About Mental Health Services

Introduction

Mental health services involve services of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists (studies and applies psychology for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development.) clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, mental health services counselors (work with "normal" or "moderate" psychological problems, such as the feelings of anxiety or sadness resulting from major life changes or events) many other professionals to provide services for the purpose of improving an individual's mental health or to treat mental illness. These professionals have varying methods of dealing with an identical problem. There are different types of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder. There are many groups working to provide mental health services, some of which are; Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), The United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA), NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental health services and  Illness, The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), GROW and Emotions Anonymous (EA).

History

The history of mental health services can be tracked back to Tullius Cicero, he was the first known person to create a questionnaire for the mentally ill using biographical information to determine the best course of psychological treatment and care. Some of the first mental health centers were constructed in the Middle East during the 8th century. In 13th century medieval Europe, psychiatric hospitals were built to house the mentally ill. In 1752 the first “lunatics ward” was opened at the Pennsylvania Hospital which attempted to treat the mentally ill. The formal recognition of psychiatry as a modern and legitimate profession occurred in 1808. Linda Richards opened Boston City College, this was the first school specifically designed to train nurses in psychiatric care. In 1913 Johns Hopkins University was the first college of nursing in the United States to offer psychiatric nursing as part of its general curriculum. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy accelerated the trend towards deinstitutionalization with the Community Mental Health Act. Also, since psychiatric drugs were becoming more available allowing patients to live on their own and the asylums were too expensive, institutions began shutting down. The first developed standard of care was created by the psychiatric division of the American Nurses Association (ANA) in 1973. This standard outlined the responsibilities and expected quality of care of nurses.

Features

Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP) is WHO’s action plan to scale up services for mental, neurological and substance use disorders for countries especially with low and lower middle incomes. The aim of mhGAP is to build partnerships for collective action and to reinforce the commitment of governments, international organizations and other stakeholders. GROW is a peer support and mutual-aid organization for recovery from, and prevention of, serious mental illness. GROW was founded in Sydney, Australia in 1957 by Father Cornelius B. "Con" Keogh, a Roman Catholic priest, and psychiatric patients who sought help with their mental illness in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Consequently, GROW adapted many of AA's principles and practices. As the organization matured, GROW members learned of Recovery International, an organization also created to help people with serious mental illness, and integrated pieces of its will-training methods. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) (formerly the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association or NDMDA) is a non-profit organization providing support groups for people with depression or bipolar disorder as well as their friends and family. DBSA's scope, also includes outreach, education and advocacy regarding depression and bipolar disorder. DBSA employs a small staff and operates with the guidance of a Scientific Advisory Board. Emotions Anonymous (EA) is a twelve-step program for recovery from mental and emotional illness. As of 2004 there were approximately 1,100 EA groups active in the United States. EA is the largest of three organizations that have adapted the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) to create a program for people suffering from mental and emotional illness. Neurotics Anonymous is a predecessor of EA. Emotional Health Anonymous (EHA), was created independently. The United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA), formerly known as the International Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services (IAPSRS) is the professional association for practitioners of the field of psychiatric rehabilitation and persons and families living with psychiatric disabilities. Founded in 1974 by the directors of the original 13 psychosocial rehabilitation centers in the United States, USPRA promotes Evidence-based practice and works with government agencies, universities, and other institutions. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need.

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