MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE

MENTAL HYGIENE

INTRODUCTION

           The problems of mental disorders have been increasing tremendously for the last two decades all over the world. We have witnessed a rapid growth in mental disorders of all types during this period. The incidences of mental disorders are acquiring unusual dimensions every year, causing great concern to educationists, psychologists, sociologist, social workers and all those who are closely connected with the welfare of the society as a whole. The mentally disordered persons have become a great liability on the nation.

MEANING OF MENTAL HYGIENE

              Mental hygiene is a science which deals with the process of attaining mental health and preventing mental illness in society. It is s life-long process which begins in early child- hood and continues till the death of an individual. It covers all phases of life from infancy to old age.

               Before we trace the development of the mental hygiene movement, let us differentiate between the two terms: “mental hygiene”, and “mental health” which often confuse the readers. Mental hygiene and mental health may be differentiated as means and ends. Mental hygiene is a means to mental health, meaning there by that the main objective of mental hygiene is to attain mental health. In other words mental hygiene is a systematic body of knowledge which aims at attaining mental health.

DEFITIONS OF MENTAL HYGIENE

               The definition of mental hygiene the science of mental health represents a collection of many important ideas. These ideas help to keep human beings healthy in every way. At this point some definitions of mental hygiene are being given to elucidate its nature

A.J.Rosanoff: “Mental hygiene endeavors to aid people to ward off troubles

                             as well as to furnish ways of handling troubles.”

         Kolesink:           “Mental hygiene is a set of conditions which enables a person

                                      to live at peace with him and others.”

         L.F.shaffer:  “Mental hygiene has implications for all persons the aim of

                                    mental hygiene is to assist every individual in  the attainment

                                     of fuller, happier, more harmonious            and more effective

                                    existence.”

NEED FOR MENTAL HYGIENE

       

          Mental hygiene invariably benefits the individual. Where as in the school, it is concerned with the curriculum and the environment, in life out side, it concerns it self with religion, marriage, family, and other social institutions. It is needed even in the field of industry .the need for mental health is felt for the following reasons-

Maintaining balance amid social complexity: If we want a contemporary man should retain his mental balance and lead his life peacefully and fruitfully, it is essential that every individual should be familiar with the basic rules of mental health.

Understanding of mental disorders and problems of adjustment: People     must have the knowledge of mental disorders through the laws of mental          health and hygiene, the problem of such individuals can be diagnosed and treated.

Rapid spread of mental disorders: This is the recent disease in all over the world people must be aware of this disease. There is no doubt that mental disorder are on the increases; hence knowledge of mental hygiene is          essential for their prevention.

An international need: UNESCO says that wars actually place in the minds     of men in order to decrease the international tensions, it is essential that every individual should be protected from mental tensions.

Essential for parents: If parents have the knowledge of mental hygiene,           they can successfully ensure the proper adjustment of their children and protect them against mental disorders.

Essential for teachers: Teachers need knowledge of mental hygiene more than many other individuals because they should be able to perceive the state of mental health of their pupils.

Need in industry and Armed forces: The sphere of mental hygiene has become extensive nowadays this is needed for the major units.

Essential for managers:  In almost every sphere, managers need knowledge of mental hygiene because they must posses the ability and talent to get work done by their juniors.

FUNCTIONS OF MENTAL HYGIENE

         Mental hygiene is recently developed science. The following four functions have been given by mental hygienists in the literature on mental hygiene.

Training: The first function of mental hygiene is to train mental health. Person who can understand people’s psychological problems can meet their needs.

Prevention: The second important function of mental hygiene is to prevent mental health problem by developing such programmes as may check and reduce mental disorders in the population.

Cure of mental disorders: The third function is to develop programmes of counseling psychotherapy may be developed for the group as may help in curing the patients.

Preservation:  All the people are not mentally ill. A good majority of people posses sound mental health. One function of mental hygiene is to preserve and maintain their mental health through education programmes.

PRINCIPLES OF MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH

                No two individuals are alike. Even identical twins that are born out of the same cell differ to a great extent in physical, intellectual, emotional, social, moral and religious dimensions of development. This caused by the factors of nature and nurture the environment decides the mental health of the individual. We can formulate some general principles. The broad principles are as follows:

          Adjustment in home:   parents should inculcate desirable traits in their children and develop competence, security, adequacy, self-esteem and discipline by catering to their needs. If desirable characteristics developed during early childhood, children do not experience any difficulty in the process of adjustment in their life.

