LOSS IN MENTAL HEALTHSPIRITUALITY IN MENTAL

HEALTH NORTH EAST (SIMHNE)

Dr Janis Smith

Consultant Clinical Psychologist

MENTAL HEALTH

• Biological

• Psycho-social

• Reaction / coping

7 CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTALLY HEALTHY PEOPLE

• Accurate evaluation of reality: being able to tell what is and what might be, also being able to predict the results of one’s actions

• Healthy self concept: being realistic about yourself and having a positive acceptance of yourself

• Ability to relate to others: Humans need interaction with each other. Normal development is not achievable in isolation.

7 CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTALLY HEALTHY PEOPLE contd….

• A sense of meaning in life: mentally healthy person will have a sense of what is important in life and gives it meaning

• Creativity/productivity: a healthy person can look at a problem creatively. They will also want to contribute or make a difference

• Control over one’s own behaviour: A healthy person will look at the situation before reacting

• Adaptability to change and conflict: Change is constant in life. Healthy people can be flexible, they can plan and compromise

SO WHEN WE LOSE ANY PART OF THE POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH

MENTAL HEALTH IN CHILDHOOD

• Loss of “normal” trajectory

• Loss of school experience / relationships

• Disruption within neurological Development

• Adolescent Development

• Cognitive Development

• Moral Development

MENTAL HEALTH IN ADULTHOOD

• Relationships

• Family life

• Training / university / college

• Employment

OLDER ADULTS

• Loss of memory

• Loss of self

• Loss of history

• Loss of family

LOSS

Definition

Losing what we prefer to keep,

being deprived or being without (Read, 2002)

BEREAVEMENT

Can be understood as the objective state of having lost someone or something which is significant (Stroebe et al, 2002)

MODELS OF BEREAVEMENT

There are many models of bereavement but one which is particularly pertinent to losses within mental health is the one developed by Worden (2001) who uses phases of bereavement to develop a therapeutic model called “The Tasks of Mourning”

GRIEF

The emotional reaction to bereavement. Grief is an emotion that draws us towards something or someone who is missing (Parkes, 2000) and is, essentially, a condition of the human spirit (Prior, 2000). Grief manifests itself through a variety of emotional, physical, behavioural and psychological responses

5 STAGES OF GRIEF MODEL

• Denial

• Anger

• Bargaining

• Depression

• Acceptance

“THE TASKS OF MOURNING”

• Task 1 – to accept the reality of the loss

• Task 2 – to work through the pain of grief

• Task 3 – to adjust to an environment in which the person / thing is missing

• Task 4 – to relocate the deceased / the lost object emotionally and move on with life

A THOUGHT ……

Ironically with a mental health problem – the very vehicle is affected that would enable a person to gain a means of “acceptance” or grieving

WHAT TO DO? ….

• Gain an understanding

• Gain insight

• Acceptance

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

• Central to the teaching of all Buddhist traditions that addresses the concept of suffering and the ability to be still

BE HAPPY ………………

• Happiness comes from within

• It is a state that is produced by our minds

• Your state of mind is the most important factor in the outcome of your life ….. The part of you that thinks and observes

• A situation only becomes favourable when one adapts to it

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

• Life means suffering

• The origin of suffering is attachment

• The cessation of suffering is attainable

• There is a path to end suffering

MINDFULNESS

“Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally”

MORE MINDFULNESS

• “A way of being”

• “Being present”

• “Staying in this moment”

• “Becoming aware of what is going on around you or within you”

• “Being in the here and now”