Depression and Psychosis Essay -- Mental Health

For the purpose of this essay the user group I have decided to focus upon is people who suffer from mental health issues, in particular depression and psychosis. I will firstly talk about the illness and about the client group concerned. I will then discuss different treatments available and how effective communication is essential for the well being of these clients. I will then focus on different theories of communication from a psychology perspective and conclusively will discuss and critically analysis powers imbalances, inequalities and disadvantages. Depression haunts the lives of many. It exists in many forms, takes various guises and has been recognised for many centuries. Over two thousand years ago the Greek physician Hippocrates labelled the illness melancholia. The early thinking surrounding depression especially within the Greek community believed that "depression arouse of the body humour especially black bile." (Gilbert 1994) Early reports of depression can be found in numerous biblical texts. King soleman is believed to have suffered from an evil spirit and dark moods from which he eventually killed himself. " The book of Job is regarded as the work of a depressive." (S.Mangen 82) More recent sufferers include politicians such as Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincon and various other writers and poets such as Thomas Mann and Edgar Allen Poe. So whatever else we may say about depression, it seems that it has been in existence for a very long time. It is not unique to humans and various animal models of depression ha ve been advanced and researched. The type of people who suffer from depression vary and it is not too be stereotyped to the image of a person contained within a mental hospital rocking back... ...eds to be shown at all times and the lead should always be taken from the client. Due to word restrictions within this essay I feel that it is now important to bring together and conclude my findings regarding effective communication and depression. The example of my experience with the psychiatrist was a worse case scenario of communication gone wrong and basically everything that he did needs to be reversed for successful communication to take place. Needless to say when I felt better and was going through an "stable" period I demanded a change of psychiatrist and have since embarked on a university degree. Good communication skills can not however be read about or taught they are something that is practically learnt and the only way in which to monitor them is by being self analysing at all times and receiving feedback from clients and friends.