             Adjustment to school:      In school various activities can help preventing mental disorders. It can also correct emotional disturbances caused by the home environment by developing remedial programmes for emotionally disturbed and socially alienated students.     

         Adjustment to society:     Man is a social animal. He is born and brought up in the society. Human being from his birth to his death remains in close association with society. There fore for mental health normal expression is essential. Repression of feeling should be avoided because it leads to mental abnormality. The wholesome personality is characterized by normal expression of emotion and by control of emotion.

              Adjustment to work: Work is worship one must become the worshiper of the work only then he can get pleasure out of it an individual makes contribution to society and gets joy in proportion to the recognition of his contribution. If one is mentally healthy he can achieve successfully his life. In school children should provided opportunities for self-directed activities which create confidence and adequacy to stand on their own feet.

 

                 Adjustment to self: knowing one self is the maximum mental health. Parents and teachers should help the child to understand him self, meaning there by that the child must know about his own body and mind .the child must also know the realities of life which is full of difficulties. Every one should be led to understand the problem of sex, mental ill health.

CONCLUSION                                

              

       In brief, the basic principles of mental hygiene have been out lined. There is no doubt that if these principles are followed faithfully we can reduce the mental health problems of children and can help them in better adjustment to society.

1.    INTRODUCTION

            The problems of mental disorders have been increasing tremendously for the last two decades all over the world. The incidents of mental disorders are acquiring unusual dimensions every year, causing great concern to educationists, psychologists, sociologists, social workers. The mentally disordered persons have become a great liability on the nation.

2.    MEANING OF MENTAL HYGIENE

Mental hygiene is concerned with realization and maintenance of the mind’s health and efficiency.

                        Mental hygiene is a science which deals with the process of attaining mental health and preventing mental illness in the society. It is a life-long process which begins in early childhood and continues till the death of an individual. It covers all phases of life right from infancy to old age.

                        Before we trace the development of the mental hygiene movement, let us differentiate between the two terms; “Mental Hygiene” and “Mental Health” which often confuse the readers.

                        Mental hygiene and mental health may be differentiated as means and ends. Mental hygiene is a means to mental health, meaning thereby that the main objective of mental hygiene is to attain mental health. In other words mental hygiene is a systematic body of knowledge which aims at attaining mental health.

3.    DEFINITIONS OF MENTAL HYGIENE

                        Several definitions of mental hygiene have been given by clinicians, psychologists, and educationists from different points of view. There are some definitions of mental hygiene are being given to elucidate its nature.

Kolesnik – “Mental hygiene is a set of conditions which enable a person to live at peace with himself with others”.

D.B. Klein – “Mental hygiene as its name suggests, is concerned with the realization and maintenance of the mind’s health and efficiency”.

Drever – “Mental hygiene means investigation of the laws of mental health and taking or advocacy of measures for its preservation”.

L.F.Shaffer – “Mental hygiene has implications for all persons. The aim of mental hygiene is to assist every individual in the attainment of fuller, happier, more hormonious and more effective existence”.

A.J. Rosanoff – “Mental hygiene endeavors to aid people to ward off troubles as well as to furnish ways of handling troubles”.

4. NEED FOR MENTAL HYGIENE

                        Mental hygiene invariably benefits the individual. Whereas in the school, it is concerned with the curriculum and the environment, in life outside, it concerns itself with religion, marriage, family and other social institutions. It is needed even in the field of industry. The specific needs of mental hygiene fall into the following  four categories.

a. Realization of Potentialists:

                        The main need of mental hygiene is to provide opportunity to the individual to develop his potentialities to the maximum. Every individual has some inherent potentialities which remain repressed through want of proper opportunities. Such individuals feel frustrated and consequently become the victims of mental illness.

b. Happiness:

                        Happiness is a subjective criterian which is very difficult to define in operational terms. Here it means that the goal of mental hygiene is to develop a positive attitude towards life and work, so that the individual may lead an efficient life by utilizing maximally his potential abilities.

c. Hormonious Development:

                        Mental hygiene aims at the harmonious development of the physical, mental and spiritual capacities of the individual so that he may properly adjust to his social environment and contribute to the welfare of society.

d. Effective existence:         

                        The last need of mental hygiene is to prepare the individual for effective existence in society. Indian society is moving very rapidly towards industrialization which is fraught with many problems of adjustment.

                        Mental hygiene prepares the individual for effective adjustment in home, school, work and society. The scope of mental hygiene includes all behaviour problems from infancy to old age.

