WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS
Mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought and/or behavior, resulting in an inability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and routines. There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness. Some of the more common disorders are depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. Symptoms may include changes in mood, personality, personal habits and/or social withdrawal.
Mental health problems may be related to excessive stress due to a particular situation or series of events.
As with cancer, diabetes and heart disease, mental illnesses are often physical as well as emotional and psychological. Mental illnesses may be caused by a reaction to environmental stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these. With proper care and treatment, many individuals learn to cope or recover from a mental illness or emotional disorder.
Most Common Types of Mental Illness
A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.
A mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, anxiety, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities.
A disorder associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.
A group of thinking and social symptoms that interferes with daily functioning.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
A chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.
A disorder that affects a person's ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.
Excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
A serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
A disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.
What Causes Mental Illness?
Most mental health professionals believe that there is a variety of contributing factors to the onset of mental illness. Studies have found that there are physical, social, environmental and psychological causes for mental illness.
Physical Causes
Each individual’s own genetic make-up can contribute to being at risk of developing a mental illness and traumas to the brain (via a form of head-injury) can also sometimes lead to changes in personality and in some cases ‘trigger’ symptoms of an illness. Misuse of substances (such as alcohol or drugs) and deficiencies of certain vitamins and minerals in an individual’s diet can also play a part.
Social And Environmental Causes
Where someone lives and their living conditions along with family and community support networks can play a part along with employment status and work stresses. Living in poverty or social isolation, being unemployed or highly stressed in your work can all put pressure on an individual’s mental health.
Psychological Factors
Coping with past or current traumatic experiences such as abuse, bereavement or divorce will strongly influence an individual’s mental and emotional state which can, in turn, have an influence on mental health.
Family History
There is evidence to suggest that heredity can play some part in the development of some forms of mental illness. However like with many physical health conditions (such as Heart Disease or Diabetes) that fact that a family member has experienced a mental illness does not mean that all other genetic family members will experience the same condition. As with physical health conditions, the other factors shown above will play a significant part too.
How Common Is Mental Illness?
Mental illnesses are very common. In fact, they are more common than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 25% of American adults (those ages 18 and older) and about 13% of American children (those ages 8 to 15) are diagnosed with a mental disorder during a given year. Major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are among the U.S.'s top 10 leading causes of disability.
Mental illness does not discriminate. It can affect people of any age, income or educational level, and cultural background. Although mental illness affects both males and females, certain conditions such as eating disorders tend to occur more often in females, and other disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) more commonly occur in children.
What Is the Outlook for People with Mental Illness?
When diagnosed early and treated properly, many people fully recover from their mental illness or are able to successfully control their symptoms. Although some people become disabled because of chronic or severe mental illness, many others are able to live full and productive lives. In fact, as many as 8 in 10 people suffering from a mental illness can effectively return to their normal activities if they receive appropriate treatment.
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How Is Mental Illness Treated?
A mental illness, like many chronic illnesses, requires ongoing treatment. Fortunately, much progress has been made in the last two decades in treating mental illnesses. As a result, many mental conditions can be effectively treated with one or a combination of the following therapies:
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Medication
Psychotherapy
Group therapy
Day treatment or partial hospital treatment
Specific therapies, such as cognitive-behavior therapy and behavior modification.
Other treatments available include:
Alternative therapies, such as water therapy, massage, and biofeedback
Creative therapies, such as art therapy, music therapy, or play therapy
Hypnotherapy
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a newer therapy
*Information provided by WebMD Medical.
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