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Conceptualization Of Mental Health and Illness

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A brief explanation of the different ways in which mental health and mental illness may be conceptualized in the field of psychology.

Explain at least two ways in which this conceptualization may influence your assessment and diagnosis of a client

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This solution describes she various concepts of mental health in the field of psychology.

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1. A brief explanation of the different ways in which mental health and mental illness may be conceptualized in the field of psychology.

(a) Research shows that individuals who have mental health problems often express that 'they are not fitting in', or 'not being a part of anything'. According to Hagerty, Lynch-Sauer, Patusky, Bouwsema, & Collier (1992), these stated feelings can be attributed to a number of psychological concepts including: (a) loneliness, (b) alienation, and (c) hopelessness. Psychologically, 'the statements reflect a unique phenomenon that has not received attention in the mental health literature regarding a sense of belonging'. According to Hagerty et al, this concept of a sense of belonging is significant to professions such as psychiatric nursing (p. 172).

(b) Another conceptualization within the psychology of mental health or mental illness is "mental health as the absence of psychopathology" (Keyes, 2005). Keyes presents research in which mental health is conceived of as a 'complete state in which individuals are not only free of psychopathology, but flourishing with high levels of emotional, psychological and social well being'. (p. 538). Within this interpretation, mental health is ...

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