MENTAL HYGIENE

MENTAL HYGIENE

INTRODUCTION

The main aim of the life is to establish adjustment with the changes that continuously go in the environment. Every individual tries to solve the complications of his circumstances in his own way. Some times he achieves success and sometimes he fails. Personalities that are not able to tolerate and face frustration develop complexes in their unconscious  minds. This leads to disintegration and dis balancing of the personality.

MEANING AND DEFINITION OF MENTAL HYGIENE

 Mental hygiene means the balanced and integrated development of the personality. Mental hygiene is a branch of science which deals with the mental health of the individuals.

ACCORDING TO AMERICAN PSYCHIATREC

ASSOSIATION,

Mental hygiene consists of measures to reduce the incidence of mental illness through precuation and early treatment and to promote mental health.

ACCORDING TO CROW AND CROW

Mental hygiene is a science that deals with human welfare and pervades all fields of human relationship.

AIMS AND  OBJECTIVES OF METAL GYGIENCE

Crow and crow suggest three categories of aims and objectives

1.  The Prevention

2.  The Preservation

3.  The Cure

1.                       Prevention of mental disorders through an understanding of the relationship that exists between wholesome personality development and life experience. This implies a. Listing causes of mal adjustment: personal as well as social

b.            Furishing the knowledge of drives needs motives,

conflicts of motives, frustrations and tensions etc.

c.             Suggesting ways and means of achieving emotional and social adjustment.

d.            Suggesting the solution for the inner conflicts and

frustrations and thus relieving from the tensions, anxieties and emotional disturbances.

2.                       Preservation of the mental health of the individual and of the group. This means

a.            Developing total potentionalities of an individuals

b.            Attaining emotional maturity and stability

c.             Achieving personal and social security as well as adequacy

d.            Developing healthy human relationships and group

interaction.

e.             Helping an individual in acquiring sound body and normal mental health.

3.                       Discovery and utilization of therapeutic measures and cure mental illness

a.            To know diff types of mental illness, disorders and discases

b.            To suggest various therapies

c.             To suggest means of rehabilitation and readjustment

TWO SPHERES OF MENTAL HYGIENE

1.       Prophylactic Hygiene

It is oriented towards the prevention of diseases, breakdown, weakness, disaster and death.

2.       Meliorative Hygiene

It is oriented towards the acquisition of better health, more energy and abundant life

MENTAL HEALTH

It is concerned with the health of one’s mind and its functioning in the same way as the physical health is concerned with the health of one’s physical organs and their functioning.

According to J.A. Hadfield

Mental health is a full and harmonious functioning of the whole personality.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A MENTALLY HEALTHY PERSON.

The common characteristics are:

1.                 Capacity for adjustment

2.                 Firm self confidence

3.                 Good physical Health

4.                 Absence of a critical Attitude

5.                 Awareness of needs

6.                 Adaptable and resilient mind

7.                 Conscious control of life

8.                 Cheerful and optimistic outlook

9.                 Well regulated instructs and habits

10.            Emotional balance

11.            Insight in to one’s own conduct

12.            Enthusiastic  and reasonable

13.            Normal sex consciousness

14.            Freedom from prejudice

15.            Calm

16.            Good tempered

17.            Socially adaptable

18.            Definite philosophy of life

19.            Capacity to think independently

20.            Satisfied with the work or occupation

21.            Realistic Imagination

MENTAL DISORDERS

1.                 Iritability

2.                 Depressed and pessimistic outlook

3.                 Abnormal interest in sex

4.                 Easily embarrassed in the presence of others

5.                 Undeveloped habits and will

6.                 Bad temper

7.                 Value anxiety

8.                 Moodiness

9.                 Lack of courage 10.            Impatience

11.            Full of prejudice

12.            Feeling of insecurity

13.            Feeling of Inferiority

IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH

1.                 Helps in the development of desirable personality

2.                 Helps in proper emotional development

3.                 Helps in proper social development

4.                 Helps in proper moral development

5.                 Helps in proper aesthetic development

6.                 Helps in actualizing one’s potentialities

7.                 Helps in seeking proper adjustment

8.                 Helps in seeking goals of life

9.                 Helps in the progress of the society

10.            Helps in the prevention of mental illness

ORGANS AND ELEMENTS OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE

1.                 Intellectual Health

2.                 Emotional Health

3.                 Health of the Interest

The teachers and the parents should try to teach the students the subjects in which they have interest or towards which they are individual

4.                 Mental hygiene  and environment

5. Mental hygiene and body SYMPTOMS OF A MENTALLY ILL CHILD

a.        Physical Symptoms

Drumming with fingers, facial twitching, nail biting, restlessness, rocketing fact, scratching head, stammering and vomiting.

b.        Behavioural  Deviations

Aggression, bullying, hyperactivity, lying, negativism, poor school achievement and sex disturbances

c.        Emotional symptoms

Persistent anxiety, intense conflicts and tensions, fear, hatred, inferiority complex, extreme timidity, excessive worry.

