17/05/23.

Mental Health Promotion Across the Lifespan. we looked the meaning of mental health and mental illness.

 

Mental health is the state in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities and can cope with the normal stresses of life. Can work productively and frequently and is able to contribute to his or her community.

 

Mental illness- condition involving changes in emotions, thinking, or behaviors. Has formal diagnosis, example: psychosis, personality disorder, acute disease, Huntington disease to name but a few.

Good mental health – influences how we think, perceive, and feel about ourselves and others, and how we interpret event.

 

According to mental health foundation, mental health is defined capacity as how the individual feels, expresses and manage a range of positive and negative emotions.

To communicate, form and maintain good relationship with others.

To cope, manage change and uncertainty, transition, and life events.

 

Looking at the positive factors affecting good mental health:

• Good social support – positive relationship.
• Exercise – physical health.
• Diet – take time to eat well.
• Sleep – be sure to get enough sleep.
• Sharing – talking and feelings.

 

I learnt that mental illness is mostly a foundation in childhood, the productivity, social activity, high levels of satisfaction(self-esteem) and self-care.

 

Looking at the negative factors affecting mental health:

• Abuse, trauma, neglect (in childhood).
• Isolation/not engaging.
• Loneliness/lack of support.
• Self-neglect.
• Life stress.
• Poor coping.
• Work life balance.
• Chronic physical illness.

The major causes of psychiatric disorder are stress and vulnerability.

Social prescribing – healthcare professionals sick to address the non-medical causes of ill health with non-medical interventions. Helping people access healthcare, social support, and holistic care.

The bio-psychosocial model of illness encourages healthcare practitioners to think beyond anatomy and physiology to consider how the interplay of mind, body, and social circumstances affect health and well-being.

The ways to well-being:

• Be positive, keep learning, (keep your mind busy).
• Connect – be interactive (interact with others/socialize)
• Take notice – be conscious of yourself.
• Give – share.

 

 

We had discussion on DEMENTIA. We say dementia is a degenerative disease, cognitive impairment, neurological, multiple impacts, personality behavior, aggressive to name but a few. It is associated with thoughts, confusion, frustration, anxious/ reassurance, focus and understanding, short term memory distress to name but a few. The types of dementia are:

• Alzheimer’s
• Vascular
• Front -temporal.
• Mixed
• Lewy body.
• Early onset, and
• Parkinson.

Alzheimer’s dementia, 60% is diagnose at age 65. Its base around thinking, reasoning, new learning/memory.

It builds up with abnormal protein, and there are different stages from 1 – 7.

20% of people with Alzheimer will experience increased confusion anxiety, and aggression beginning late in the day.

Vascular dementia is the common type that caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Result of a stroke, smoking, alcohol intake, saturated fats, diabetes, hypertension.

The symptoms are:

• slow thinking.
• confusion
• Change in mood or behavior.

The average life expectancy is 3 years after diagnosis. This is because vascular dementia affects the brain, and the brain affects every aspect of life.

The behavior associated with vascular dementia are:

• Agitation or aggression.
• Sleep difficulties.
• Verbal and physical aggression.
• Wandering

 

The Lewy body dementia is like Parkinson dementia.

• It builds up protein in the brain.
• The life expectancy is 5-7 years.
• Sleeplessness
• Confusion

 

The young or early onset dementia, diagnose at the average age of 30 – 40 years.

Its symptoms are like Alzheimer’s. Deterioration is more rapid. The behaviors associated with early onset dementia are:

• Increased agitation.
• Aggression
• Delusions.
• Hallucination
• Mobility
• Wandering to name but a few.

I learnt about sundowning that 20% of people with Alzheimer’s will experience increased confusion, anxiety, and agitation beginning late in the day.

The following should be considered to prevent dementia:

• Vitamins and minerals.
• Monitoring healthy BMI
• Social activities.
• Sleep

To live well with Dementia these should be considered:

• Interaction
• Activities – what they enjoy doing.
• Diet and Nutrition
• Routine and home environment – dementia friendly.

 

KSB ADDRESSED.

KNOWLEDGE:

 

K1: Understand the code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives, and nursing associates (NMC 2018), and how to fulfil all registration requirements.

