Mental Health Exploration

 

Objective: Exploration of the psychological and social effects of mental health problems for the individual and family members

 

Directions: Below is a list of family members and their problems. For each family member, you need to answer the following questions (use your lecture notes on mental disorders for diagnosis):

 

-What are some of the possible mental health problems this family member might develop?

-What are the possible psychological and social consequences of this person developing a mental health problem at this stage in their life (what problems would be created from this person having a mental disorder?)

-What are the possible psychological and social consequences for the remaining family members and peer group (how will their peer group treat them?)

-How will their mental health problem affect each individual of the family in the future (ex. issues of labeling and stigma)?

-What support will this family member need?

 

Family Members:

 

Father: pressure at work - self-doubt - overwork - anxiety, irritability, repression, withdrawal, quest for continuous reassurance.

Mother: disappointed with herself in the role of mother; angry but unable to say so; worried about husband; possible envious of daughter's youth - anxiety; tension, physical tiredness, mental exhaustion, depression.

Daughter 1: wants to be independent but finds it a strain -wants and needs to be 'mothered' herself; feels she has let everyone down; worries if she is caring properly for the baby and feels ambivalent about it sometimes; anger and hostility towards mother followed by guilt - possible eating disorder.

Son: general lack of confidence, unable to tell anyone about it - nervous and can't sleep - anxiety, sleeplessness, irritability - possible substance misuse (pills and alcohol) if he has had access to them.

Daughter 2: Would like a bit more of her parent's time and feels that by not presenting any problems she gets taken for granted and achieves few positive rewards - possible attention-seeking behavior.

Grandmother/Grandfather: recently experienced two significant losses (spouse and job) that need time to work through; isolation caused by the perception of others that these are natural changes that must be expected - possible depression, coupled with guilt about being a problem.