DEFENCE MACHANISM

According to Clifford Margan, “Defence Mechanism is a reaction to frustraction that defends  people against anxiety and serves to disguise their motives, so that they deceive themselves about their real motives and gols.”

MEANING

It is a sort of ‘escapism’ from the realities of the situation for ‘ a whole’. A few  important techniques which are considered to reduce mental tensions and maintain mental health are:-

1.       SUBLIMATION (Healthy Redirection)

It is themost lignificant and socially acceptable technique. Here an individuals inner urges are diverted to appropriate channels.

E.g. Adoloscents  redirected to co curricular activities

2.       REPRESSSION - ( Forgetting )

One gets temporary relief by pushing down the painful experiences in to our unconscious mind. Too repression should be avoided.

3.       REGRESSION ( Acting childish )

It is an unconscious back tracking either in  memory or behavior.

Eg: talking of good olden days by an old men.

4.       COMPENSATION- (overcoming inferiority)

It is a process of making up deficiency of one area or trait development in another.

Eg:  A Student not good in studies excellent in sports.

5.       IDENTIFICATION- (Feeling important)

An individual seeks satisfaction in associating himself with a popular hero or reputed organization

6.       DISPLACEMENT- (Displaced aggression)

An individual does something as a substitute for something else.

Eg: A henpecked husband being harsh to his subordinate clerk

( called Scapegoating )

7.       RATIONALISATION- ( Making excuses )

An individual  tries to justify his failure by giving some excuses.

Eg: grapes are sour.

8.       PROJECTION – ( Blaming others )

An individual puts the blame of his own failure upon the shoulders of others.

9.       WITHDRAWAL OR SECLUSIVENESS

An individual tends to withdraw himself from the situation that causes failure or frustraction.

10.   SYMPATHISM

Individuals try to magnify their difficulties and try to evoke sympathy of others.

11.   DAY DRAWING ( Fantasy )

It is a wish fulfilling attempt by some one who lacks the courage to face actual life situation.

12. REACTION FORMATION (REVERSAL OF MOTIVES)

One might exhibit love towards others by suppressing the real hatred towards them.

ROLE OF SCHOOL IN THE PRESERVATION AND

PROMOTION OF MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN

1.                 Physical make up and mental health

A sound mind in a sound body

2.                 Meditation

Provide peace of mind and calmness.

3.                 Emotional stability of the teacher

Teachers should be mentally alert and stable to develop alertness and stability in the students. The teachers should have

1.                 Love for children

2.                 Missionary activities

3.                 Patience

4.                 Consistency in the behavior

5.                 Democratic attitude

6.                 True to his commends

7.                 Impartice and just

8.                 Respect for the individuality of the child

9.                 Close teacher pupil contacts

4.                 HEALTHY HOME AND SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

5.                 MEDICAL EXAMINATION

6.                 INTELLECTUAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE SCHOOL

Suitable methods of teaching and learning should be adopted

7.                 Provision of cocuricular activities

8.                 Freedom and self discipline

Freedom given to children develops courage and initiative and Discipline should be emparted through a constructive approach.

9.                 PROPER LEVEL OF ASPIRATION

Goals set before the students should be achievable  by the.

10.            Avoid unhealthycompetitions.

11.            Sex education

12.            Balanced curriculum

Curriculum should be in accordance with 3 A’S ie, age ability and aptitude of the students.

13.            Provision of education, vocation and personal guidance

14.            Moral Education

15.            Social functions

16.            Voluntary labour

By taking part in such programme they shall learn the dignity of labour

17.            Self confidence and self control

Should be given opportunities to develop self confidence and should be laved from too much of emotional excitement so that they learn self control.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE METAL HYGIENE OF THE

TEACHERS

1.                 Heavy burden of work

2.                 Less salary

3.                 Restrictions on outside jobs

4.                 Repressive administration and introspection

5.                 Too much botheration about preparation of topics

6.                 Shouldering the burden of others especially other posts

7.                 Lack of recreation due to excess of work

8.                 In sufficient teaching materials

HOW TO IMPROVE THE  MENTAL HEALTH OF

THETEACHERS

1.                 Proper facilities for recreation

2.                 Membership of the teacher’s organization

3.                 Maintain good physical health

4.                 Development of wistrospection

5.                 Place for mental hygiene in the curriculum of the teachers training

6.                 Taking help of Psychiatric centre

MENTAL HYGIENE AND EDUCATION

1.       Mental hygiene is valued everywhere

In every sphere of human life-home, school, playground, office, shop etc.

