In what ways does mental health need to be considered across the illness/injury continuum?"

Mental health needs to be considered across the illness/injury continuum in several key ways:

 1. Prevention and Early Intervention

 Screening and Assessment: Preventive care diagnostic examinations for people in need (e. g. , those with family history of mental disorders or other diseases).

 Education: Mental health education and sensitization of patients, families and other members of the public on the issues affecting the mental health.

 2. Diagnosis and Treatment

 Integrated Care: Mental or emotional assessment for patients with acute or chronic medical/ surgical condition, should also be included in the assessment. Mental health conditions can affect the trajectory and the treatment of physical health conditions.

 Holistic Approach: Including the psychological and the physical wellbeing of the patient in the treatment plans. For instance, a chronic disease such as diabetes may be accompanied by depression, which will in turn influence the management of the disease.

 3. Management of Chronic Conditions

 Co-Management: Engaging in the management of care between mental health practitioners, and other practitioners in the treatment of illnesses that have psychological dimensions such as chronic diseases or disabilities.

 Support Services: Offering mental health care including counselling and therapy to enable patients deal with the emotional challenges of having a chronic illness or injury.

 4. Recovery and Rehabilitation

 Psychosocial Support: Provision of psychosocial support during the phase of recovery and rehabilitation in order to help the patient manage conditions such as anxiety, depression or adjustment disorders that may develop during this stage.

 Patient Empowerment: Positive reinforcement in care planning as well as in rehabilitation to foster mental health and to empower and engage patients in their care.

 5. End-of-Life Care

 Emotional and Psychological Support: Offering a range of psychological services in meeting the needs of patients and families who are dealing with end-of-life concerns and bereavement, counseling and pain management support.

 Advance Care Planning: Logically, some important topics are: Participation in conversations regarding preferences for care and preferences for dying, which may decrease fear and enhance the quality of life of patients and their families.

 Involvement of Various Stakeholders

 Multidisciplinary Teams: This give them access to mental health professionals, social workers and counselors in order to have a more complete medical team for the patient.

 Family and Caregiver Support: Teaching and empowering the family members and caregivers for them to be in a position to take care of their own mental health as well as that of their loved ones.