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MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

I. HEALTH
- Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity (World Health Organization).
- Usually when people think about the definition of healthy, the first thing that comes to their head is the physical
aspect. However, being healthy, happy, or having well-being, goes beyond that.
II. MENTAL HEALTH
- World Health Organization: state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope
with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his
community.
- A state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to:
 use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities
 function in the society, and
 meet ordinary demands of everyday life
 Well-being – A subjective state that emerges from a general feeling of satisfaction with oneself; Condition of
good health, happiness and prosperity.
III. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
1. They are at peace with themselves.
2. They are able to manifest emotional control.
3. They are able to cope adequately with life stressors.
4. They are able to adjust to new or novel situations.
5. They know their strengths and weaknesses and aware of their limitations.
6. They have adequate feelings of security.
7. They have realistic life goals.
8. They have smooth interpersonal relationship.
9. They conform to social norms and standards.
10. They are able to satisfy their needs adequately and appropriately.
IV. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
 Refers to a medical doctor, psychologist, nurse, social worker or any other appropriately-trained and qualified
person with specific skills relevant to the provision of mental health services
 490 psychiatrists for 100 million Filipinos” (2014)
 Few, but rising, numbers of licensed psychologists, psychometricians, and guidance counselors
 Psychologist (RPsy)
 Psychometrician (RPm)
 Guidance Conselor (RGC)
 Psychiatrist (MD)
V. BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL OF MENTAL HEALTH
 Biological
1. Brain Dysfunction
2. Neurotransmitter Imbalance
- Low serotonin level (depression)
- High norepinephrine level (anxiety)
3. High activity level of amygdala (depression and PTSD)
4. Genes
- Phenylketonuria (resulting in intellectual disability)
- Huntington’s disease (changes in personality, cognitive, and motor functioning)
5. Intellectual Disability
6. Autism Spectrum Disorder
7. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
8. Depression
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9. Schizophrenia (hallucinations, delusions)

10. Personality Disorders (behavior, thinking, function)
11. Frontal Lobe (judgment center)
12. Amygdala (emotion center)
13. Hippocampus (memory)
 Socio-cultural Factors
1. War
2. Poverty
3. Unemployment
4. Residential mobility
5. Rural-urban setting
 Psychological Factors
1. Frustration (non-attainment of goals)
2. Conflict (existence of dilemma)
3. Psychological Deprivation (deprived from attention, care and love)
4. Stress
5. Coping Skills
6. Automatic Negative Thoughts
7. Reinforcement
8. Learned helplessness
VI. PROTECTIVE FACTORS
- buffer against stress and may be drawn upon in dealing with stressful situations.
- They “moderate . . . the impact of stress on social and emotional well-being, thereby reducing the likelihood
disorders will develop” (CDHAC, 2000).
o Internal (temperament, cognitive abilities)
o External (social support, economic support, environmental support)
- Resilience
 Ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like
 The capacity to establish and maintain one’s balance and well-being in the face of adversity.
VII. RISK FACTORS
- any attribute, characteristic or exposure of an individual that increases the likelihood of developing
a disease or injury (WHO).
a. drugs
b. alcohol
c. lack of education
d. poor nutrition
e. poverty
f. racial injustice
g. violence/delinquency
h. war
i. work stress
j. unemployment
VIII. FACTORS AFFECTING THE WELL-BEING
Gender Generally, men and women have similar levels
Age Younger and older adults tend to have more well-being compared to
middle-aged adults
Genes Positive emotions – heritability estimates (0.36 – 0.81)
Personality Optimism, extroversion, and self-esteem
Circumstance Well-being is sensitive to life events
Relationships Supportive relationships have positive effects
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IX. MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION

A neurologic or psychiatric condition characterized by the existence of a recognizable, clinically-significant
disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior that reflects a genetic or acquired
dysfunction in the neurobiological, psychosocial, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning.
1. NUTRITION AND EATING DISORDERS
- Disturbance in eating behavior which results to altered consumption or absorption of food – significantly
impairs physical and psychological functioning.
A. Obesity
- Not a mental disorder
- (excess body fat) results from the long-term excess of energy intake relative to energy expenditure. A range
of genetic, physiological, behavioral, and environmental factors that vary across individuals contributes to the
development of obesity.
B. Anorexia Nervosa
- Restriction in food intake leading to significantly low body weight.
- Intense fear of gaining weight, and persistent behavior that interferes weight gain. This intense fear of
becoming fat is usually not alleviated by weight loss. In fact, concern about weight gain may increase even as
weight falls.
- Mild: BMI > 17kg/m2
- Moderate: BMI 16-16.99 kg/ m2
- Severe: BMI 15-15.99 kg/m2
- Extreme: BMI < 15 kg/ m2
C. Bulimia Nervosa
- Recurring episodes of binge eating
- Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced
vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise (purging).
2. GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
- Fear is the emotional response to real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is anticipation of future
threat.
- Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months,
about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
- The individual finds it difficult to control the worry.
- Symptoms:
a. Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge.
b. Being easily fatigued.
c. Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.
d. Irritability.
e. Muscle tension.
f. Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep).
- Anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social,
occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
3. PANIC ATTACKS
- Feature prominently within the anxiety disorders as a particular type of fear response. Panic attacks are not
limited to anxiety disorders but rather can be seen in other mental disorders as well.
- Panic attacks are abrupt surges of intense fear or intense discomfort that reach a peak within minutes,
accompanied by physical and/or cognitive symptoms.
- Symptoms:
a. Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate.
b. Sweating.
c. Trembling or shaking.
d. Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering.
e. Feelings of choking.
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f. Chest pain or discomfort.

