Mental health articles

Free Mental Health Case Study: Case 1

Li was an 18-year-old high school student. He had always been an average student, hardworking and honest. Recently, however, his mother had noticed that Li had been staying out till late at night, his schoolgrades had been falling, and he was spending more money. The previous week, his mother noticed that some money was missing from her purse.She was worried that Li might have stolen it. She had also noticed that Li was spending less time with his old friends and family, and seemed to be hanging around with a new group of friends, whom he did not introduce tohis parents. His mother had suggested to him that he should see acounsellor, but he refused. The health worker decided to visit Li at home.Li was very reluctant to discuss anything at first. However, as he became more trusting of the health worker, he admitted that he had been using heroin regularly for several months, and now he was ‘hooked’. He had tried to stop on many occasions, but each time he felt so sick that he just went back to the drug. He said he wanted help but did not know where to turn.

What’s the problem? Li had become dependent on heroin. Because of his dependence, his school performance had suffered and he had been seeing new friends who also use drugs. He had been stealing things topay for the drug.

Free Mental Health Case Study: Case 2

Ismail was a 25-year-old college student who was brought by past year and had started locking himself in his room. Ismail used to be a good student but had failed his last exams. His mother said that hewould often spend hours staring into space. Sometimes he muttered to himself as if he were talking to an imaginary person. Ismail had tobe forced to come to the clinic by his parents. At first, he refused totalk to the nurse. After a while he admitted that he believed that hisparents and neighbours were plotting to kill him and that the Devil was interfering with his mind. He said he could hear his neighbourstalk about him and say nasty things outside his door. He said he felt asif he had been possessed, but did not see why he should come to the clinic since he was not ill.

What’s the problem? Ismail was suffering from a severe mental disorder called schizophrenia. This made him hear voices and imagine things that were not true.

Free Mental Health Case Study: Case 3

Maria was a 31-year-old who has been brought to the clinic by her husband because she had started behaving in an unusual manner a week previously. She was sleeping much less than usual and was constantly on the move. Maria had stopped looking after the house and children as efficiently as before. She was talking much more thannormal and often said things that were unreal and grand. For example,she had been saying that she could heal other people and that she came from a very wealthy family (even though her husband was a factory worker). She had also been spending more money on clothesand cosmetics than was normal for her. When Maria’s husband tried to bring her to the clinic, she became very angry and tried to hit him.Finally, his neighbours had helped him to force her to come.

What’s the problem? Maria was suffering from a severe mental disorder called mania. This made her believe grand things and made her irritable when her husband tried to bring her to the clinic.

Tags: case study, Mental health