Page 1 :
CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTALLY HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL, Mental Health, and social adjustments., A bealthy individual is not only physically healthy but is also mentally, healthy. The modern concept of health extends beyond the proper, functioning of the body. It includes a sound, efficient mind and controlled, emotions., "Health is a state of complete physical, mental, social and spiritual, well being and not merely an absence of disease or infirmity.", Man is an integrated mechanism, a psychosomatic unit whose, behaviour is determined by both physical and mental factors., MEANING AND NATURE OF MENTAL HEALTH, Mental Health is an important aspect of one's total health status. It is a, basic factor that contributes to the maintenance of physical health as, well as social effectiveness. It is a normal state of well being., It is not mere absence of mental illness that constitutes mental, health. Mental Health is a positive, active quality of individual's daily, living. This quality of living is manifest in the behaviour of an individual, whose body and mind are working together in the same direction. His, thoughts, feelings and actions function harmoniously towards the common, end. It means the ability to balance feelings, desires, ambitions and, ideals in one's daily living., Mental Health has too important aspects. It is both individual and, Social. Mental health refers to the ability of the individual to make personal, CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTALLY HEALTHY INDIVIDUAL, well adjusted person has some insight into and an understanding, 1, Scanned by TapScanner
Page 2 :
of his motives, desires, his weaknesses and strong points. He can, evaluate his behaviour objectively and can accept his short comings, ESSENTIALS OF PSYCHIATRY FOR NURSES, of his motives, desires, his weaknesses and strong points. He can, evaluate his behaviour objectively and can accept his short comings, and weaknesses., 2. He has a sense of personal worth, feels worthwhile and important, He has self respect and feels secure in a group., 3. He has a sense of personal security. Such a person feels that he is, wanted and loved., 4. He has faith in his ability to succeed, he believes that he will do, reasonably well whatever he undertakes. He solves his problems, largely by his own initiative and effort. He feels confident of everyday, life., 5. A mentally healthy person can get along with other people. He has, understanding of other people's motives and problems. He can give, and accept love, can form friendships which are satisfying and long, lasting and which give him a feeling of belongingness., 6. A mentally healthy person has understanding of his environment, and of the forces with which he must deal. He has the capacity to, face realities rationally and objectively., 7. He has developed a philosophy of life that gives meaning and purpose, to his daily activities. This philosophy belongs to this world. It makes, him do something concrete about his problems as they arise. He, does not evade responsibility or duty., 8. Mentally healthy person lives in a world of reality rather than fantasy., 9. He has developed a capacity to tolerate frustrations and, disappointments in his daily life., 10. He shows emotional maturity in his behaviour. He is able to regulate, emotions such as fear, anger, love, jealousy and expresses them in, a socially desirable manner., 11. He has a rational attitude towards problems of his physical health., He maintains daily routine of health practices which prompt healthful, living. He practises good health habits with regard to nutrition, sleep,, rest, relaxation, physical activity, personal cleanliness and protection, from disease., 12. He is able to think for himself and can make his own decisions. He, thinks clearly and constructively in solving his problems., Scanned by TapScanner
Page 3 :
satisfaction out of his daily routine job., 13. He has a variety of interests and generally lives a well balanced life, MENTAL HEALTH, . He has a variety of interests and generally lives a well balanced life, of work, rest and recreation. He has the ability to get enjoyment and, FOUNDATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH, The basic factors on which mental health of any individual depends are, as follows:, 1. Hereditary Factors, These factors provide the potentialities of the individual. It sets limits, for his mental health. What the individual inherits is the potentialities, in relation to growth, appearance, intelligence and the life. The, development and utilisation of these potentialities is determined to a, large extent by the environmental opportunities., In the production of large number of mentally defective and feeble, nded, hereditary factors are quite prominent. Defective heredity, may furnish a fertile soil for the development of mental and nervous, diseases., 2. Physical Factors, Physical health factors make a significant contribution to mental, health. People with greater strength, better looks and robust health, enjoy a social advantage in the development of personality, characteristics. An individual with a feeling of physical well being, ordinarily enjoys a good disposition and is enthusiastic and, intellectually alert. He has a desire to live, to achieve and to be, happy., Sick people find it more difficult to make adjustments to new, situations than healthy people. Vitamin deficiencies have been found, to be the causative factors in many personality difficulties. Persons, suffering from serious physical defects may have problems of, adjustment on account of inferiority feelings. The individual who follows, a hygienic regimen, is more likely to have good mental health., 3. Social Factors, Social factors pertain to the individual's sociéty in which he lives, the, Scanned by TapScanner
Page 4 :
interactional processes and his social functioning with other persons,, VTOMIATRY FOR NURSES, It is the social environment which shapes the knowledge, skills, interests, attitudes, habits, values and goals that he acquires. Even, individual is born into a society which influences the content of his, behaviour., Of the social factors, the most important are the home, the schoI, and the community. A good home where there is a harmonious, relationship between parents, where parents understand the needs, and interests of their children and where there is atmosphere of, happiness and freedom, contribute greatly to mental health of every, member. Broken homes or unstable homes produce a large number, of children with adjustment problems., Sget The school too can develop a sense of personal worth, social, growth and social competence, if its experiences are satisfying and, if they evoke affectional responses. A good school provides an, atmosphere in which each pupil is respected as an individual. It, provides a curriculum enriched by activities, meeting the needs and, interest of pupils. Such a school is a positive factor in the development, of sound mental health., The community furnishes the framework and climate within which, the family lives and develops, it must therefore provide a healthy, atmosphere and a well organised network of public and private, community services of the highest possible quality. These services, will satisfy such needs a love and affection, will give a feeling o, belongingness will provide opportunity for group participation and fo, emotional relaxation., 4. Satisfaction of Fundamental Needs, Mental health in childhood and later depends very much on the, adequate satisfaction of fundamental or basic needs. When these, needs are adequately cared for, the individual functions in an effective, manner. The basic needs are physical as well as emotional o, psychological., The physical needs are to be satisfied for maintaining physica, well being. Hunger, thirst, fatigue, lack of sleep, physical pain, Scanned by TapScanner
Page 5 :
MENTAL HEALTH, www w, exercise, heat or cold set up certain tensions in the individual which, must be relieved., Psychological needs are also called Ego needs. These needs, must be satisfied to maintain 'self". They are as important as physical, needs. There are two main ego needs. Firstly, the need for sense of, security through love and affection of those who are important to us., The second ego need is for recognition or regard as a person of, worth and importance. The adequate satisfaction of this need gives, a sense of adequacy, a feeling of self-enhancement., Other needs which should be satisfied are :, 1. The need to grow independently., 2. The need to play., 3. The need to belong to a group., Scanned by TapScanner, 5