5. FUNCTIONS OF MENTAL HYGIENE

                        Mental hygiene is a recently developed science. The following four functions have been given by mental hygientists in the literature on mental hygiene.

a.                                    a. Training:

                        The first function of mental hygiene is to train mental health personnel who can understand people’s psychological problems and can help them to meet their needs.

b. Prevention:

The second important function of mental hygiene is to prevent mental health problems by developing such programmes as may check and reduce mental disorders in the population.

c. Cure of Mental Disorders:

The third function is to develop programmes for those who have already become the victims of mental illness. Such programmes of counselling or psychotherapy may be developed for the individual or the group as may help in curing the patients.

4. Preservation:

All people are not mentally ill. A good majority of people possess sound mental health. One function of mental hygiene is to preserve and maintain their mental health through education programmes.

6. PRINCIPLES OF MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH

No two individuals are alike. Even identical twins that are born out of the same cell differ to a great extent in physical, intellectual, emotional, social, moral and religious dimensions of development. This caused by the factors of nature and nurture the environment decides the mental health of the individual. We can formulate some general principles. The broad principles are as follows,

a. Adjustment in home:

Parents should inculcate desirable traits in their children and develop competence, security, adequacy, self-esteem and discipline by catering to their needs. If desirable characteristics developed during early childhood, children do not experience any difficulty in the process of adjustment in their life.

 b. Adjustment to School:

In school various activities can help preventing mental disorders. It can also correct emotional disturbances caused by the home environment by developing remedial programmes for emotionally disturbed and socially alienated students.

c. Adjustment to Society:

Man is a social animal. He is born and brought up in the society. Human being from his birth to his death remains in close association with society. Therefore for mental health normal expression is essential. Depression of feeling should be avoided because it leads to mental abnormality. The wholesome personality is characterized by normal expression of emotion and by control of emotion.

d. Adjustment to work:

Work is worship one must become the worshiper of the work only then he can get pleasure out of it an individual makes contribution to society and gets joy in proportion the recognition of his contribution. If one is mentally healthy he can achieve successfully his life. In school children should be provided opportunities for self-directed activities which create confidence and adequacy to stand on their own feet.

     

e. Adjustment to self:

            Knowing oneself is the maximum mental health. Parents and teachers should help the child to understand himself, meaning thereby that the child must know about his own body and mind. The child must also know the realities of life which is full of difficulties. Everyone should be led to understand the problem of sex, mental ill health.

7. CONCLUSION

In brief, the basic principles of mental hygiene have been outlined. There is no doubt that if these principles are followed faithfully, we can reduce the mental health problems of children and can help then in better adjustment to the society.

CONCEPT OF CONFLICT

INTRODUCTION      

The term conflict is used in so many ways in our day to day set up. There may be conflicts between the ideologies of two sects, cultures, religions and organizations. Conflicts may be aroused between husband and wife, father and son, teacher and student.

DEFINITION:

Conflict means a painful emotional state which results from a tension between opposed and contradictory wishes - Douglas and Holland.

TYPES OF CONFLICT:

Conflicts are classified into three types.

1.    Approach – Approach Conflict

2.    Approach - Avoidance Conflict

3.    Avoidance – Avoidance Conflict

 1.  Approach – Approach Conflict:

            In this conflict, an individual is faced with the problem of making a choice between two or more positive goals almost equally motivating and important.

G1+                                  I                                 +G2

Here, two positive goals are involved. The individual should select any one, So that the individual get conflict to select the one between the two goals.

For example, a child may have to choose between reading an interesting novel of going out to play cricket.

            After completing +2, the students get conflict to select their appropriate course medical or engineering.

2. Approach - Avoidance Conflict:

            In this conflict, an individual faced with a problem of choice between approaching and avoiding tendency at the same time. Here two goals are involved, one is positive and another one is negative.

G1-                                            I                                         G2+

3. Avoidance – Avoidance Conflict:

            In this conflict, an individual is caught in a situation where he must choose between two or more possible negative goals. Usually conflicts of this type are more serious than the approach – approach conflict.

       G1-                                   I                           G2-

CONCEPT OF FRUSTRATION

INTODUCTION

            Frustration is that stage or condition in which failure dominate the attempts. In this state of ones feels a major obstacle on the satisfaction of ones basic needs or in the attainment of ones cherished goal. Frustration is a human emotion that occurs in situations where one is blocked from reaching a personal goal.

Needs

Desire                              Drive                     Blocking                         Goal

Motives

DEFINITION:

• Frustration means emotional tension resulting from the blocking of a desire or need - Good.
• A frustration is the condition of being dissatisfied in the satisfaction of motive - Carroll.

