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Prevention and mental health
Ramakrishnan, Anand
Ramakrishnan, Anand
Abstract
Mental health and well being are fundamental to quality of life, enabling people to experience life as meaningful and to be creative (WHO 2005). Mental ill health is a major cause of disability and long term suffering to the affected individuals, their families and carers. Prevention strategies could be at primary, secondary or tertiary level. There are various community based interventions and also epidemiological and cohort based studies and randomized control trials. Health Promotion is essentially a constructive concept with a focus on process as much as outcome and an emphasis on appropriate methodologies drawn from a spectrum of social, behavioral and biomedical disciplines. There is evidence that mental disorders increase the risk of physical illness and vice versa. Preventive interventions work by focusing on reducing risk factors and enhancing protective factors associated with mental ill-health. However, many preventive and health promotion interventions address groups of people across the communities of all ages. Older people have to deal with physical disabilities associated with age, comorbidities and neurodegenerative conditions and psychosocial issues such as vulnerability and stigma of mental illness. Chronic conditions such as diabetes, elevated blood cholesterol level in midlife and depression have been associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Similarly current smoking, never having been married, low education and lack of social support are all reported to be risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. Preventive measures can be aimed at these factors and their influence on preventing or delaying cognitive decline. There are non-modifiable factors such as age, gender and genetic disposition, which are not currently amenable to preventive programs although they may become feasible in the future. Current preventive strategies involve modifiable factors like physical exercise to reduce cardiovascular risks in developing dementia, depression and anxiety, controlling life style issues like smoking, alcohol use, dietary fat and nutrition, regular physical and mental exercise and managing obesity. Preventing head injury, early use of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors and minimal or no use of antipsychotics have been implicated in delaying onset or slowing the progression of dementias like Alzheimer's disease. Regular interventions to enhance a relatively stress free life by improvement of psychosocial factors, living conditions, healthcare and psycho-education may be helpful measures to prevent depression, reduce suicide rate and improve their quality of life. Combating stigma, discrimination and ageism, promoting intergenerational activities, good housing and the promotion of life style choices that foster independence are other interventions that are aimed at improving mental health of older people. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)(chapter)
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Date
2012
Type
Book chapter
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Citation
Ramakrishnan, A. (2012). Prevention and mental health. In: Compton, M. T. & Shim, R. S. (eds.) Social determinants and mental health. Arlington: American Psychiatric Association, pp. 237-247.