Question

What are the signs of mental health or developmental or developmental issues and the risk and protective factors?

Word limit 220 to 260

Answer 1

Signs of Mental health:

Mental health is the balance between the individual and surrounding world. The signs of Mental health are:

* able to cope with the normal stresses of life, optimistic feelings

* Don't self blame always , set reasonable goals, feel good about oneself

* good self esteem and  work productively.

Signs of Mental health issues/ developmental issues :

* Failure to achieve developmental milestones

* Developmental issues may manifest as delayed or abnormal patterns development in the areas of motor skills, language and communication , social and adaptive behaviour and problem solving skills.  

* feel anxious/ worried or stressed time to time. Signs of anxiety are heart palpitations, headache, restlessness or shortness of breath etc.

* Lacl of motivation to do things and feeling depressed for more than two to three weeks .

* Sleep problems and considerable weight loss

* Self isolation and withdrawing from social activities and self blame , unnecessary guilty feelings.

* Substance abuse : alcohol and other drugs

Risk factors: The major risk factors that contribute to the developmental and mental health issues are:

* Maternal factors like poor nutrition, teenage pregnancy, stressful pregnancy,infections like STD ( sexually transmitted diseases) , toxin exposures etc.

* Low birth weight babies, congenital malformations, epilepsy in infants .

* Family history of Mental illness

* Stressful life situations like death of loved ones , financial loss, unexpected failures , chronic medical conditions etc.

Protective factors: The major protective factors are ,

* Maternal factors: Good prenatal nutrition and care without exposing to toxins, infections etc

* Safe delivery, proper neonatal and infant care with exclusive breast feeding

* Prevention of accidents and infections in the children

* Protect the child from abuse and neglect

* Good friends and Healthy relationships

* avoidance of alcohol and othet drug abuses.

* adequate rest , sleep and physical activity

* Routine medical care and get help from mental health providers counsellors whenever needed.