Terminologies used in mental

health
and
Cause & risk factors for mental
illness in children

Dr Utkarsh Karki
MD, DM Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
 Introduction
• Mental health is a state of well-being in which

an individual realizes his or her own

abilities

can cope with the normal stresses of

life

can work productively and is able to

make a contribution to his or her
community -WHO
2
 Key facts - mental health
• More than absence of mental illness/disorders

• Integral part of health

• Determined by a range of socioeconomic, biological,

environmental factors

3
 Mental health problems (MHP)

• Children experience a break in psychological

functioning

• Suffer in their mind and behavior

4
Well being vs mental health vs mental illness

Mental
Well health
being

Mental
illness/
disorder

Psychiatry
5
 Mental Disorder
• A mental disorder is a syndrome characterized by
clinically significant disturbance in individual’s
cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior that
reflects a dysfunction in the psychological,
biological, or developmental processes
underlying mental functioning.

• Mental disorders are usually associated with

significant distress or disability in social,
occupation or other important activities.
6
• An expectable or culturally approved response
to a common stressor or loss, such as the
death of a loved one, is not a mental diosrder.

7
 WHO ICD 10 (impairment, disability,
handicapped)
• Impairment – any loss or abnormality of psychological,
physiological or anatomical structure or function

• Disability – any restriction or lack (resulting from an

impairment) of ability to perform an activity in the manner
or within the range considered normal for a human being

• Handicapped – a disadvantage for a given individual that

limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal

8
Determinants/Etiology of mental
health problems (MHP)

9
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory
•National Policies to Address COVID 19 Crisis
•Vaccination Campaign
•Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
Related Interventions

•Temperament and Personality Traits

•Coping Mechanisms
•Self Concept
•Perception and Experience of stress, Trauma,
Loss and Grief

•Parenting
•Death, Trauma, Loss and Grief in Family
•Domestic violence, substance use, divorce
•Financial Problems- Expenses/Income Loss
•Support for Family
•Pre-existing Difficulties in Family

•Community Awareness Level

•COVID infection and Deaths in community
•Support Available at Community Level

10
 Why is mental health important in
children??
• MHP – leading cause of DALYs in C&A

• Impacts overall development in children

• MHP in children leads to serious dysfunction in adult life

• Promotive, preventive and treatment of mental health

problems will translate into favourable adult social, health,
financial outcomes and reduce the long-term impairment.

• Dramatic gap between need and resources

11
Email: karkiutkarsh@gmail.com

Contact numbers: 9819210207

9851130394 12