CAUSES FOR FRUSTRATION:

1. Delayed reinforcement
2. Blocking the response
3. Mental conflicts

1. Delayed Reinforcement:

            Withholding of the reinforcement that ordinary occurs, from an organism that has already been conditioned in a particular way may trigger frustration. When response is a regularly reinforced and then extinguished this operation is called as frustration by delay. In Pavlov’s experiment, when there was a delay of 5 minutes in presenting the food after ringing the bell, the dog got frustrated and as result there occurred a reduction in the secretion of saliva in the dog. This is due to the delayed reinforcement of the conditioned response.

2. Blocking the Response:

            This means that at some point of an organism’s activity, a barrier is introduced and behaviour is prevented.  Here the chain of behaviour is broken not due to withholding of usual reinforcement but due to the introduction of the new obstacle that prevents the response to occur. These factors can be classified into two types namely, External or Environment factor and Internal or Personal factor.

3. Mental Conflicts:

            Conflict means a painful emotional state which results from a tension between opposed and contradictory wishes. According to Barney and Lehner, “Psychological conflicts are a state of tension brought by the presence in the individual of two or more opposing desires.”

CONCEPT OF ADJUSTMENT

INTODUCTION

            In psychology adjustment refers to an individual’s relationship with his environment, the way to he attempts to achieve harmony between his own drives/desires and the demands/restraints of the environment.

DEFINITION:

• Adjustment is a process by which a living organism maintains a balance between its needs and the circumstances that influence the satisfaction of these needs - L. S. Shaffer.
• Adjustment represents a compromise between the needs of the individual and demands of the society in which he/she lives – White.
• A person is said to be adjusted when he is relatively happy, efficient and has some degrees of social feeling – Symonds.

CHARACTERISTICS:

v  Adjustment is subjective.

v  Adjustment is a continuous process.

v  Adjustment varies from culture to culture.

v  It is a process of need reduction.

v  It is the interaction between an individual and with his environment.

v  Adjustment maintains physiological and psychological balance that influences the satisfaction of those needs.

v  It demands on external and internal demands. These are social psychological and physiological needs of an individual.

MALADJUSTMENT

MEANING:

            Maladjustment refers to the failure of the individual to adjust to the needs of self and demands of the environment. It can be judged from the behaviour of an individual shown in a given situation. Thus the pattern of behaviour is not conformity with the social and cultural patterns at home or school or in community is called maladjusted behaviour. These children’s are some time called “Emotional Disturbed” or “Delinquent” or “Socially Unacceptable Children’s”. Thus maladjustment refers to disharmony between the person and his environment.

SYMPTOMS OF MALADJUSTMENT:

1. Physical symptoms: Stuttering, stammering, biting nails, rocking feet and restlessness.
2. Habit disorders: walking and talking in sleep, nail biting, defect in speech.
3. Behaviour disorders: Aggressive, envy behaviour, stealing and lying, negativism.
4. Emotional symptoms: Excessive worry, fear, conflict and tension.
5. Educational & vocational difficulties: unusual response to school displine, inability to keep jobs.

ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM:

When an individual meets with stress in the form of a conflict, frustration, pressure, his immediate reaction is either to be aggressive or to be withdrawal type or play as a neutral role in order to reduce his mental tension and to maintain balance in the society. These common ways which the individual use to defend or escape from the situation is called Defence or Adjustment Mechanism. These defence mechanism helps the individual to preserve him self-concept and protect him from anxiety.

TYPES OF ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM:

There are two types of adjustment mechanism.

                  1. Direct method.

                  2. Indirect method.

1. Direct Method:

                  This is the method by which the individual makes efforts to reduce/release his tension consciously. These methods are logical and rational in nature and employed intentionally in getting permanent solution of the problem faced by the individual in a particular situation. The following are the direct methods of adjustment mechanism.

1.    Removing the difficulties

2.    Improving efforts

3.    Change in the working pattern

4.    Substitution to other goal

5.    Withdrawal

2. Indirect Method:

            This is the method by which a person tries to seek temporary adjustment or makes an effort to reduce tension unconsciously. The following are the indirect method of the adjustment mechanism.

                        1. Projection (Putting blame on others for ones failure)

                        2. Rationalization (giving justification)

                        3. Repression

                        4. Suppression

                        5. Compensation

                        6. Displacement

PROBLEMATIC CHILDREN

            It comes based on the individual differences. The main individual differences are,

1. Physical differences (height, weight, colour, etc.,)
2. Mental differences ( IQ level, creative power, etc.,)
3. Difference in interest and attitudes
4. Emotional difference
5. Differences in social and moral development.

