Legazpi City

Bicol University-Mabini Colleges:

In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements in Subject
MAN 213: TRENDS, ISSUES & PROBLEMS IN COMMUNITY HEALTH
NURSING
Prof. Paul C. Abao
Jeanny J. Abawag, RN
MAN Student

MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL DISORDERS

WHO - defines mental health as a state of well-being where a person can
realize his/her own abilities to cope with normal stresses of life and work
productively.

4 FACES OF MENTAL HEALTH

1. DEFINED BURDEN-Is the burden CURRENTLY affecting person with
mental disorders and is measured in terms of prevalence and other
indicators.
The quality of life indicators
Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY)
2. UNDEFINED BURDEN

Is the portion of the burden relating to the impact of mental health

problems to persons other than the individual directly affected.
Repercussions of undefined burden are felt heavily by the families and
communities both in human and economic loss
3. HIDDEN BURDEN
Refers to the STIGMA and VIOLATIONS of HUMAN RIGHTS.
STIGMA- a mark of shame, disgrace or disapproval that results in a person
being shunned or rejected by others.
4. FUTURE BURDEN
The burden in the future resulting from aging of the population,
increasing social problems and unrest inherited from the existing burden.
The World Health Report of 2003 showed that mental, neurological and
substance use disorders cause a large burden of disease and disability:
globally,13% of overall DALY,33% of overall years lived with disability (YLDs).
More than 150M people suffer from depression at any point in time; nearly
1million commit SUICIDE every year and about 25 million suffer from
SCHISOPHRENIA, 38M from EPILEPSY, and more than 90M from ALCOHOL or
DRUG USE disorder.
A policy for mental health care is lacking in 40% of countries and 25%
of those with a policy assign no budget to implement it. Even when a budget
exists, it is very small: 36% of countries devote less than 2% of their total
health resources to mental health care. Though community-based services
are recognized to be the most effective, 65% of all psychiatric beds are still
in mental hospitals. (2003- WHO Report).
In the Philippines, the most recent epidemiologic data available on
mental illness was the 1993-1994 Baseline Survey conducted in Region VI.
The survey showed the total prevalence of mental illness
ADULTS of 25.6%

Anxiety Disorder- 10.5%

Psychosis- 4.3%
Depression- 5.3%

CHILDREN

Panic Disorder- 5.5%

Enuresis- 9.3%

Speech and Language

Disorder-3.9%
Mental Subnormality-3.7%

Adaptation Reaction- 2.4%

Neurotic Disorder- 1.1%

The current bed capacity for mental disorders is 5,465. Of these, 4,200
beds are in the NCR (at the National Center for Mental Health). The rest of
the country shares the remaining 1,265 beds. Regions 1, 4. 10,12 CARAGA
and ARMM do not have inpatient psychiatric facilities. Only 27 DOH medical
centers and regional hospitals have mental health services. Cavite is the
province with a psychiatric facility.

MENTAL HEALTHS SUB-PROGRAMS

A. Wellness of Daily Living
The process of attaining and maintaining mental-well being across the
lifecycle through the promotion of healthy lifestyle with emphasis on
coping with psychosocial issues.
OBJECTIVES
1. To increase awareness among the population on mental health and
psychosocial issues.
2. To ensure access of preventive and promotive mental health services.
B. EXTREME LIFE EXPERIENCES
An extreme life experience is one that is out of the ordinary and which
threatens personal equilibrium.
OBJECTIVES
1. To differentiate between critical incident and extreme life experiences
2. To identify situations which may be extreme life experiences
3. To categorize or prioritize the extreme life experience which may be
the concern of mental health
4. To identify the programs that address psychosocial consequences and
mental health issues of persons with extreme life experiences.
C. MENTAL DISORDER
OBJECTIVES
Promotion of mental health and prevention of mental illness across the
lifespan and across sectors (children and adolescents, adult, elderly, and
special population such as military, OFWs, refugees, PWDs).

D. SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER FORMS OF ADDICTION

OBJECTIVES
1. To provide implementers for advocacy accurate, technical information
about the psychosocial effects of drugs.
2. To promote protective factors against the development of substance
abuse/addiction in the following key settings (family, School,
Workplace, Community, Health Care Setting, Industry) through existing
DOH programs and responsible agencies.
3. To rationalize and enhance the drug program to different key settings
as a form of deterring factor.
The modern management for mentally ill patients is similar to other
chronic diseases. Home care management is advocated. Acute cases are
referred to the National Health Center for Mental Health (NCMH) or hospitals
with psychiatric facilities for proper management. They are screened and
after a fe days they are assessed and discharged if they can be manage at
home. Cases needing continuing supervision and care may be confined. A
team from the NCMH follows up their discharged patients in the provinces.

NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS

1. IN MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION
Participate in the promotion of mental health among families and
the community.
Utilize opportunities in his/her everyday contacts with other
members of the community to extend the general knowledge on
mental hygiene.
Help people in the community understand basic emotional needs
and the factors that promote mental well being.
Teach parents the importance of providing emotional support to
their children during critical periods in their lives at first day in
school, graduation etc.
2. IN PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Recognize mental health hazards and stress situations as
unemployment, divorce or abandonment of children, vices, long
standing physical illness.
Recognize pathological deviations from normal in terms of acting,
thinking, and feeling and make early referral so that diagnosis and
treatment could be done early.

Be aware of the potential causes of breakdown and when necessary

take some possible preventive action.
Help the family to understand and accept the patients health status
and behavior.
Help patient assess his/her capacities and his/her handicaps in working
towards s solution on his/her problem.
Encourage feeling of achievement by setting health goals that patient
can attain.
Encourage the patient to express his/her anxieties.
Impart information and guidance about the treatment scheme of the
patients, the desired and undesirable effect of the tranquilizers,
psychiatric emergency management and other basic nursing care.
3. REHABILITATION
Initiate patient participation in occupational activities best suited to the
patients capabilities, education, experience and training, capacities
and interest.
Encourage and initiate patients to partake in activities of CIVIC
organization in the community through the cooperation of patients
family.
Advise the family about the importance of regular follow-up at the
clinic.
Make regular home visits to observe patients conditions during
conversation and follow-up of medication.
4. IN RTESEARCH AND EPIDEMIOLOGY
Participate in the epidemiological survey to be aware of the size
and extent of mental health problems of the community and
organize a program for better preventive, curative and
rehabilitative measures.

POINTERS FOR HAVING MENTAL HEALTH

Maintain good physical health

Undergo annual medical examination or more often as needed
Develop and maintain a wholesome lifestyle (balanced diet,
adeq, rest exercise, sleep and recreation).
Avoid smoking, substance abuse and excessive alcohol
Have a realistic goal in life
Have a friend in whom you can confide and ventilate your
problems
Dont live in the past and avoid worrying about the future
Live-one day at a time

Avoid excessive physical, mental and emotional stress.

Develop and sustain solid spiritual values.