mental wellbeing - everything

• What does mental wellbeing refer to?

  An individual’s current state of mind, including their ability to think, process information, and regulate emotions.
• What does the mental wellbeing continuum indicate?

  That mental wellbeing is not stagnant and can fluctuate depending on an individual’s circumstances.
• What characterizes high levels of mental wellbeing?

  An individual can function independently in their everyday life and cope with demands without excessive distress.
• What does the middle of the mental wellbeing continuum represent?

  An individual is not functioning at an optimal level and is experiencing temporary or moderate impact on mental wellbeing.
• What are the characteristics of low levels of mental wellbeing?

  High levels of distress, inability to independently complete tasks, and being impacted for an extended period.
• What factors impact mental wellbeing?

  Mental wellbeing is impacted by both internal and external factors.
• What is stress defined as?


  A state of psychological and physiological tension resulting from internal/external factors perceived to challenge or threaten the ability to cope.
• What are the two types of stress?

  Eustress (positive) and distress (negative).
• How is anxiety characterized?


  As a psychological and physiological response involving feelings of worry and apprehension about a perceived threat.
• What happens when anxiety is excessive and persistent?

  It may indicate low levels of mental wellbeing and disrupt daily functioning.
• What is a phobia?


  A persistent, intense, irrational fear of a specific object or event.
• What is a specific phobia?

  A type of diagnosable anxiety disorder characterized by excessive and disproportionate fear when encountering or anticipating a particular stimulus.
• How does a phobic response affect daily functioning?

  It disrupts daily functioning, indicating low levels of mental wellbeing.
• What are the characteristics of low levels of functioning?

  A sense of hopelessness and feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day tasks, leading to ineffective functioning.
• What does partially impaired functioning indicate?

  That an individual may feel overwhelmed at times and draw on assistance to manage.
• What characterizes high levels of functioning?

  An individual approaches day-to-day tasks independently and meets everyday demands.
• What is resilience?


  The ability to successfully cope with and manage change and uncertainty.
• How does resilience relate to mental illness?

  If an individual has a mental illness but high levels of resilience, they may cope better with the stressors of their condition.
• What is social wellbeing?

  The ability to form and maintain meaningful bonds with others and adapt to different social situations.
• What characterizes high levels of social wellbeing?

  Having a strong social network and being able to form and maintain meaningful relationships.
• What characterizes low levels of social wellbeing?

  Being isolated or lacking support from others, with difficulty forming and maintaining meaningful relationships.
• What is emotional wellbeing?

  The ability to appropriately control and express one's own emotions and understand the emotions of others.
• What characterizes high levels of emotional wellbeing?

  Being aware of one's own and others' current emotional states and expressing emotions appropriately.
• What characterizes low levels of emotional wellbeing?

  Being unable to understand one's own and others' emotions and expressing emotions inappropriately.
• What is the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) model?

  • A strength-based model recognizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health as interconnected and multifaceted.
  • Looks at mental wellbeing holistically.
• What are the domains of the SEWB model?

  1. Connection to mind and emotions
  2. Connection to body and behaviours
  3. Connection to family and kinship
  4. Connection to community
  5. Connection to culture
  6. Connection to land and country
  7. Connection to ancestors and spirituality
• What are historical determinants of health?

  The legacy of colonization and the disruption to the traditional way of life.
• What are political determinants of health?

  The human rights of all peoples to self-determination, sovereignty, and social justice.
• What are social determinants of health?

  Health inequity resulting from social inequity.
• What are cultural determinants of health?

  A strength-based perspective that finds solutions in stronger connection to community, culture, and country.
• What are biological factors contributing to specific phobias?

  GABA dysfunction and long-term potentiation (LTP).
• How does GABA dysfunction affect anxiety?

  It decreases the likelihood of postsynaptic neurons firing, leading to heightened levels of arousal/anxiety/fear.
• What is long-term potentiation (LTP)?

  The long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections between neurons after repeated high-intensity stimulation.
• How does classical conditioning relate to specific phobias?

  It involves the precipitation of specific phobia where a neutral stimulus becomes conditioned.
• How does operant conditioning perpetuate specific phobias?

  Avoidance behavior maintains the phobia.
• What is memory bias?

  A form of distorted thinking that enhances or impairs the recall of a memory or alters its content.
• What is catastrophic thinking?


  A thinking style that involves overestimating or exaggerating a situation and predicting the worst possible outcome.
• What are specific environmental triggers for phobias?

  Specific phobias developed after a direct negative and traumatic experience with an object or situation.
• How does stigma affect individuals with specific phobias?

  It may prevent them from seeking help due to negative stereotypes associated with their irrational fears.
• What are evidence-based interventions for specific phobia?

  • Treatments tested and found effective in valid and reliable research studies.
  • Include biological, psychological, and social interventions.