Mental health normality and well being. How to maintain good mental health and what is ideal mental health.

1. Ideal Mental Health Dr Vijay Bhatia

2. Ideal Mental
Health
Marie Jahoda, in 1958, devised a
list of characteristics which are
present in the majority of people
who are regarded as normal.
Known as Ideal Mental Health,
these were:

3. Efficient self perception.
• Appearance and behaviour –
• Look healthy – good skin tone, skin, lip colour, shake hand with strength, have
energy and look into eyes, occasional smile appropriate.
• Look after self, identity, dress, wash, smart.
• Confidence, able to express, make own decisions.
• Be proud of your self, your family, your community.
• Dress and appear appropriate, aware of culture, religion and society norms.
• Eat well, balanced diet and vitamins and minerals. Avoid unhealthy food like too
much sugar and saturated fats. Keep hydrated.
• Exercise
• Safe environment

4. Realistic self esteem and acceptance
• Aware of disease prevention, immunizations, creative, socialise
• connect and learn.
• Self esteem, has money, work, colleagues.
• Appearance and behaviour is poor in Mental illness like
• Depression – looks pale, hunched, weak, tired and does not dress
appropriate, hair not washed or not able to look after self or does not care
about self appearance.
• In Mania – overactive, over dressed or over makeup etc.
• In schizophrenia – dress inappropriately, against culture or norms of local
society, odd.

5. Voluntary control of behaviour
• No outside control on behaviour, Not under influence of alcohol or
drugs, No one commands to do things
• Has no passivity, No other alien force or person affects behaviour.
• No false beliefs or false perceptions.
• Voluntary control of behaviour is lost in mental illness like
• schizophrenia – suspicious, paranoid, isolate, do not socialise.
• Mania – grandiose, over socialise, overactive. or psychotic illness.
• Anxiety – avoids, feels uncomfortable in various situations or among
people or certain events.

6. True perception of the world
• This is lost in schizophrenia, psychotic illness
• Perception can be deceptive or distorted.
• See or hear things that are not there
• Feel or sense unusual things.
• Reality is lost, distorted and deceptive.
• Does not trust.
• Friends become enemies and enemies are friends etc.

7. True perception of the world
• This is lost in mental illness like
• In anxiety – fear normal things like spiders, lifts, public place, heights
etc.
• Depression – believe world in bad and nasty.
• Schizophrenia – world is going to end or weird beliefs about the
world.
• In mania – World is extra beautiful – colours are more bright and
sharp etc.

8. Sustaining relationships and giving affection
• Can make and keep relationships, work, care for others and look after
vulnerable, children etc.
• This is lost in mental illness like
• Depression – do not feel like meeting other.
• Schizophrenia – do not trust any one. Hate others for no apparent
reason.
• Mania – very loving and interactive. Can put themselves in dangerous
situations. Indulge in gambling, sex, spending etc.

9. Self-direction and productivity
• This is lost in mental illness like depression, dependent personality
disorder.
• Schizophrenia – do what others tell even in imagination believe
others are telling him to do things.
• Mania – looses self control and indulge in activities that can be very
risky. Grandiose.

10. Summary
• Self, be active
• Others, give – care, respect and take notice.
• World, look after the world. Have true belief of the world.
• True perceptions. Make sure the true perception is felt and sensed
through at least 3 different senses. One sense can be deceptive or
distorted.
• Socialisation, connect
• Keep Learning

11. Hints for good mental health
• Get up before 7 am. Brush teeth, drink water. Warm up exercise for
about 20 minutes.
• Have structure to the day – work, earn, help, connect, learn.
• Eat healthy – vegetables, fruit, nuts. Vitamins and minerals.
• Sleep well and on time.
• Reflect on day – identify how to relax, meditation, yoga, mindfulness.
• Control stress, anger, negative thoughts.
• Do not overeat in the evening.

12. The End
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