Problematic children may be defined as those who are different from normal students are called exceptional or problematic children. They always create problems to others. For example sleeping in the class hours, fighting with others, stealing other things, etc. They have maladjustment behaviour.

JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CHILD:

            The delinquents are anti-social behaviour children who are at the lower extreme ends of normal distribution of social tract. The delinquents are found generally at the stage of adolescence. The children who are delinquents below the age of eighteen years are known Juvenile Delinquent.

MEANING:

            It is difficult to define the term delinquency comprehensively and universally because it has wide coverage of anti social behaviour that varies time to time, place to place, cultural, social and political conditions of a particular condition. It may be stated that the child who violates the social norms and values, is called Delinquent.

DEFINITION:

• A child who deviates from the social norms of behaviour is called delinquent - Healy.
• Delinquency may be defined as anti-social behaviour - Head Field.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DELINQUENTS:

v  A delinquent child possess anti social behaviour.

v  He breaks the laws and creates indiscipline in school.

v  A delinquents deviates from norms of social behaviour and creates problems in society.

v  A delinquent child is aggressive and hostile behaviour.

v  His anxiety level is generally very high.

v  The delinquents are emotional and maladjusted.

CAUSES OF DELINQUENCY:

v  Heredity and environmental factors

v  School environment

v  Physical constitutional factors

v  Psychological factors

ROLE OF EDUCATION IN DELINQUENCY:

            The delinquents are found at the stage of adolescence or secondary and higher secondary level. The child enters in the school with set patterns of his behaviour and attitudes. Even than education can play crucial role in both treatment and preventing delinquency. Education is creature and creator of the society. The school is second social institution and class as social phenomenon. Thus, education and school has an important role to play to control and prevent delinquency.

MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE

            Mental hygiene is a science which deals with the process of attaining mental health and preventing mental illness in society. It is life-long process which begins in early child-hood and continues till the death of an individual. Before we trace the development of the mental hygiene movement, let us differentiate between the two terms ‘Mental Hygiene’ and ‘Mental Health’ which often confuse the readers. Mental hygiene and mental health may be differentiated as means and ends. Mental hygiene is a systematic body of knowledge which aims at attaining mental health.

DEFINITION:

• Mental hygiene is a set of conditions which enables a person to live at peace with him and others - Kolesink.
• Mental hygiene has implications for all persons the aim of mental hygiene is to assist every individual in the attainment of fuller, happier, more harmonious and more effective existence - L.F. Shaffer.

FUNCTIONS OF MENTAL HYGIENE:

            Mental hygiene is recently developed science. The following four functions have been giving by mental hygiene in the literature on mental hygiene.

1. Training:

            The first function of mental hygiene is to train mental health. Person who can understand people’s psychological problems can meet their needs.

2. Prevention:

            The second important function of mental hygiene is to prevent mental health problem by developing such programmes as may check and reduce mental disorders in the population.

3. Cure of mental disorders:

            The third function is to develop programmes of counseling psychotherapy may be developed for the group as may help in curing the patients.

4. Preservation:

            All people are not mentally ill. A good majority of people posses sound mental health. One function of mental hygiene is to preserve and maintain their mental health through education programmes.

PRINCIPLE OF MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH:

1. Adjustment in home:

            Parents should inculcate desirable traits in their children and develop competence, security, adequacy, self-esteem and discipline by catering to their needs. If desirable characteristics developed during early childhood, children do not experience any difficulty in the process of adjustment in their life.

2. Adjustment in school:

            In school various activities can help preventing mental disorders. It can also correct emotional disturbances caused by the home environment by developing remedial programmes for emotionally disturbed and socially alienated students.

3. Adjustment in society:

            Man is a social animal. He is born and brought up in the society. Human being from his birth to his death remains in close association with society. Therefore mental health normal expression is essential. The wholesome personality is characterized by normal expression of emotion and by control of emotion.

4. Adjustment to work:

            If one is mentally healthy he can achieve successfully his life. In school children should provided opportunities for self-directed activities which create confidence and adequacy to stand on their own feet.

5. Adjustment to self:

            Knowing one self is the maximum mental health. Parents and teachers should help the child to understand him self, meaning there by that the child must know about his own body and mind. The child must also know the realities of life which is full of difficulties. Every one should be led to understand the problem of sex, mental ill health.