Posted: April 29th, 2018

Mental Health Nurses: Helping Depressed Young Individuals Find Pleasure and Positivity in Their Life

Mental Health Nurses: Helping Depressed Young Individuals Find Pleasure and Positivity in Their Life

Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, especially young individuals. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is the leading cause of disability among 15-29 year olds, and it can have serious consequences for their well-being, education, relationships, and future prospects . Depression can make young individuals feel hopeless, worthless, and unable to enjoy the things they used to like. It can also increase the risk of suicide, which is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds .

Fortunately, depression is treatable, and there are many ways to help young individuals cope with their symptoms and recover from their condition. One of the most important sources of support and care for depressed young individuals is mental health nurses. Mental health nurses are specially trained professionals who work with people who have various mental health problems, including depression. They provide assessment, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, education, and advocacy for their clients, as well as their families and communities .

In this blog post, we will explore the role of mental health nurses in helping depressed young individuals find pleasure and positivity in their life. We will discuss how mental health nurses can:

– Help young individuals understand their depression and its causes
– Help young individuals access effective treatments and therapies
– Help young individuals develop coping skills and resilience
– Help young individuals reconnect with their social support and interests
– Help young individuals prevent relapse and maintain recovery

Helping Young Individuals Understand Their Depression and Its Causes

One of the first steps in helping depressed young individuals is to help them understand their depression and its causes. Depression is not a sign of weakness or a personal flaw; it is a complex and multifaceted disorder that can be influenced by biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors . Some of the common causes of depression among young individuals include:

– Genetic predisposition
– Hormonal changes
– Brain chemistry imbalances
– Stressful life events
– Trauma or abuse
– Chronic illness or pain
– Substance use or abuse
– Social isolation or bullying
– Academic or career pressure
– Low self-esteem or body image issues

Mental health nurses can help young individuals identify the factors that may have contributed to their depression, and explain how these factors can affect their mood, thoughts, behavior, and physical health. By helping young individuals understand their depression and its causes, mental health nurses can help them reduce the stigma and shame associated with their condition, and increase their motivation and readiness to seek help .

Helping Young Individuals Access Effective Treatments and Therapies

Another key role of mental health nurses is to help young individuals access effective treatments and therapies for their depression. There are many evidence-based treatments and therapies available for depression, such as:

– Antidepressant medication
– Psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, family therapy)
– Mindfulness-based interventions (e.g., mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction)
– Lifestyle interventions (e.g., exercise, nutrition, sleep hygiene)
– Complementary and alternative therapies (e.g., acupuncture, yoga, meditation)

Mental health nurses can help young individuals find the best treatment options for their needs, preferences, and goals. They can also monitor their progress, manage their side effects, coordinate their care with other health professionals, and provide ongoing support and encouragement throughout their treatment journey .

Helping Young Individuals Develop Coping Skills and Resilience

Another important role of mental health nurses is to help young individuals develop coping skills and resilience to deal with their depression and its challenges. Coping skills are strategies that can help young individuals manage their emotions, thoughts, behavior, and stress in healthy and adaptive ways. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from difficulties and overcome adversity. Some of the coping skills and resilience factors that mental health nurses can help young individuals develop include:

– Positive self-talk
– Problem-solving skills
– Goal-setting skills
– Relaxation techniques
– Distraction techniques
– Assertiveness skills
– Communication skills
– Emotional regulation skills
– Self-care skills
– Self-compassion skills

Mental health nurses can help young individuals learn and practice these coping skills and resilience factors through education, counseling, coaching, modeling, feedback, and reinforcement. By helping young individuals develop coping skills and resilience,
mental health nurses can help them enhance their confidence, competence,
and self-efficacy in managing their depression .

Helping Young Individuals Reconnect With Their Social Support And Interests

Another vital role of mental health nurses is to help young individuals reconnect with their social support and interests. Social support refers to the network of people who provide emotional,
practical,
and informational assistance to someone in need.
Interests refer to the activities or hobbies that someone enjoys or finds meaningful.
Both social support and interests can have positive effects on the mental health and well-being of young individuals, such as:

– Reducing loneliness and isolation
– Increasing belonging and acceptance
– Providing validation and feedback
– Offering guidance and advice
– Enhancing self-esteem and identity
– Promoting happiness and satisfaction
– Stimulating creativity and learning
– Fostering growth and development

Mental health nurses can help young individuals reconnect with their social support and interests by helping them identify the sources of support and interest in their life, such as:

– Family members
– Friends
– Peers
– Teachers
– Mentors
– Coaches
– Counselors
– Clubs
– Teams
– Groups
– Organizations
– Volunteering
– Hobbies
– Sports
– Arts
– Music
– Reading
– Writing
– Gaming

Mental health nurses can also help young individuals overcome the barriers that may prevent them from engaging with their social support and interests, such as:

– Fear of rejection or judgment
– Lack of motivation or energy
– Low mood or anhedonia (loss of pleasure)
– Negative thoughts or beliefs
– Social anxiety or shyness
– Social skills deficits

Mental health nurses can help young individuals overcome these barriers by providing them with psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, exposure therapy, social skills training, and motivational interviewing. By helping young individuals reconnect with their social support and interests, mental health nurses can help them increase their social connectedness, meaning, and purpose in life .

Helping Young Individuals Prevent Relapse And Maintain Recovery

The final role of mental health nurses is to help young individuals prevent relapse and maintain recovery from their depression. Relapse refers to the recurrence or worsening of depressive symptoms after a period of improvement or remission. Recovery refers to the process of living a fulfilling and satisfying life despite having a mental health condition. Some of the factors that can help young individuals prevent relapse and maintain recovery include:

– Adhering to their treatment plan and following up with their health care providers regularly
– Monitoring their mood and symptoms and seeking help early if they notice any changes or signs of relapse
– Continuing to use their coping skills and resilience factors to manage stress and challenges effectively
– Maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, and avoiding substance use or abuse
– Keeping in touch with their social support and interests and participating in activities that bring them joy and fulfillment
– Setting realistic and attainable goals for themselves and celebrating their achievements and progress

Mental health nurses can help young individuals prevent relapse and maintain recovery by providing them with relapse prevention education, booster sessions, follow-up calls, reminders, referrals, resources, and advocacy. By helping young individuals prevent relapse and maintain recovery, mental health nurses can help them sustain their well-being, functioning, and quality of life .

Conclusion

In conclusion, mental health nurses play a crucial role in helping depressed young individuals find pleasure and positivity in their life. They can help them understand their depression and its causes, access effective treatments and therapies, develop coping skills and resilience, reconnect with their social support and interests, and prevent relapse and maintain recovery. By doing so, mental health nurses can help young individuals overcome their depression and achieve their full potential.

References

: World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Depression. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression

: World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Suicide. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/suicide

: American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). (2020). What do psychiatric mental health nurses do? Retrieved from https://www.apna.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3292

: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2020). Depression basics. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/index.shtml

: Corrigan, P., & Watson, A. (2002). Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World Psychiatry, 1(1), 16–20.

: National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE). (2019). Depression in children and young people: identification and management. Retrieved from https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng134

: Meichenbaum, D. (2012). Roadmap to resilience: A guide for military trauma victims & their families. Clearwater: Institute Press.

: Keyes, C.L.M., & Haidt J. (Eds.). (2003). Flourishing: Positive psychology & the life well-lived. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

: Anthony W.A., &

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