Schizophrenia

**Name:** Nihal Al Kindi
 * Student number:** N7687214


 * Tutor name:** Jacinda Wilson

 **Green, Gold , and Blue : How Well does Australia deal with Mental Health in 2011? What is working, what isn’t, and what should be done?** 

**// “Mental illnesses account for a larger proportion of disability in developed countries than any other group of illnesses, including __cancer__ and __heart disease__” ( // // Centres // // for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011) //**

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**Cultural Ar** **tefact**

Kyle Reynolds is a schizophrenic artist, who has been battling this mental illness since the age of 16. Reynolds painting of his pet cat ‘Marilyn’ (Reynolds, 2009) captures some of the pain he encounters as a schizophrenic patient. The title of this painting is “Pet Therapy”, he expressed his gratitude to his cat “Marilyn, she has been with me through thick and thin, she can say more than anyone, without saying anything at all” (Reynolds, 2009).

**Public Health Issue**

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Schizophrenic according to SANE Australia, is a form of mental illness that affects the normal function of the brain, it interferes with the way a person thinks, feels and acts. This causes for both visual and auditory hallucination (2010).

One in 100 Australians will experience schizophrenia during their lifetime; it is a life long illness. It usually starts appearing between the ages 15 to 25. Some of the symptoms, which a patient might go through includes: delusion formation, hallucinations, emotional deregulation and disorganised behaviour ( Schizophrenia Research Institute, 2010 ).

World Health Organization indicated that so far no society or culture has been free from schizophrenia. This indicated that it is a serious public health issue that must be solved and dealt with (1998).

** Literature Review ** One in five Australians will be effected by mental illness in their lifetime, that is almost 20% of the population in any 12 month period, with females being effected more. Mental illness is highly developed between the age group of 18-24. Depression is reported to be the most common mental health problemin Australia (Mindframe National Media Initiative, 2011).

Moreover, adults living in most of the most social economically disadvantaged areas experienced a higher predominance of mental or behavioural problems then people living in metropolitan areas (ABS, 2006).

Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorders are among the top ten causes of years lost due to disability on a global level. This uprising public health epidemic must be brought to the health professional’s attention to try to reduce it in the coming years by investing in research associated with mental health and by focusing on preventative measures, this will eventually assure in improving Australian’s health on an overall base (OECD, 2009).

Traditionally, it has been thought that Schizophrenia is caused by either genetics or hazardous environmental factors. Studying twins and other family cases helped determine whether genetics had a role in this specific mental illness. Research done by Petronis, showed that Schizophrenia does exist by gene regulations; however, there were other factors that were not encountered in the article (2004).

A research conducted by Babidge in Sydney, aimed to look into mortality among homeless people with schizophrenia in Australia with a ten year follow-up, this test was interesting due to the fact that the area it was exploring was very unusual and the result showed that the homeless people in inner Sydney, which was calculated to be four times higher, ten times higher then the general population of New South Wales, with excess mortality to younger age groups. Out of the total sample of the experiment, 71% of the participants were diagnosed with Schizophrenia. By the end of the ten-year duration of the test 12% of the participants died, 19 from suicide. This research highlights the urge and the significance in helping Australia reduce this uprising public health epidemic (2001).

Another research showed the relationship between early childhood trauma and risk of psychos in adulthood, this studies showed frequency of childhood trauma in these populations were high. However, more study must be done in this field to conclude and confirm the correlation between the childhood trauma and mental illness later in life (Morgan & Fisher, 2007).

There has been many scientific research conducted on this field, hoping to find a cure for this increasing public health pandemic. According to several research conducted by Beck et al., mentions that there have been many findings on this specific mental illness, new findings are found every time. This is done when the researcher looks deeper into the issue. Using cognitive and behavioural interventions helps explain the way things work (2009).

A strategy was devolved and it was documented that there was a lack of sufficient mental health research and data on the occurrence of mental illness and welfare of mentally ill people in Australia. A workshop was conducted in December 1994, commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services (HFS) suggested to carry out a national survey of mental health and well being. The survey covered three parts: an adult study, adolescent and child study and finally a study of low prevalence psychotic disorders, such as Schizophrenia. The reforms aimed to support people with mental illness have access to better services and support they need ( Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008).

