Mental Illness and Families - Research Proposal Example

Mental Illness and Households Mental Illness Conditions Majority of individuals understand that the mental illness conditions are very rare, and can only occur in other households and to other individuals. However, the fact is that mental illness or disorders are diverse, common and very widespread. On an annual basis, approximately 54 million residents of the United States experience certain aspects of mental illness (Wiencke, 2011). Majority of the households are not adequately prepared to deal with the mental conditions of a family member.

This is due to the high physical, mental and emotional involvements, which make the family members, experience vulnerability in terms of opinions or judgments by other people (Atkinson, 2009).Mental Illness Overview Mental illness involves a health condition which results into low or high levels of challenges in actions and thoughts. This leads to insufficient abilities of addressing the demands and processes of normal life. There are approximately 200 mental illness categories. The disorders that are commonly associated with mental illness involve; anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorders.

The symptoms for mental illness include; social withdrawal, mood changes, changes in personality, and also changes in individual habits (Hockenbury, 2012). The challenges as a result of mental health are due to increased stress levels. There are several causes of mental illnesses; for instance, inappropriate biochemical changes, environmental issues, and also the genetic concepts. Indicators of Mental Illness There are several key indicators that parents can apply in analyzing the mental illness levels of their children.

One indicator of developing mental illness entails the continuous illustration of negative school performance. The performance can either be; academic like poor class concentration or participation, and non academic like poor relationship and interaction with peers. Mental illness is also seen through aggressive actions illustrated by the child; for example, continuous engagement in violent attacks on other children. High rates of substance abuse also illustrate mental illness cases. Individuals who are physically, psychologically or mentally disturbed normally consume a lot of drugs and also alcoholic contents (Fried, 2006).

Addressing Mental Issues The members of the household can engage in several actions, to address the mental health issues, it exits in the family. The family members should appropriately consult the pediatrician. A lot of emphasis is placed on early intervention. The parents should request the pediatrician to conduct complete medical checkup on the children. Referrals should also be obtained from the professional handling mental health issues. The mental health specialists possess appropriate competencies for analyzing mental health status of patients.

The parents should also work together with the school teachers and administrators. The schools have programs, technology and resources required for providing appropriate education services (Porter, 2013). The school teachers also understand the effective redress measures needed for realizing academic and non-academic achievements. The family should also consult with other families, on matters related to mental illness and related effects on family members, especially children. Families can share experience, wisdom and knowledge on the mental illness area.

Managing effects of Mental Illness The effects of mental illness can be managed properly through participating in support networks. Individuals with signs of mental illness are encouraged to seek the advice and support of peers and family members (Weller, 2010). Support or self help groups can also provide effective advice and support, to the affected individuals and their family members. ReferencesAtkinson, John. (2009). Private and Public Protection: Civil Mental Health Legislation. Edinburgh: Academic Press.

Fried, Yehuda. (2006). “Paranoia: A Study in Diagnosis.” Philosophy of Science.Hockenbury, Don. (2012). Discovering Psychology. London: Worth Publishers. Porter, Roy. (2013). Madness: a brief history. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Weller, Mike. (2010). The Scientific Basis of Psychiatry. London: SAGE Publications. Wiencke, Markus. (2011). Interdisciplinary Border-Crossings in Culture and Modernity. Cambridge Scholars Press: Cambridge.