2.       Mental hygiene in the family

It is in the family that child leaves to express, control and refine or modify his emotions, thoughts, feeling and impressions.

He develops the traits of affection, sympathy, brotherhood etc.

3.       Mental Hygiene in School

It is in the school he learns lessons of self dependence, self confidence and self reliance.

4.       Mental Hygiene in Adolescence

Mental, physical and other kind of development takes place at a rapid pace during this stage. So should present mental imbalance.

5.       Mental Hygiene in Adult Age

Life becomes something of a problem during this age and should tackle these bravely.

GUIDANCE

According to Skinner, “guidance is a process of helping young persons learn to adjust to self, to others and to circumstances

FOURFOLD FUNCTIONS OF A GUIDANCE PROGRAMME

An effective guidance programme helps a youth to see clearly four things

1.                 Where he has been

2.                 Where he is now

3.                 Where he is going and

4.                 What he has with which to get there

AIMS OF GUIDANCE

1.                 Development of personal potentialities of an individual

2.                 Orientation to education, vocation, avocational opportunities and requirements.

3.                 Adjustment to various situations

OBJECTIVES OF GUIDANCE

The following are the main objectives of educational guidance

a.                 To select curriculum according to the ability and capability.

b.                 To make improvements in the methods of study.

c.                  To provide to special method of education for the backward pupils

Beckwardness may be due to some mental disease. In such case pupil should be given proper medical treatment by an expert.

d.                 To provide special Educational programmes for the gifted pupils

e.                  To consider the failures at examination

Case of suicide as a result of failure at the examination are common. Through proper guidance this can be solved. The psychologists should study and analyse the causes behind the failures and faid the means for reducing the failures

f.                   To Remove weaknesses in the pupils in Particular subjects.

Usually pupil fails in a subject due to lack of interest in that particular area.

NEED FOR GUIDANCE

1.       Individual difference

No two human beings have ever been found to be alike. Their requirements also differ. This makes increasingly  necessary to have a definite provision for certain form of guidance

2.       Guidance from the point of view of the society and the individual

Society can only make progress if its individuals find places in the occupational, civic, and social order where they can contribute their best for the welfare of others.

3.       Personal or Psychological Needs

Guidance is needed for the personal as well as psychological adjustment of the children. Maladjustment creates serious problems. Children need help in relieving themselves from their mental conflicts tensions and anxieties of guidance should be of great necessity.

ADVANTAGES OF GUIDANCE SERVICES

1.       For students

a.                Understanding the mselves

b.               Developing their potentialities

c.                Selection  of subjects, books, cocurricular activities etc.

d.               Selection of occupation

e.                Solving personal, emotional, sexual and social problems

f.                 Making educational, vocational and psychological adjustments.

2.       For teachers

a.                 Understanding their students.

b.                 Developing their potentialities

c.                  Improving classroom relationships

3.       For parents

a.                 Understanding the strong and weak points of their children

b.                 Improving parent child relationship

c.                  Improving parent, school and community relationships.

d.                 Improving study habits of children

e.                  Helps to solve the problems of theirchildren

4.       For community

a.                 Prevents crimes and problems which may lead to mental

illness

b.                 Identifying and developing the talents of gifted children

c.                  Produce better adjusted citizens

d.                 Utilize the staff, energy, money and other resources of the community in more efficient way.

5.       For administration

a.                 To select candidates at the time of admission

b.                 To select and recruit staff members or employees

c.                  Setting up and maintaining an effective cumulative record system

d.                 Decrease the number of failures and increase the achievements of the school

e.                  To increase the over all efficiency of the school programme

CONCLUSIONS

Mental hygiene and education are not contradictory but are complementary. The common aim of mental hygiene and education is adjustment. If a cross section of the population were studied during any generation there could be found in any generally well adjusted group some persons of all ages who should exhibit more or less serious symptoms of emotional stress and maladjustment.

Practical experience demonstrates the fact that present conditions predispose towards the development of one or another form of mental disturbance.

It is the responsibility of all persons who work with young people to assume the task of preventing mental illness and of preserving mental health. Parents, school, people, religious and social workers and employers need to know the particular dangers to mental health that are inherent in the environmental conditions of the times and help the young people to adjust with the problems and there will be a minimum incidence of mental illness.