Schizophrenia is one of many mental illnesses that affect Australia both in the long run and also have short term consciousness. Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research is an organisation dedicated “To apply epidemiological techniques to generate and test potential risk factors for schizophrenia”. Their current project, which has been running since 2002, is the ‘Incidence and Prevalence of Schizophrenia’ project, which hopes to reduce the growing rate of schizophrenia cases every year and also to investigate the risk factors hoping to eliminate it in the near future and find a cure for it. They receive their funds from Queensland Health Department and Stanley International Research Centre. This is one of many projects and research conducted in Australia hoping to reduce the public health issue (Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, 2004).

**Cultural and Social Analysis** Looking closely at children as the social group, by using the ecological theory of development, we see that they have an increased probability of problem occurrence. This can also be defined as the increase of vulnerability to certain disease or to health deterioration. Children are affected by several risk factors, that can alter their development and personal attributes (physical and mental), such as their social environment in which they are surrounded by everyday (Pediatr, 2004).

According to Garbarino, they are two levels in which a child interacts, the Microsystems; which represents their immediate social environment and their family. This is when quite a few process events and relationships occur. Secondly the Microsystems, which includes the child's interaction with the environment it’s surrounded by (1990).

The figure 1 by Bronfenbrenner, which describes the ecological theory of development of a child, this explains the development occurs through process of reciprocal interaction (1996). Several studies showed that children might be directly affected by threats that are either from genetic or biological problems. The environmental interference may directly or indirectly affect the cognitive process (Strauss & Dietz, 1998).

Anthony speaks about “Invulnerability” that is present in some children. This adaptation to some type of aggression has been “resiliency” which in physics means the ability of objects to return to its original shape or position after deformation, however, must not exceed its elastic limit. This theory is applied to individuals, which represent the person’s ability to “bounce back” from unpleasant events. Nevertheless the whole concept of “resiliency” is taken in consideration to the child’s history and being exposed to the same stress, this can interfere in their behaviour, development and emotional functioning. However, children may have the resiliency to some situation and not present in other, for example, a child can handle stress in school well, however, fails to cope with stress and emotional trouble at home (1974).

Moreover, the negative effect on the development of a child is shaped by the combination of genetic, psychological, biological and environmental risk factors. More often than not, occurs when there is complex interaction between them. However, the social and psychological factors are deeply affiliated with a child’s mental health (Bukowski & Sippola,1998).

In addition to the significance of being fully concerned of the risk factors in which the children are exposed to, we must also have in mind the ability to adjust to certain types of stress. However, the child must get the support from their family or school; the adults they are surrounded by.

**Analysis Of The Artefact And Your Own Learning Reflections** Kyle Reynolds spoke about his cat Marilyn, as the most important thing in his life, she has been with him through thick and thin. This shows that sometimes animals are the human best companion. The colours in which the cats shadow represents his pain and suffering, from this lifelong mental illness.

Research by Barak et al., that Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) treatment encouraged the patient to increase interpersonal contact and communication; also researcher noticed the boost in mobility and reinforced daily activities. Among that personal hygiene and independent self care has also increased. This is done through the use of pets, mainly cats and dogs as “modelling companions” (2001). Using art can be a way in which a person can express their feeling without speaking. Kyle describes painting as the best way to express his feeling in a language that everyone can understand. Art is usually described as an international language.

This wiki assignment has helped me improve my research skills, it forced me to search deeper and connect between two subjects and explore the link between them. I have learnt a lot about Schizophrenia and other associated disease especially in Australia. It also enabled me to explore further and search about the Social cultural and understand the analyses and the theory used. This assessment helped me progress my paraphrasing skills and improved my critical analysis skills and literature review, in addition it qualified me to determine which articles and journals are relevant to the subject.

**Links**
 * [|R U Ok?]
 * [|Beyound Blue]
 * [|Mental health week]
 * [|Living is for everyone]
 * [|Schizophrenia - Australia/New Zealand Forum]

**Learning Engagement and Reflection Task** 1. Are you Sexy Enough for Sport?   **Great job.** Great job on your wiki page as an overall. I loved your artefact, especially your analysis of the issue. I like how you looked at the other side of the issue, I could not have agreed more. The research you have included stated and showed good examples of your issue. I loved especially the search done by Clark and Paechter, I found that rather interesting. // Cultural and Social Analysis was what I found the most interesting. I think the use of // Marxist theory explained it well.This really is a growing public health issue that must be looked at in order for it to increase in the coming years.

