My reflection on mental health

Posted: July 7th, 2022

MENTAL HEALTH TASK 1
Reflection Task
This is an orientation task to support your engagement with this subject. Keep it short and simple. Its aim is to alert us to the fact that mental health challenges affect us all either personally or through someone we know. That is, mental illness is not something that only affects ‘others’. Mental illness should not be associated with shame and as social workers we can lead by modelling acceptance. Here we reflect on our present understanding.
Write a 150 word maximum reflection using the following five prompts.
1. Identify a mental health challenge that you or someone close to you has experienced. Name and briefly describe that issue.
2. What was helpful (for you or your close person) during this episode (or continuing if this is an ongoing issue)? Briefly specify that help.
3. What was unhelpful?
4. What did you learn during this mental health experience and /or your reflection on it?
Keep it simple. This is not intended to be invasive or therapeutic. It is a reflection on what you already know.
RUBRIC
Criteria Fail 0 -24% Pass 25 – 32% Credit 33 – 37% Distinction 38 – 42% High Distinction 43 – 50%
Overall for the 4 sections Incomplete, superficial or not relevant Task is complete but response lacks depth, and relevant information Fuller response – Starts to show awareness of mental health issues.
Provides an example
Well-developed response. Thoughtful.
Provides relevant details
Superior response – Provides detail with insight from the experience. Reflection is well considered
Assessment tasks should be submitted to EASTS as a Microsoft Word document. Do not submit as a PDF document.
• The first page (cover sheet), should contain an informative title, name, student number, subject code, word count and due date.
• Please use minimum 12 point font and 1.5 or double line spacing
• The assessment tasks should be within the word limit, 135-150 words (plus the 260 words in the template). The word count is taken from the first word to the last word and includes quotes. Quotes must comprise less than 10% of the total word count.
• Proof-read your work so that it is free of spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes. Use language that is appropriate to academic and professional tasks. Ensure you use respectful and appropriate terminology. For assistance, see Learning Skills.
• No referencing is required for this reflective exercise

My reflection on mental health:

Mental health challenge

My sister has been struggling with anxiety and depression for many years. She has had periods of time where she has been unable to work or go to school, and she has often felt isolated and alone.

Helpful

The most helpful things for my sister have been therapy and medication. Therapy has helped her to understand her anxiety and depression, and to develop coping mechanisms. Medication has helped to reduce her symptoms and make it easier for her to function on a daily basis.

Unhelpful

The most unhelpful thing for my sister has been the stigma associated with mental illness. She has often felt ashamed of her condition, and she has been reluctant to seek help. This has made her recovery process more difficult.

What I learned

I have learned a lot about mental health through my sister’s experience. I have learned that mental illness is a real and serious condition, and that it can have a profound impact on a person’s life. I have also learned that there are effective treatments available for mental illness, and that recovery is possible.

I believe that it is important to talk about mental health openly and honestly. The more we talk about it, the less stigma will be associated with it, and the more people will be able to get the help they need.