CARE STUDIES MENTAL HEALTHLEVEL 3WOMEN IN MENTAL HEALTH
INTRODUCTION This study will look at different models of mental illness. It will look at how each model would fit into a women’s perspective and consider how and why a persons social circumstances would be taken into account when assessing and diagnosing mental illness, in respect of Greenspan 1983 statement that : “As long as basic structural inequalities exist in society, large numbers of women will manifest symptoms of this inequality. ... ” Models of Mental Health The Psychodynamic Model looks at the person’s behaviour and cognition and uses cognitive behavioural therapy in its treatment. ... Women of lower social class are more susceptible to mental illness for many reasons; Glendinning & Millar (1993) and Graham (1992) both identified that, many women from working class backgrounds and those who live in poverty who don’t have opportunities to take time away from their families have feelings and actual experience of social deprivation. ... relate/guardiannewsstory Certain life events predispose a woman to developing mental illness, those with no adult companions, no support and are at home for long periods each day with young children are more vulnerable to depression Johnstone (1993) Unfortunately According to Ussher(1992) these women are more likely to be ignored and their symptoms dismissed as unimportant rather than receiving help and support. ... The Medical Model looks at the causes of all symptoms of mental illness, being symptoms of a physical illness. Mental illness can be classified as different disorders which each have characteristic features. The causes of physical and mental illness in psychiatric illness are all explicable in terms of physical illness. ... Robinson (1986) Consider how and why a person’s social circumstances would be taken into account in assessing and diagnosing mental illness.