Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Illness

What is mental health?

Mental health is not just the absence of mental illnesses. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

 What are mental illnesses? 

  • Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain that disrupt a person’s thinking, feelings, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. 
  • Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are disorders of the brain.
  • Mental illnesses are serious, chronic medical illnesses that can be lethal if left untreated.

 What causes mental illness? 

  • Biological Factors
    • Neurotransmitters: Serotonin & norepinephrine
    • Hormones: Cortisone, estrogen (Women are two times as likely to suffer from depression than men)
  • Genetic Factors
  • Environmental Factors
    • Life events – such as loss of a loved one, physical illness, financial or relationship problems, chronic stress, immigration & acculturation, war, etc.

 What is the prevalence of mental illness? 

  • According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every four people, or 25% per cent of individuals, develops one or more mental disorders at some stage in life.  Today, 450 million people suffer from mental disorders in both developed and developing countries.
  • For example, estimates made by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2002 showed that 154 million people globally suffer from depression, 25 million people suffer from schizophrenia, 91 million people are affected by alcohol use disorders and 15 million by drug use disorders, 50 million people suffer from epilepsy and 24 million from Alzheimer and other dementias.
  • Mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.

What are the classes of mental illness? 

  • Mood disorders: Depression, bipolar
  • Anxiety disorders: GAD, PD, ED, OCD, etc.
  • Psychotic disorders: Schizophrenia and others
  • Cognitive disorders: Alzheimer’s, dementia, etc.
  • Developmental disorders: Autism, ADHD, etc.
  • Personality disorders: BPD & ASPD
  • Substance-related disorders
  • Other disorders: Impulse control, hypochondriasis, etc.

 What is the age of onset of mental illness? 

Unlike heart disease or most cancers, mental illness strikes people in the prime of their life, robbing them of their most productive years

  • 50% of lifetime cases begin by age 14
  • 75% of lifetime cases begin by age 24
  • Risk of onset reduces past the high risk age of 14 – 24

Examples:

  • Anxiety disorders - Late childhood
  • Mood disorders – Late adolescence
  • Substance abuse – Late 20s

 What are the symptoms to watch for? 

Depression

  • Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex 
  • Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
  • Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
  • Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
  • Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
  • Restlessness, irritability
  • Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain 

 Mania

  • Abnormal or excessive elation
  • Unusual irritability
  • Decreased need for sleep
  • Grandiose notions
  • Increased talking
  • Racing thoughts
  • Increased sexual desire
  • Markedly increased energy
  • Poor judgment
  • Inappropriate social behavior

 Schizophrenia

The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three broad categories:

  • Positive symptoms are unusual thoughts or perceptions, including hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder, and disorders of movement.
  • Negative symptoms represent a loss or a decrease in the ability to initiate plans, speak, express emotion, or find pleasure in everyday life. These symptoms are harder to recognize as part of the disorder and can be mistaken for laziness or depression.
  • Cognitive symptoms (or cognitive deficits) are problems with attention, certain types of memory, and the executive functions that allow us to plan and organize. Cognitive deficits can also be difficult to recognize as part of the disorder but are the most disabling in terms of leading a normal life.

For a checklist of symptoms and treatment options by the mental disorder, please visithttp://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/index.shtml  
 

How are mental illnesses diagnosed?  

Your personal care physician and/or Psychiatrist will be able to diagnose mental illness through various tools including: 

  • Family health history
  • Personal health history
  • Functional & behavioral assessment
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM4)

 What are the available treatment options? 

  • Psycho-education
  • Medications
  • Psychosocial rehabilitation
  • Electroconvulsive therapy
  • Hospitalization
  • Integrative/Holistic options:
    • Deep Breathing
    • Meditation
    • Acupuncture
    • Naturopathic
    • Homeopathic
    • Art therapy

 What are the recovery rates for mental illness? 

  • Schizophrenia – 60%
  • Bipolar Disorder – 80%
  • Depression – 65% to 80%

 What are the barriers to recovery from mental illness? 

  • Cultural stigmas
  • Discrimination
  • Fragmented mental health system

REFERENCES: World Health Organization, National Institute of Mental Health