Introduction:
The health promotion that has been chosen is self-destructive behaviour. Self-destructive or also known as dysregulated behaviours offers release or even gratification but is temporary. Self-destructive is something that gets in the way of life and stops individuals from reaching satisfaction and fulfilled truly. Self-destructive behaviour consist of many things such as alcohol/drug abuse and smoking, eating disorders such binge eating, obsessive computer gaming, self-harming and prolonged avoidance. It also includes other behaviours that feel beneficial in the moment but destructive over time (Psychologytoday, 2015).
Individuals who strive with self-destructive behaviours can vary a lot, but some individuals have a tendency to share certain similar behaviours. For individuals whom strive with self-destructive behaviour were perhaps were born with higher emotions than others. They tend to feel emotions stronger than others. As a result to this they are likely to be creative people and very empathic like people (Psychologytoday, 2015).
To what has caused these individuals to develop self-destructive behaviours they might have matured in an adversarial or invalidating background. Adverse upbringings may consist of severe incidents such as bodily violence, abandonment, or endless disapproval. Experiences with relatives who dampen expression of feelings or induced the use self-destructive behaviours to manage with their own feelings; or encounters exterior to the home, in cases such as bullying, and regularly being left out by others (Psychologytoday, 2015).
The individuals whom were born with the tendency to the feeling of strong emotions. For individuals whom were constantly put into conditions that would be emotionally distressing for any person, then the pain possibly began to feel intolerable at times to a point where an individual will try to turn off their emotions and not feel. As a result to their resource to one or more self-destructive behaviour (Psychologytoday, 2015).
These self-destructive behaviours may seem so helpful in the time to a point where one would never truly learned how to cope with the negative emotions. Resulting the usage of self-destructive behaviour to turn off the negative emotions of pain; it is like bottling up all these emotions to a point where one will explode with all these emotions (Psychologytoday, 2015).
The self-destructive behaviours give a relief for short period of time but the negative emotions will keep building inside resulting the individuals to feel under pressure a lot. If the emotions are never faced nor experienced they will keep piling up with the other emotions until they explode with these feelings where it feels unbearable. Resulting in the individual to try harder to not feel and have them engaging in more self-destructive behaviour trying to resolve their feelings for a short period of time. This is a cycle that will repeat itself (Psychologytoday, 2015).
Depression plays the part of many threats, troubling individuals with hopelessness and increasing their risk of suicide. Individual’s efforts to suppress the pain, some turn to self-destructive behaviour such as alcohol/drugs, self-harming and other destructive behaviours that cause danger to them even more (Webmd, 2011).
Cantor, P. (2011) states “There is a strong relationship between depression and high-risk behaviors.” (Psychologytoday 2015). This suggests that there is a relationship between depression and self-destructive behaviour.
Over drinking and drug usage, unprotected sex and self-harming behaviours that persons might do can give a short time relief from their emotional pain (Webmd, 2011).
About 7.7% of the Irish of the population suffer from depression; about 300,000 Irish citizens (Independent, 2004). This suggests that Irish population has a relatively high depression rate and that depression seems to be an issue among some Irish citizens. For individuals whom suffer from depression the statistics show that about 10’000 of them have been hospitalised as a result (Independent, 2004). This could suggest that a small portion of these figures could be related to self-destructive behaviour as there is no direct figures for such statistics in self-destructive behaviour.
It is important to the Irish health setting for the reason that is hidden aspect of mental health within the Irish Society. For an example parents may not be aware that obsessive gaming amongst their children and young adults as a self-destructive behaviour.
When playing video games the brain releases a chemical in the brain known as dopamine, which is also known as the happy chemical within the brain which has individuals wanting to play more video games and easily lead to video game addiction. The long term effect of playing video games it will soon replace one’s social life with friends and interaction with the family. In some cases may start affecting sleeping patterns and also decrease physical activities and exercise. That some individuals turn to video games to escape from their issues within their life; as a way to escape their pain (Psychologytoday, 2014). This would suggest that using video games as a coping mechanism is resulting in self-destructive behaviour without necessarily being aware of it.
A new study has shown that students in Ireland in third level education spends more money on alcohol than food. It can be considered that most drinking occurrences amongst college students can be classified as binge drinking. When an individual has about four beers or a bottle of wine in one night can be classified as a Binge drinker (Irishhealth, 2005).
Statistics have identified general concerns surrounding the issues this binge drinking that college students part take in which affect the health and well-being of these students issues that include harm related to the alcohol intake, unprotect sex resulting the effect in sexual health and mental health issues (Irishhealth, 2005). These negative impacts of drinking suggests self-destructive behaviour is striving amongst college students but is hidden within these social occasions.
Self-harming is an issue within young adults in the Irish society. There were approximately 11,061 incidents in 2013 that resulted in hospitalisation due to self-harming. However there is many variations of self-harming that people do in secret that can prolong hidden for a long period of time without being discovered. Which would suggest the figures for individual whom self-harm may be higher but yet not been discovered as the figures only show for the individuals whom have been revealed due resulting needing a hospital (Mentalhealthireland, n.d).
There has been indicating factors that individuals whom have previously self-harmed has resulted taken their own life. A study that was carried out in 1999 which looked at 174 suicides which revealed that for individuals under the age of 25 years about 80% of the individuals had self-harmed within the past year up to it. Another study that was carried out in 2014 approximately 40-60% of individuals whom died by suicide had a past of self-harming (Thejournal, 2017). Self-harming is a self-destructive behaviour with these above statistics above would suggest a strong linkage of suicide rate linked with self-harming. It could suggest that with a prolonged unrevealed self-destructive person that it may lead to suicide due not being discovered in time.
