LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Understand how society determines and responds to a range of
behaviours experienced by individuals suffering from mental ill health.
2. Understand the influence of genetic, neurochemical and environmental
factors in relation to mental health disorder.
3. Understand and evaluate different strategies for therapy and care of
mental health disorders.
4. Understand the major sources and effects of psychological stress.
5. Understand a variety of coping strategies.
Assignment:
Essay 1
Individuals who face poverty or come from a low-income background in the UK are more at
risk of developing mental health issues. For example, individuals who have unstable
employment or are unemployed have a twice more likely risk factor of developing mental
illnesses than those who come from a stable and higher working employment background.
Moreover, individuals who are living in the most deprived areas and come from a low socio-
economic group are ten times more at risk of suicide and self-harm than individuals in the
wealthiest groups or places.
Children and young people who come from low-income backgrounds are 4.5 times more at
risk of experiencing severe mental illnesses than those from average and higher
backgrounds (Mind, 2021).
Additionally, young people and children who grew up more disadvantaged than others due
to poverty, adversity, neglect, and abuse are more at risk of committing criminal offences
such as theft, drug dealing and other criminal activities, as well as using recreational drugs
and substances as they lack morals in their life. Young individuals will go on to sell drugs or
join gang-related activities as they feel it's a way to help fund their families. For example, if
, they grew up with a single parent with a low income or unemployed, they may feel it's their
responsibility to look after and earn money for their parent (Nuffield Foundation, 2022).
Young people who are exposed to poverty and abuse as a child can cause them to have
psychological disorders, poor outcomes in their life/adulthood and aggressive behaviour. A
report from The West Midlands Crime Commissioner suggests that 7 in 10 children in the
criminal justice system grow up in deprivation, and 8 in 10 young people and children
encountered school exclusions at numerous secondary schools or had inadequate
attendance (Turrell, 2021).
In certain cultures, mental illness may be thought of as unreal or imagined, influenced by
deeply rooted beliefs and faiths. This perspective can lead to stigma against individuals
facing mental health challenges and cause them to struggle to open up and ask for help, as
their family members might not acknowledge their illness or perceive the individual as a
letdown of the family or community (NCBI, 2001).
Moreover, individuals with mental health issues might be hesitant to seek help due to the
fear of past negative experiences or concerns about being ignored and dismissed by mental
health services and healthcare providers or may lack the motivation to reach out for help
(NCBI, 2001).
Individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds in Western countries are less likely to access
mental health treatments than those in the majority community, possibly due to differing
perceptions or trust levels associated with therapeutic systems, interventions, and
therapists.
Moreover, racism can play a part in why individuals from these backgrounds may hesitate to
seek mental health support due to concerns about encountering racism, fearing
discrimination or biased treatment from healthcare professionals based on their beliefs,
practices, or other characteristics.
2
1. Understand how society determines and responds to a range of
behaviours experienced by individuals suffering from mental ill health.
2. Understand the influence of genetic, neurochemical and environmental
factors in relation to mental health disorder.
3. Understand and evaluate different strategies for therapy and care of
mental health disorders.
4. Understand the major sources and effects of psychological stress.
5. Understand a variety of coping strategies.
Assignment:
Essay 1
Individuals who face poverty or come from a low-income background in the UK are more at
risk of developing mental health issues. For example, individuals who have unstable
employment or are unemployed have a twice more likely risk factor of developing mental
illnesses than those who come from a stable and higher working employment background.
Moreover, individuals who are living in the most deprived areas and come from a low socio-
economic group are ten times more at risk of suicide and self-harm than individuals in the
wealthiest groups or places.
Children and young people who come from low-income backgrounds are 4.5 times more at
risk of experiencing severe mental illnesses than those from average and higher
backgrounds (Mind, 2021).
Additionally, young people and children who grew up more disadvantaged than others due
to poverty, adversity, neglect, and abuse are more at risk of committing criminal offences
such as theft, drug dealing and other criminal activities, as well as using recreational drugs
and substances as they lack morals in their life. Young individuals will go on to sell drugs or
join gang-related activities as they feel it's a way to help fund their families. For example, if
, they grew up with a single parent with a low income or unemployed, they may feel it's their
responsibility to look after and earn money for their parent (Nuffield Foundation, 2022).
Young people who are exposed to poverty and abuse as a child can cause them to have
psychological disorders, poor outcomes in their life/adulthood and aggressive behaviour. A
report from The West Midlands Crime Commissioner suggests that 7 in 10 children in the
criminal justice system grow up in deprivation, and 8 in 10 young people and children
encountered school exclusions at numerous secondary schools or had inadequate
attendance (Turrell, 2021).
In certain cultures, mental illness may be thought of as unreal or imagined, influenced by
deeply rooted beliefs and faiths. This perspective can lead to stigma against individuals
facing mental health challenges and cause them to struggle to open up and ask for help, as
their family members might not acknowledge their illness or perceive the individual as a
letdown of the family or community (NCBI, 2001).
Moreover, individuals with mental health issues might be hesitant to seek help due to the
fear of past negative experiences or concerns about being ignored and dismissed by mental
health services and healthcare providers or may lack the motivation to reach out for help
(NCBI, 2001).
Individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds in Western countries are less likely to access
mental health treatments than those in the majority community, possibly due to differing
perceptions or trust levels associated with therapeutic systems, interventions, and
therapists.
Moreover, racism can play a part in why individuals from these backgrounds may hesitate to
seek mental health support due to concerns about encountering racism, fearing
discrimination or biased treatment from healthcare professionals based on their beliefs,
practices, or other characteristics.
2
