are fundamentally linked
• People with mental health issues are at a high risk of developing a chronic condition
(such as heart disease, stroke and cancer)
Individual psychotherapy: one-on-one therapy providing the client with an opportunity to
examine the experiences that have shaped their life decisions and who they are
Motivational interviewing (MI): a form of interviewing which maximises a client’s ability to
change behaviour that is problematic
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): therapy that assists a person to develop more efficient
coping strategies that promote logical thinking and responses to everyday situations
Dialectical behavioural therapy: Similar to CBT but incorporates social skills training, dealing
with distress and acceptance of the person.
Group therapy: engagement of or more people in same therapy at same time
Family therapy: a treatment that recognises the role of the whole family in a client’s situation
and aims to impact the entire family system
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): used to treat severe depression. Involves application of
electrodes to head which an electrical current is delivered
Psychopharmacology: the use of medicines to treat mental health disorders.
Evidence based practice
• Allows us to improve our practice or give us other options