This Self-destructive behaviour effects a big majority of the Irish society within the different categories of self-destructive behaviour depending on their social environment. The above statistics suggest how it is self-destructive with the negative impacts to the individual’s life. That it is an issue that needs more awareness on.
Health promoters can help the outcome this issue by firstly recognising that self-destructive behaviour is an issue amongst young people within the Irish society. Health promoters can help this issue by advertising the issue just like the drink awareness ads or mental health ads with support lines attached to it. Health promoters such a mental Ireland and Spunout could advertise this issue and make people aware that there is an issue and that there is help for this issue.
The management of personality disorder is a general matter dealing with present mental health services. There is services with specialist that are not often available and people with these problems tend to drop out of treatment (Irishpsychiatry, 2003). The approach to deal with people who strive with self-destructive behaviour is managing these intense emotions and learning to overcome self-destructive behaviours.
If these self-destructive behaviours recognised inventions can be put into place to help these individual whom strive on self-destructive behaviour. Invention should put into place early as possible however because of culture in society it would appear as normal that teenage to spend time in their room playing video games, that students out socialising drinking as the normal thing to do. Regarding to self-harming it is usually hidden and not discovered in the early stages of it. Which makes inventions that be harder to catch in the early stages. However with more awareness made on this issue individuals might discover this behaviour earlier for inventions to be able to take place, to help resolve the issue before it escalates to more extreme cases. This awareness is targeted towards teenagers and young adults as the issue strives mostly amongst these young section of society.
As mentioned above in the introduction it has been highlighted that there is certain new aspects has come into mental health for instances the advancements of technology that gaming can be classified as self-destructive behaviour in the sense sitting in a room isolating one’s self from interactions with friends and family. As Maslow’s hierarchy of needs on the third stage of needs is Love and belongingness needs that one needs friendship and being a part of a group even if that is friends or family (Simplypsychology, 2017).
As for the binge drinking amongst students being seen as a norm making it harder to see how they are being self-destructive to their health and even education. As for Self-harming it is an unseen issue so people tend to “shove it under the rug” People see that as too dark to help others when are aware of their friend or family member who needs help that they just push it to aside but if they were aware that they can help and how they can that might be able to help the outcome of this issue.
Self-destructive behaviour needs more awareness as it a hidden section within the mental section. More awareness on this issue may decrease the outcome with this issue. The best health promotion that can be made on this issue, is making people more aware by educating people on self-destructive behaviour as individuals may not be aware that they are part taking in self-destructive behaviour. Making posters informing individuals what is self-destructive behaviour. With support lines attached to it and links to online support groups and other way to approach this issue before it escalates to more extreme cases. Encouraging people to talk more about this issue to the point where individuals recognise the issue.
Behavioural Theory:
The theory that suits to help this issue is known as Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) is a therapy the offers from 8 to 24 sessions. That consists of a way of understanding mental health issue to how they developed their patterns which they usually come from early life. CAT helps by looking at how they can approach their difficulties which are usually very complex. CAT was first established by Dr Tony Ryle (1927 – 2016) in the setting of the National Health Service in the United Kingdom which to be now available in many other countries across the world including Ireland. CAT is a small active community in Ireland but has trained professionals in the area (Icat, 2016).
Cognitive analytic therapy can be very useful in mapping these patterns. It can be helpful in the sense they don’t repeat abusive or rejection experiences that the individual might have faced in the past. The communication formulae that CAT uses is known as SET which stands for support, empathy and truth. This form of communication is holds the purpose to help the individual feel comfortable to be able to approach their issues (Irishpsychiatry, 2003).
Evaluation:
A way to be able to evaluate the success rate of this promotion is by keeping track on the amount of individual’s attention that was grasped. Also by how many brochures that was taken. A True evaluation can’t be done until the promotion of the topic has been carried out.
Conclusion:
Self-destructive behaviour is a hidden section within the mental health section that needs more awareness and promotion on the topic. To help make people aware of the signs and to help the situation improve the statistics on this issue.
If anyone is affected by this issue or content present please contact
· Aware.ie: 1800 80 48 48
· Samaritans: 028 9146 4646
References:
· Psychologytoday. 2015. Understanding Self-Destructive (Dysregulated) Behaviors. [Online]. [22 March 2018]. Available from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-self-destructive-behavior/201512/understanding-self-destructive-dysregulated-behaviors
· Independent. 2004. DEPRESSION: THE SYMPTOMS, THE STATISTICS, THE HELP. [Online]. [22 March 2018]. Available from: https://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/depression-the-symptoms-the-statistics-the-help-25907766.html
· Webmd. 2011. Depression and Risky Behavior. [Online]. [22 March 2018]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/depression-and-risky-behavior
· Irishhealth. 2005. College students binge drink regularly. [Online]. [22 March 2018]. Available from: http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=7388
· Psychologytoday. 2014. Video Games Rated A for Addictive. [Online]. [22 March 2018]. Available from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/talking-about-trauma/201412/video-games-rated-addictive
· Mentalhealthireland. n.d. Self-harm. [Online]. [22 March 2018]. Available from: http://www.mentalhealthireland.ie/a-to-z/self-harm/
· Thejournal. 2017. The number of people self-harming in Ireland is continuing to rise. [Online]. [22 March 2018]. Available from: http://www.thejournal.ie/self-harm-2-3225279-Feb2017/
· Irishpsychiatry. 2003. Managing Intense Emotions and Overcoming Self-destructive Habits. [Online]. [22 March 2018]. Available from: http://www.irishpsychiatry.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/managing_intense_emotions.pdf
· Simplypsychology. 2017. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. [Online]. [23 March 2018]. Available from: https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
· Icat. 2016. WHAT IS CAT?. [Online]. [23 March 2018]. Available from: https://icat.ie/
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