K2: Understand the demands of professional practice and demonstrate how to recognise signs of vulnerability in themselves or their colleagues and the action required to minimise risks to health.

K3: Understand the professional responsibility to adopt a healthy lifestyle to maintain the level of personal fitness and well-being required to meet people’s needs for mental and physical care.

K4: Understand the principles of research and how research findings are used to inform evidence-based practice.

K5: Understand the meaning of resilience and emotional intelligence, and their influence on an individual’s ability to provide care.

K6: Understand and apply relevant legal, regulatory and governance requirements, policies, and ethical frameworks, including any mandatory reporting duties, to all areas of practice.

K7: Understand the importance of courage and transparency and apply the Duty of Candour

K8: Understand how discriminatory behaviour is exhibited.

K9: Understand the aims and principles of health promotion, protection and improvement and the prevention of ill health when engaging with people.

K10: Understand the principles of epidemiology, demography, and genomics and how these may influence health and well-being outcomes.

K11: Understand the factors that may lead to inequalities in health outcomes.

K12: Understand the importance of early years and childhood experiences and the possible impact on life choices, mental, physical, and behavioural health, and well-being.

K13: Understand the contribution of social influences, health literacy, individual circumstances, behaviours, and lifestyle choices to mental, physical, and behavioural health outcomes.

K14: Understand the importance of health screening.

K15: Understand human development from conception to death, to enable delivery of person-centred safe and effective care.

K16: Understand body systems and homeostasis, human anatomy and physiology, biology, genomics, pharmacology, social and behavioural sciences as applied to delivery of care.

K17: Understand commonly encountered mental, physical, behavioural, and cognitive health conditions as applied to delivery of care.

K18: Understand and apply the principles and processes for making reasonable adjustments.

K19: Know how and when to escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice.

K20: Know how people’s needs for safety, dignity, privacy, comfort, and sleep can be met.

K24: Know how to support people with commonly encountered symptoms including anxiety, confusion, discomfort, and pain.

K30: Understand the principles of health and safety legislation and regulations and maintain safe work and care environments.

K33: Understand when to seek appropriate advice to manage a risk and avoid compromising quality of care and health outcomes.

K36: Understand the roles of the different providers of health and care.

K39: Understand the principles and processes involved in supporting people and families with a range of care needs to maintain optimal independence and avoid unnecessary interventions and disruptions to their lives.

K40: Understand own role and contribution when involved in the care of a person who is undergoing discharge or a transition of care between professionals, settings, or services.

K41: Know the roles, responsibilities, and scope of practice of different members of the nursing and interdisciplinary team, and own role within it.

K43: Understand the influence of policy and political drivers that impact health and care provision.

 

 

SKILLS:

 

S1: Act in accordance with the Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives, and nursing associates (NMC, 2018), and fulfil all registration requirements.

S5: Safely demonstrate evidence-based practice in all skills and procedures required for entry to the register: Standards of proficiency for nursing associates Annex A & B (NMC 2018).

S7: Communicate effectively using a range of skills and strategies with colleagues and people at all stages of life and with a range of mental, physical, cognitive, and behavioural health challenges.

S8: Recognise signs of vulnerability in self or colleagues and the action required to minimise risks to health.

S9: Develop, manage, and maintain appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers, and colleagues.

S13: Apply the aims and principles of health promotion, protection and improvement and the prevention of ill health when engaging with people.

S14: Promote preventive health behaviours and provide information to support people to make informed choices to improve their mental, physical, behavioural health and wellbeing.

S15: Identify people who are eligible for health screening.

S16: Promote health and prevent ill health by understanding the evidence base for immunisation, vaccination, and herd immunity. Accurately undertake risk assessments, using contemporary assessment tools

S35: Accurately undertake risk assessments, using contemporary assessment tools.

 

 

 

BEHAVIOUR:

 

B1: Treat people with dignity, respecting individual’s diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy, and preferences.

B2: Show respect and empathy for those you work with, have the courage to challenge areas of concern and work to evidence based best practice.

B3: Be adaptable, reliable, and consistent, show discretion, resilience, and self-awareness.