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/