2. Beliefs of Death  **Death? SCARY.**   I found this topic the most interesting, because death is normally something that happens to everyone but no one likes talking about it, I do understand why though it is a very scary thing but we have no control over it, I think that is why it makes it scary. I myself also hate talking about it, because it’s a scary thing that you wish no one for. However I loved your artefact, Cultural and Social Analysis to the topic. I have never thought how different religions interpret death. This was nice to know and understand and learn new religion’s beliefs and view on this topic. Great job on your wiki page Eri :)

** Reference List ** Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).(2006). Retrieved from: []

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). (2008). Mental Health and Wellbeing: Profile of Adults, Australia. Retrieved from: []

Anthony, E.J. (1974). The syndrome of the psychologically invulnerable child. In: Anthony, E.J., Koupernik, C., editors. The child and his family: children at psychiatric risk (pp. 529-44). Newyork. Babidge, N. C., Buhrich, N. and Butler, T. (2001). Mortality among homeless people with schizophrenia in Sydney, Australia a 10-year follow-up. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 103, 105–110. doi: 10.1034.

Barak, J., Savorai, O., Mayashey, S., Beni, A. (2001). Animal-assisted therapy for elderly schizophrenic patients: a one-year controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, 9(4), 439-442. Retrieved from: []

Beck, A. T., Rector, N. A., Stolar, N. (2009). Schizophrenia : cognitive theory, research, and therapy. Retrieved from: []

Beyound Blue []

Bronfenbrenner U. (1996). A ecologia do desenvolvimento humano: experimentos naturais e planejados. 1ªed. Porto Alegre: Editora Artes Médicas Sul Ltda.

Bukowski, W.M., Sippola, L.K. (1998). Diversity and the social mind: goals, constructs, culture, and development. Dev Psychol, 34(4), 742-6.

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Mental Illness Surveillance Among Adults in the United States – MMWR. Retrieved from: [|http://www.cdc.g] [|ov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su6003a1.htm] Hootvile. (2007, March 27). Hootville - 5 in 5 mental illness campaign (narrated by Eric Bana) [Video file]. Retrieved from: []

Garbarino, J. (1990). The human ecology of early risk. In: S.J.Meisels, J.P.Shonkoff, editors. Handbook of early childhood intervention (pp.78-96). Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.

Living is for ever yone. [] Losangelestimes. (2009, June 29). Losangelestimes - Young schizophrenic at her mind's mercy [Video file]. Retrieved from: [] Mental health week. []

Morgan, C. and Fisher, H. (2007). Environment and Schizophrenia: Environmental Factors in Schizophrenia: Childhood Trauma Schizophr Bull, 33(1), 3-10. doi: 10.1093.

Mindframe National Media Initiative. (2011). Mental Illness Facts. Retrieved from[]

Mushedmango. (2010, June 29). Mushedmango – Yes We Canberra - Australian Mental Health [Video file]. Retrieved from: [] OECD. (2009). //Health at a Glance 2009: OECD Indicators//, OECD Publishing. doi: [|10.1787/health_glance-2009-en].

Pediatr, J. (2004). Environmental influences on child mental health. Jornal de Pediatria,80 (2). doi: 10.1590.

Petronis, A. (2004). The origin of schizophrenia: genetic thesis, epigenetic antithesis, and resolving synthesis. Biological Psychiatry, 55(10), 965-970. doi:10.1016

Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research. (2004). About Epidemiology Research at QCMHR. Retrieved from: []

Reynolds, K. (2009). Pet therapy [Image]. Retrieved from: []

R U Ok?. []

SANE Australia. (2010). Schizophrenia. Retrieved from: []

Schizophrenia - Australia/New Zealand Forum. []

Schizophrenia Research Institute. (2010). The Key Facts. Retrieved from: []

Strauss, R.S., Dietz, W.H. (1998). Growth and development of term children born with low birth weight. Effects of genetic and environmental factors, 133(1), 67-72.

World Health Organization. (1998). Schizophrenia and public health. Retrieved from: []