Mental Health In Developing Countries

Project and Seminar Material for Nursing (Science)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of mental and emotional health problems of adolescents in developing countries. A total of 134 adolescents were selected from the population figure out of which the sample size was determined. Data collected was analyzed using frequency table, percentage and mean score analysis while the nonparametric statistical test (Chi-square) was used to test the formulated hypothesis using SPSS (statistical package for social sciences). The results from the study revealed that majority of the respondents were of the opinion that there is a significant impact of Mental and Emotional Health Problems of Adolescents in developing Countries. The primary elements of a health system have been identified and an hierarchical pathway to promoting mental health, using international, national, community and individual resources as its subsystems has been outlined; the input and output of each subsystem have been described, and ways to modulate each for the overall efficiency of promoting Mental Health have been suggested.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Mental health promotion is frequently overlooked as an integral part of health promotion since its one of the most complex and demanding areas of nursing in developing countries. At least one in three people is thought to suffer some form of mental health problem. (Jenkins ym 2011.) Among most people, mental illness is as a result of the crisis they suffer in life or in the day to day experiences which they can’t cope with (Seedat ym 2008). There is quite a wide range of mental health conditions in developing countries, these include: – neuroses, psychoses, psychological and personality disorders, political instabilities effects like after war trauma, eating disorders and substance misuse (Barley ym 2016). Modern mental health nursing requires a lot of knowledge, experience and competence, in developing countries. Nurses need effective communication skills, a caring and compassionate nature as well as respect for the dignity and safety of others. Even though in developing countries they take dignity as important as possible, it is the opposite for mental health patients in some countries. (Adejumo et al 2001, 223). Mental health is generally described as a situation where individuals discover their ability, can perform normal daily tasks in a productive manner, and they are able to make positive changes to the communities they live in and their surroundings (WHO 2001a, 1). It is of great concern that in practice, mental health promotion is frequently overlooked in health promotion programs especially in developing countries, although the World Health Organisation defines mental health as an integral part of health. It is suggested that more attention should be given to addressing the determinants of mental health in terms of protective and risk factors for both physical and mental conditions among individuals, particularly in developing countries. (WHO, 2005).

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease of infirmity” (WHO 2001, 1). The World Health Organisation further defines health promotion as “actions that support people to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles and which create supportive living conditions or environments for health (WHO 2005). Mental health is also defined as a state of well-being where an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to contribute to his or her own community (Lal ym 2014). Other definitions of mental health refer to the individual’s subjective feelings of well-being, optimism and mastery, the concepts of ‘resilience’ or the ability to deal with adversity, and the capacity to be able to form and maintain meaningful relationships(Jansen ym 2015). A developing country can also be referred to as a Less Developed Country (LDC) or an under developed country. There are a series of definitions for a developing country though there are no agreed criteria used to define the above. This is usually a country with an industrial base that is developing at a gradual rate. The Human Development Index (HDI) is low as is compared to other countries. These countries are usually in the process of transformation from their old traditional lifestyles moving towards the modern lifestyle that began in the 18th and 19th century as a result of the industrial revolution. A developing country is often characterized by having people with a lower life expectancy rate, the education levels and literacy rates are low, and people’s income levels are very low usually below the poverty line.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

A mentally healthy person is free from internal conflict; he is well adjusted, and can face problems and solve them intelligently. So, it is expected that the adolescents should have these characteristics. When these characteristics are not there, the adolescents are said to have mental and emotional health problems. More so, adolescents often time are faced with emotional health needs in life. These needs include the needs for security, love and affection, self-acceptance, freedom, variety of experiences, guidance, faith in a power, time for contemplation, need to be accepted by others and ambition to succeed in life. If these needs are not met by adolescents as they transit from childhood to adulthood, mental and emotional health problems may arise. Mental and emotional health problems in adolescents present a major public health challenge worldwide. There are evidence that mental and emotional health problems occur in children and adolescents and the problems include depression, attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder, anxiety, conduct disorders, and schizophrenia. These problems impinge on mental and emotional health of individuals including adolescents. This situation is worrisome in view of the complexity of today’s society with high technological development. Besides, there is no literature evidence of the development of mental health promotion programme to address mental and emotional health needs and problems of adolescents in Rivers State. The necessity for this study therefore becomes critical.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of compensation management on employee performance. Specific objectives include;

To evaluate the impact of mental and emotional health problems of adolescents in developing countries.
To identify mental and emotional health needs of adolescents in developing countries.
To determine the philosophy/principles of the community-based mental health promotion programme for adolescents.

1.4 Research Questions

What are the mental and emotional health problems of adolescents in developing countries?
What are the mental and emotional health needs of adolescents in developing countries?
What are the philosophies/principles of the community-based mental health promotion programme for adolescents in developing countries?

1.5 Research Hypotheses

Hypothesis I

H0: There is no significant impact of mental and emotional health problems of adolescents in developing countries.
Hi: There is a significant impact of mental and emotional health problems of adolescents in developing countries.

Hypothesis II

H0: There is no significant impact of mental and emotional health needs of adolescents in developing countries.
Hi: There is a significant impact of mental and emotional health needs of adolescents in developing countries.

Hypothesis III

H0: There is no significant impact of philosophy/principles of the community-based mental health promotion programme for adolescents.
Hi: There is a significant impact of philosophy/principles of the community-based mental health promotion programme for adolescents.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study is significant in many ways to various groups. Data generated from prevalent mental and emotional health problems revealed that mental and emotional health problems were prevalent among adolescents. The finding helped the researcher to determine the contents of the mental health promotion programmes developed. The programme could help to reduce the prevalence of mental health problems and could also contribute to the advancement of mental and emotional health and well-being among adolescents and in the population as a whole. More so, the findings may also help the government to train primary health care psychiatrists, mental and emotional health professionals and societal agents on issues concerning mental and emotional health in order to help people attain mental and emotional wellness. The data generated from the mental and emotional health needs of adolescents revealed that adolescents have mental and emotional health needs always. This finding may help parents and other relations of the adolescents or even the community to address these needs. The finding may also help the adolescents to adjust and develop coping strategies in their lives if the needs cannot be met to prevent mental and emotional health problems and disorders. Furthermore, the finding may also help the community, NGO, church and government to map out strategies to meet the mental and emotional health needs of adolescents. More so, the finding also helped the researcher to develop mental health promotion programmes that will help the adolescents adopt the skills to cope with when the needs are not met. This study is considered significant because it will be a response to the call by WHO that mental health programmes and strategies should be developed to promote mental health among children and adolescents. This is to ensure the mental health wellbeing of the population in order to bring about productive and fruitful adolescents in the community. To this end, AMEHPP will add to the number of programmes available to adolescents. In addition, the result of this study will contribute data to researchers who may be responding to this clarion call for the development of other programmes aimed at promoting mental and emotional health of children and adolescents. Data generated from the philosophy/principles, goals, objectives, contents and instructional methods revealed the items that were suitable for inclusion in the adolescent’s mental health promotion programme. This programme is expected to reduce the prevalence of mental and emotional health problems among adolescents as well as meet their mental and emotional health needs thereby reducing the impact of mental health problem in the society. The components of the programme could be employed by programme developers and designers for future intervention programme. The envisaged programme will help the government and policy makers to realize the need for adopting the programme for inclusion in school curriculum and enforcing the implementation to prevent mental and emotional health problems in the school community. Consequent upon this, the community and society at larger will have adolescents who are mentally sound and stable, who will lead to be mentally sound and responsible adults in future. This will also reduce the burden posed by mental health problem in the society. The programme that was developed in this study will be helpful to the government, NGOs, communities and the individuals. The programme may help the government come up with policies that will enforce and guide the implementation of the programme. The programme may help the government make it essential that all the professionals, organizations and individuals providing MEHPP receive training and support enabling them to work effectively together. It may also help the government take measures that will help implement AMEHPP. Furthermore, it may help the government and communities see the need to ensure that the resources, including training in mental and emotional health promotion programme implementation are available. The programme that was developed may provide basis for research for other students to field-try the implementation of the programme in the community. The data generated from the validation of the programmes may show that the items for the programme for promoting adolescents’ mental health were appropriate and suitable for inclusion in the programme. The finding was used to develop the final copy of AMEHPP. The finding may help the government to adopt the programme that was developed for implementation for the promotion of adolescents’ mental and emotional health. The finding may also help the government, NGOs, and other donor agencies to provide funding for the implementation of the programme. The finding may also help adolescents to avail themselves to the programme that was developed in order to promote their mental and emotional health. Lastly, the study would help to verify the theories applied in this study which include transtheoretical model, Pender’s health promotion model, Kerr’s model of curriculum theory, social cognitive theory and precede-proceed model. This study would reveal their adoptability by programme designer and usefulness in developing health promotion programme. Acquisition and maintenance of positive behaviours as explained by transtheoretical model and social cognitive theory shall help programme developers in developing other health promotion programmes to reduce mental health problems and meet the mental and emotional health needs of adolescents and the population at large.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study is on the mental health in developing countries. The study was delimited to the mental and emotional health problems and needs of adolescents. The problems investigated in this study include: conduct disorders, ADHD, anxiety disorder, GID, depression, tic disorder, alcohol and other substance misuse disorder, psychosis, phobias, hypochondriasis and eating disorders. The needs include need to: live, feel important in life, experience changes in life situations, be loved, create something, security, be accepted by self and by others, succeed in life, variety of experience, and guidance in life. Demographic variables of age and gender in relation to mental and emotional health problems and needs of the adolescents were examined in the study.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

The demanding schedule of respondents made it very difficult getting the respondents to participate in the survey. As a result, retrieving copies of questionnaires in timely fashion was very challenging. Also, the researcher is a student and therefore has limited time as well as resources in covering extensive literature available in conducting this research. Information provided by the researcher may not hold true for all research under this study but is restricted to the selected respondents used as a study in this research especially in the locality where this study is being conducted. Finally, the researcher is restricted only to the evidence provided by the participants in the research and therefore cannot determine the reliability and accuracy of the information provided. Other limitations include;

Financial Constraint:

Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time Constraint:

The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

Chapter Five

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations

5.1 Summary of Findings

The objectives of the study were to;

To evaluate the impact of mental and emotional health problems of adolescents in developing countries.
To identify mental and emotional health needs of adolescents in developing countries.
To determine the philosophy/principles of the community-based mental health promotion programme for adolescents.

Findings from the study revealed that majority of the respondents were of the opinion that there is a significant impact of mental and emotional health problems of adolescents in developing countries, there is a significant impact of mental and emotional health needs of adolescents in developing countries and that there is a significant impact of philosophy/principles of the community-based mental health promotion programme for adolescents.

5.2 Conclusion and Recommendation

Mental health promotion is a complex multidisciplinary challenge and requires a multipronged approach. The positive influence of education, skill development, employment, availability of microcredit facilities, increased social support, respect for human rights, and equity has been described. Lack of information and detrimental sociocultural attitudes regarding sex, disability and stigma have been identified as barriers for the promotion of mental health, and some possible methods of minimizing these have been highlighted. A conceptual framework based on a system approach has been developed. The primary elements of a health system have been identified and an hierarchical pathway to promoting mental health, using international, national, community and individual resources as its subsystems has been outlined; the input and output of each subsystem, have been described, and ways to modulate each for the overall efficiency of promoting mental health have been suggested. It is obvious from the small number of studies identified for this review and the lack of any small-area studies that the relationship between poverty and common mental disorders cannot be considered as conclusive. Systematic, small-area studies are needed of the prevalence of disorders where areas differ in levels of absolute and relative poverty. Perhaps the World Mental Health 2000 Surveys will provide such an evidence base. Despite the evidence of an association between common mental disorders and economic deprivation, most people living in poverty do not develop mental illness. Longitudinal research is needed to establish causal associations between common mental disorders and poverty; such studies may help identify the specific factors that are associated with the risk of disorders and, conversely, the factors that help reduce the risk in persons who face severe economic or social adversity. Such longitudinal research should incorporate the evaluation of programmes with the potential for primary prevention, such as microcredit schemes.