g. Nausea or abdominal distress.
h. Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint.
i. Chills or heat sensations.
j. Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations).
k. Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself).
l. Fear of losing control or “going crazy.”
m. Fear of dying.
4. PSYCHOTIC EPISODES
- defined by abnormalities in one or more of the following five domains: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized
thinking (speech), grossly disorganized or abnormal motor behavior (including catatonia), and negative symptoms.
- Delusions
a. fixed beliefs that are not amenable to change in light of conflicting evidence.
- Hallucinations
a. perception-like experiences that occur without an external stimulus. They are vivid and clear, with the full force
and impact of normal perceptions, and not under voluntary control.
5. SUBSTANCE ABUSE
i. Impaired Control
1. Use for longer period/larger amount than intended,
2. Wanting to reduce use, yet being unsuccessful doing so
3. Spending excessive time getting/using/recovering from the drug use
4. Cravings that are so intense it is difficult to think about anything else.
ii. Social Impairment
1. Continues to use despite problems with work, school or family/social obligations. This might include
repeated work absences, poor school performance, neglect of children, or failure to meet household
responsibilities.
2. Continues substance use despite having interpersonal problems because of the substance use.
3. Important and meaningful social and recreational activities may be given up or reduced because of
substance use
iii. Risky Use
1. uses substances in physically dangerous situations
2. continue to use addictive substances even though they are aware it is causing or worsening physical and
psychological problems
iv. Pharmacological Indicators(Tolerance/Withdrawal)
1. need to increase the amount of a substance to achieve the same desired effect
2. Development of withdrawal symptoms, which can be relieved by taking more of the substance.
6. INTERNET GAMING DISORDER
- Also commonly referred to as Internet use disorder, Internet addiction, or gaming addiction.
- Persistent and recurrent use of the Internet to engage in games, often with other players, leading to clinically
significant impairment or distress as indicated by five (or more) of the following in a 12-month period.
- Unsuccessful attempts to control the participation in Internet games
- Loss of interests in previous hobbies and entertainment as a result of, and with the exception of, Internet
games
- Continued excessive use of Internet games despite knowledge of psychosocial problems.
- Has deceived family members, therapists, or others regarding the amount of Internet gaming.
- Use of Internet games to escape or relieve a negative mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety).
- Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job, or educational or career opportunity because of
participation in Internet games.

7. DEPRESSION
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- Sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings
of tiredness and poor concentration (World Health Organization).
- Feelings of low mood that lasts for a long time and affects everyday life. It can make a person feel hopeless,
despairing, guilty, worthless, unmotivated and exhausted.
- In its mildest form, depression does not stop a person in leading a normal life, but it makes everything harder
to do and seem less worthwhile. At its most severe, depression can make someone feel suicidal, and be life-
threatening.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation - 12 months or more
Disorder - Chronic, severe persistent irritability – severe temper outburst
- More common in children and males
Major Depressive Disorder - Everyday for at least two weeks
- In children and adolescents, the mood may be irritable rather than sad.
- Associated with high mortality, much of which is accounted for by
suicide; however, it is not the only cause.
Persistent Major Depressive Disorder - Depressed mood for most of the day, for more days than not, as
(Dysthymia) indicated by either subjective account or observation by others, for at
least 2 years.
- At least 2 years for adults, 1 year for children and adolescents
Premenstrual Dysphoric Episode - Present in the final week before the onset of menses, start to improve
within a few days after the onset of menses, and become minimal or
absent in the week postmenses.
- Expression of mood lability, irritability, dysphoria, and anxiety
symptoms that occur repeatedly during the premenstrual phase of the
cycle and remit around the onset of menses or shortly thereafter. These
symptoms may be accompanied by behavioral and physical symptoms
(present for one year).
Substance-Induced Depressive Disorder - Specific substance that is presumed to be causing the depressive
symptoms.
8. SUICIDE AND SELF-HARM
A. Self-Harm
- A way of expressing very deep distress, where a person takes actions to cause physical pain. It can be a
means of expressing feelings that cannot put into words or think clearly about. After self-harming, a person
may feel a short-term sense of release, but the cause of distress is unlikely to have gone away.
B. Suicide
- It is the 11th leading cause of death, but among adolescents, it is the third leading cause of death.
- In understanding suicidal behavior, three indices are important: suicidal ideation (serious thoughts about
committing suicide), suicidal plans (a detailed method for killing oneself), and suicidal attempts (that are not
successful).
X. MENTAL HYGIENE
A science concerned with the care of the mind through the application of hygienic principles for the promotion and
preservation of a sound mental health.
References and reading list are uploaded in the UST Blackboard.