Mdle acitivity 1WIMH

2023 – Moodle activity wk1
NURS5412 – What is mental health?
Please answer these questions as part of your reflection on the

theory content in week 1. There is no right or wrong answer; the
questions are designed to help you start to apply what you are
learning. You may answer some or all the questions, or you may
choose one and complete the reflection template as a method of
developing your own self-awareness. Some of the questions will
require some research. These are good preparation for the
content covered in the rest of the course.
1. What is your understanding of mental health?
 State of the mind,
 Ability to mentally cope with adversities, level of resilience,

which can wear off with time and tough adversities
 Mood fluctuation (emotions, doubts, fear, anxiety)
 Imbalance of chemicals in the brain
 Perceptions and strong beliefs
 Logical and illogical beliefs that could turn into habits
2. What is mental illness?
 Disruption in thought process, which could disrupt a person’s

daily life
 Cognitive disruptions
 Loss of memory
 Losing grip of reality
 Odd behaviours
3. What is the role of whanau in mental health?
Page 1 of 4
They play a crucial part in the well-being of the patient. Although

some patients are unable to make decisions about their health, the
next point of contact regarding the patient’s health is the patient’s
family/ whanau.
They also see to it that their sick family member is given the best
possible care, in order to see their health improve.
Having whanau/family close to a patient, makes the patient feel less

vulnerable. It can give patient hope and extra motivation to put
effort into improving their health.
4. How might you support whanau?
 By informing them what the plan is in place for the patient
 If a decision is to be made for the patient. Even if the patient

has made the decision himself/herself. Discuss the matter
with the whanau/family.
 Give them space if they need for discussion, grieve for the
dead, or Karakia (prayer)
 Assist them as much as possible, within means.
5. What is ‘inclusion’ and why is whanau inclusion important?
Inclusion: Keeping them up to date as to what is happening.
Get their input on decision making maters for the wellbeing of the
patient.
6. How can someone find help and support for a person with a mental
health issue?
Referral from doctor/ clinic
Support workers
Education from nurses
Page 2 of 4
7. If a person does not want to include whanau in their care, how will
you respond?
Respect the patient’s choice,
Communicate with healthcare team
8. What could you say to a whanau member who has phoned the ward
to ask after someone, but does not have disclosure?
Get them to speak to the patient directly
Tell the caller that I am not supposed to give much information,

unless the caller is a next of kin.
9. How could you respond if a neighbour asked you advice about the
mental health of a whanau member?
Refer them to their clinic/ GP
Give general information, nothing too specific
Give them links to websites
10. What do you think is most important when nursing someone

with a mental health concern?
Be empathetic
Be firm but not confrontational
Use de-escalating ways to make a situation less dangerous
Make sure to give them the best possible care
11. What are the Recovery principles?
12. Describe some of the services you know about in the

community
Te Whatu Ora
Hillmorton Mental health hospital
Christchurch Hospital Psychiatric unit
Pukeko Blue
Page 3 of 4
13. Do you think people with mental illness are discriminated

against? Explain your answer
Most definitely. They are seen as unfit, incompetent, and a liability

by modern society.
14. Do you think things have improved for people seeking mental
health support and help? Explain your answer
Agencies have been given more funding, there are more nurses in
the workforce. Government is promoting mental-health and well-
being. It is talked about more, and medicine and technology is
playing a part in delivering better health care.
15. What can you do about discrimination as an EN?
Inform the supervisor, make a complaint, stand in solidarity with

whoever it is against. Calling it out wherever it I needed
16. How might discrimination impact on someone’s health?
Lower self-esteem. Feeling ashamed in asking for help. Sharing their

stories can make people more vulnerable to judgments. Negligent
care given to patient.
Page 4 of 4

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2023 – Moodle activity wk1

NURS5412 – What is mental health?

Please answer these questions as part of your reflection on the

1. What is your understanding of mental health?

 State of the mind,

 Ability to mentally cope with adversities, level of resilience,

 Mood fluctuation (emotions, doubts, fear, anxiety)

 Imbalance of chemicals in the brain

 Perceptions and strong beliefs

 Logical and illogical beliefs that could turn into habits

2. What is mental illness?

 Disruption in thought process, which could disrupt a person’s

 Losing grip of reality

3. What is the role of whanau in mental health?

They play a crucial part in the well-being of the patient. Although

Having whanau/family close to a patient, makes the patient feel less

4. How might you support whanau?

 By informing them what the plan is in place for the patient

 If a decision is to be made for the patient. Even if the patient

 Assist them as much as possible, within means.

5. What is ‘inclusion’ and why is whanau inclusion important?

Inclusion: Keeping them up to date as to what is happening.

Referral from doctor/ clinic

Education from nurses

Respect the patient’s choice,

Communicate with healthcare team

Get them to speak to the patient directly

Tell the caller that I am not supposed to give much information,

Refer them to their clinic/ GP

Give general information, nothing too specific

Give them links to websites

10. What do you think is most important when nursing someone

Be firm but not confrontational

Use de-escalating ways to make a situation less dangerous

Make sure to give them the best possible care

11. What are the Recovery principles?

12. Describe some of the services you know about in the

Hillmorton Mental health hospital

Christchurch Hospital Psychiatric unit

13. Do you think people with mental illness are discriminated

Most definitely. They are seen as unfit, incompetent, and a liability

15. What can you do about discrimination as an EN?

Inform the supervisor, make a complaint, stand in solidarity with

16. How might discrimination impact on someone’s health?

Lower self-esteem. Feeling ashamed in asking for help. Sharing their

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