AN INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH - The Nossal Institute for ...

India. 8 These types of beliefs can delay early recognition of mental disorders and prevent
appropriate treatment and follow-up. 9
Biological factors can include genetics, brain injury, and chemical imbalance in the brain.
Sometimes people experiencing chronic medical problems such as heart, kidney and liver
failure, and diabetes may develop mental health problems such as depression, as living
with a chronic illness can be very stressful.
Stressful life events can contribute to the development of mental disorders e.g. family
conflicts, unemployment, death of a loved one, money problems, infertility and violence. 2,5
A lot of stress may also contribute to an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
Poverty can place a person at risk of mental disorders because of the stresses associated
with low levels of education, poor housing and low income. Mental disorders are also more
difficult to cope with in conditions of poverty. 1
Difficulties in childhood such as sexual or physical violence, emotional neglect, or early
death of a parent can sometimes lead to a mental disorder later in life.
Unhealthy behaviours such as drug and alcohol abuse can lead to the development of a
mental disorder as well as being the result of a mental disorder.
Step 2
Divide the participants into two groups and ask each group to list all of the
factors that contribute to the development of mental disorders (based on
their current understanding). One participant in each group records the
factors identified by the group.
Allow 10 minutes for the groups to complete this task.
Bring the two groups together and ask a representative from each group
to read their list of factors aloud. As the list is read, write each factor on
the board, ignoring duplicate factors from the second group.
If either group suggests factors that are in fact not associated with the
development of a mental disorder e.g. spirit possession, write this on the
board in a separate place from the main list.
Using the ‘Factors affecting mental health’ diagram below, ensure that all
factors are adequately listed on the board. If the groups do not mention
certain factors then the facilitator can add them to the list.
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AN INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH