Supporting positive dimensions of health, challenges in mental health care

Abstract

This paper will explore two contrasting paradigms in mental health care and their relationship to evidence-based practice. The biomedical perspective of pathogenesis and the health perspective of salotogenesis are two major diverse views in mental health care. Positive dimensions of health are traditionally viewed as software not suitable for statistical analysis, while absence of symptoms of disease are regarded as measurable and suitable for statistical analysis and appropriate as a foundation of evidence-based practice. If the main goal of mental health care is to enhance subjectively experienced health among patients, it will not be sufficient to evaluate absence of symptoms of disease as a measure of quality of care. The discussion focuses on the paradox of evidence-based absence of illness and disease versus subjectively experienced health and well-being as criterions of quality of care in mental health care.

The Application of Salutogenesis in Mental Healthcare Settings

“…Salutogenesis provides a new design that enables faster progress toward better health by helping health professionals' practices to be about health (Becker & Rhynders, 2013). Jormfeldt (2011) illuminates this through an example of how a focus on diagnosis (pathogenesis) versus a focus on the person (salutogenesis) might be displayed in clinical mental health work. When looking at schizophrenia from a biomedical point of view, medication and the person's compliance is emphasized.…”

Experiences of a Person-Centred Health Education Group Intervention–A Qualitative Study Among People with a Persistent Mental Illness

“…Arneson and Ekberg (2005) and Buchanan (2006) found that social support and supporting group contexts are essential for achievement of personal goals. A strict provider-centred approach that mainly focuses on medical treatment does not increase quality of life and the ability to achieve personal goals among persons diagnosed with schizophrenia (Chee, 2009;Jormfeldt, 2011). Anderson and Funnell (2005) claim that a fundamental redefinition of the roles and relationships of health care professionals and patients is required to sufficiently support processes of empowerment in the care of people with chronic diseases such as schizophrenia.…”

Examining the cost effectiveness of interventions to promote the physical health of people with mental health problems: a systematic review

“…Strengthening the training of professionals in somatic care, as well as going beyond the absence of mental disorder to consider the benefits of positive wellbeing, can only be helpful for lifestyle monitoring and behavioural change [73]. Better training will also reduce the likelihood that these professionals ‘avoid’ dealing with physical health issues through a lack of expertise.…”