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

Introduction
Mental health is vital for individuals, families and communities, and is more than simply the
absence of a mental disorder. Mental health is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO)
as ‘a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the
normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution
to his or her community’. 1
A mental disorder is any illness that affects people’s emotions, thoughts or behaviour, which
is out of keeping with their cultural beliefs and personality, and is producing a negative effect
on their lives or the lives of their families. 2 There are many different types of mental disorders
ranging from common disorders such as depression and anxiety to more severe ones such as
schizophrenia. Effective treatments are available for people with mental disorders, and many
types of mental disorder can be managed at the primary health care level with complementary
support from community-based workers and community members.
Knowledge and beliefs about the recognition, management and prevention of mental disorders
is known as Mental Health Literacy (MHL). 3 Studies in India and internationally have indicated
that knowledge and understanding of mental disorders is poor in many communities. 3,4
Improved knowledge of mental disorders may assist affected people to access treatment and
improve the quality of the care they receive. 3 An important component of MHL is having the
knowledge and skills to support people in the community who may be developing a mental
disorder or are in a mental health crisis situation. This type of assistance has been referred to as
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), which is defined as the help given to someone experiencing a
mental health problem before professional help is obtained. 5
Mental disorders and poverty go hand in hand. Poor people with mental disorders are less
able to access appropriate care due to lack of awareness regarding available treatments
and services, and lack of money to pay for them. Their ability to work is compromised, and
this plunges them further into poverty. Ignorance and fear of mental disorders across the
community contributes to the stigma and shame for affected people and their families,
and consequent discrimination that results in social exclusion, which has a negative effect
on recovery from mental disorders. 6
The training program outlined in this manual is designed to help Community Health
Workers (CHWs) with their day to day work, and has been developed and piloted in
consultation with the Village Health Workers at the Comprehensive Rural Health Project,
Jamkhed, Maharashtra, India. The training manual provides a step by step guide to
facilitating each training session and contains information on teaching methods, training
tips and the aims and objectives of each session.
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AN INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL HEALTH