Mental health professional and Related Topics

The prevalence of mental illness is higher in more economically unequal countries

Mental disorder

Behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning.

"Haus Tornow am See" (former manor house), Germany from 1912 is today separated into a special education school and a hotel with integrated work/job- and rehabilitation-training for people with mental disorders

Deaths from mental and behavioral disorders per million persons in 2012

Eight patients representing mental diagnoses as of the 19th century at the Salpêtrière, Paris.

A patient in a strait-jacket and barrel contraption, 1908

Such disorders may be diagnosed by a mental health professional, usually a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.

Freud, seated left of picture with Jung seated at the right of the picture. 1909

Psychotherapy

Use of psychological methods, particularly when based on regular personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase happiness, and overcome problems.

Psychotherapists may be mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, or professional counselors.

Many 18th c. treatments for psychological distress were based on pseudo-scientific ideas, such as Phrenology.

Integration of social science, theory, and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development.

Cover of The Psychological Clinic, the first journal of clinical psychology, published in 1907 by Lightner Witmer

The University of Pennsylvania was the first to offer formal education in clinical psychology.

Fluoxetine hydrochloride, branded by Lilly as Prozac, is an antidepressant drug prescribed by physicians, psychiatrists, and some nurses.

In many countries, clinical psychology is a regulated mental health profession.

Mental health

Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

A woman sitting on steps with a broken shopping cart full of papers to her left. Around her there is trash and the floor looks dirty and unsanitary.

A woman towards the right and a man towards the left. Both sitting cross legged with their eyes closed. Their hands resting on their knees with their palms facing up.

Many mental health professionals are beginning to, or already understand, the importance of competency in religious diversity and spirituality.

A graphic representation of the legislative procedure in the United Kingdom.

Mental Health Act 2007

Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Redefining professional roles: broadening the range of mental health professionals who can be responsible for the treatment of patients without their consent.

Approved mental health professional

Created in the 2007 amendment of the Mental Health Act 1983 to replace the role of approved social worker (ASW).

The reason why some specialist mental health professionals are eligible to undertake this role is broadly to avoid excessive medicalisation of the assessment and treatment for individuals living with a mental disorder, as defined by section 1 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Mental health counselor

Person who works with individuals and groups to promote optimum mental and emotional health.

MHCs often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors.