1.2 Mental illness and mental health conditions
The World Health Organisation estimates that 1 in 8 people globally are living with mental ill-health (2022b). When someone is experiencing poor mental health, this can sometimes lead to a diagnosis of mental illness or a mental health condition. A diagnosis is assessed by a mental health practitioner (a counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist or other qualified health professional), with relevant training, and usually registered with a professional body, that enables them to make these assessments. Professional accreditation pathways set standards to which their members must adhere when making diagnoses – some of which are international and some of which relate to the country where they work. These standards are there to ensure everyone receives safe and high-quality, evidence-based standards of care. This also means you can acknowledge as an educator why it would not be your role to diagnose mental illness in learners or colleagues.
There can be a lot of stigma associated with assessment, especially the medical diagnosis and the ‘label’ of a mental health condition, and you will explore this further in Week 5. As an educator you are well placed to help reduce stigma in the learning environment, to assist when stigmatising views are present and to signpost available support. Stigma can often prevent a learner from seeking help and assessment or contribute to their resistance to an actual diagnosis and the treatment associated with it.
However, within the education setting, a medical diagnosis can open the door to support. A medical diagnosis can lead to the release of funding to promote inclusive education for learners with mental health issues and ensure provision for reasonable adjustments in learning environments.