Understanding Mental Wellbeing
Task 2:
In this assignment I will produce a report on Michael Phillips, a service user diagnosed with
depression, evaluating the importance of promoting, protecting and restoring mental health and
wellbeing of the service user. I will also explain the impact of mental ill health on Michael and
evaluating the diagnosis and treatment of depression for this individual.
P4:
Many mental illnesses can lead to individuals having poor ability to care for themselves and maintain
their personal hygiene, due to disinterest in caring for oneself or not feeling deserving of care.
Michael's depression caused him to have a lack of energy, and he may have become too tired to care
for himself, preventing him from showering, bathing, or eating properly. Michael's depression may
have caused him to have a low self-esteem and his personal hygiene is likely to be poor. Michael
would not have any money coming in to help him pay his bills while he is in the hospital, and
because he is likely living alone and has quit his job, he may have poor financial management skills
and struggle to pay bills. Michael appears to have little control over the influence of his mental
health issue on his life in the case study. When he went to the GP, he clearly believed that he
couldn't manage his symptoms on his own and that he required help from others to handle his
illness, whether through medication or therapy. Furthermore, Michael’s mental disease is caused by
a chemical imbalance in the brain, which may have been triggered by a variety of factors. As a result,
he has no physical control over the imbalance, and his treatment options are limited for
recovery because he only has a few choices he can make to feel in control of his illness.
Michael previously lived with his partner Louise until he became more unwell, prompting her to
leave because she couldn't manage with his mental illness and continuous poor mood. Depression
affected not just him, but also her, as she felt compelled to move out due to the negative influence it
was having on her life and Michael's. Additionally, because Michael has been isolated and has
stopped interacting with his friends, they will be influenced by his condition, as they will either have
to work harder to retain their friendship with Michael or will lose it because of his mental illness.
Mental health disorders can have a wide range of effects on an individual's psychological well-being,
as they may impair their mental capacities to cope with circumstances that they would have dealt
with effectively before becoming ill. Having a mental illness may also impact how an individual
behaves because they must adapt to live with their symptoms, and as a result, they may have
reduced function when performing fundamental daily tasks. (Promoting mental health, 2022)
P5:
Many people with mental illnesses become socially isolated as a result of their disorder's symptoms
affecting their lives and social development (10 facts on mental health, 2014). Michael will most
likely not have access to his phone while in the hospital, which will restrict his social connections
with others because he will be unable to speak with anyone outside the hospital. Not having a phone
may lead to him becoming institutionalised as he will have nobody to talk to outside of the hospital
and since he will be living in the hospital. Moreover, being in the hospital might make it difficult to
communicate with people due to a lack of opportunities, which can lead to social isolation. Michael
may have experienced discrimination in the workplace due to his mental illness. For instance, if he
had to take time off due to being ill, his colleagues may have then made comments and told him that
he is unable to do certain tasks due to his illness, this would have been direct discrimination. He may
Page 1 of 6
, also have had policies that discriminated against him due to his depression or time off such as by
reducing his pay for being ill which would have been indirect discrimination.
Having a mental illness will not only impact the individual who is unwell, but also their family and
friends or those who interact with them as they will be exposed to the disorder. Socialisation is “a
continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values,
behaviour, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position” (Dictionary, 2018). There are
two types of socialisation: primary and secondary, both of which help an individual to develop the
necessary social skills and understanding of society. Michael's decision to leave his employment as a
carpenter has resulted in a reduction in the number of carpenters in the trade, and he may have
disappointed others who relied on his work for different reasons. Michael's mental condition may
have a detrimental influence on society since he has lost a skilled worker in a trade that already has
a shortage of workers.
P6:
Michael is detained under the Mental Health Act, meaning that he can legally be kept in hospital and
given treatment against his will. Before he was sectioned, he would have been assessed by two
mental health professionals and a social worker who would have had to all agree that detaining the
individual was in their best interests. Additionally, his section would likely be reviewed by a second
opinion doctor if they felt that it was necessary, and they had been detained for no valid reason. If
Michael disagreed with his section, he would first be assessed by a second opinion doctor who
would decide whether or not they should request a tribunal, although ultimately it is their decision
to make. The mental capacity act is “designed to protect and empower people who may lack the
mental capacity to make their own decisions about their care and treatment. It applies to people
aged 16 and over” (NHS,2018). Michael would have decisions about his care made for him if he was
ruled to lack capacity after being examined appropriately under the relevant legislation. Michael
would still be given the opportunity to make decisions. If his choices were not in his best interests,
they would be made for him by a professional. Michael would also be given all information so that
he could at least express his opinion on his care, even if it was not taken into consideration due to
his lack of capacity.
It is important for all nurses and care professional work to the same high standards and provide the
best care possible, ensures that service users are not put at risk and can be effectively safeguarded
in health and social care settings. Since their creation, the 6 C’s have been used in NHS values,
recruitment, leadership and learning to ensure that all levels of skill and all ages are able to develop
the required in practice may quickly be experienced due to professionals not having the required
attributes to provide a high standard of care. Following the 6 C’s effectively would allow for service
users in hospital, such as Michael, to be empowered which would promote his recovery as he would
be in a safe and caring environment. To further empower Michael, he should be given choices with
regards to his care and treatment so that he can make informed decisions and feel in control of his
own care.
Michael may benefit from an advocate who can assist him, have his needs fulfilled, and his opinions
acknowledged, despite the fact that he is under a section and so has limited human rights. Assuring
that workers in the hospital and community care facilities follow appropriate whistleblowing policies
would assist to keep Michael safe. If a professional observes something alarming in the hospital,
such as a staff member not using sterile equipment when providing medication, another member of
staff is likely to raise their concerns through whistleblowing. This would ensure that the situation
never happens again and would benefit not only Michael, but also other service users.
Page 2 of 6