MENTAL ILLNESS
What is mental illness?
Mental illnesses are conditions that affect one’s thinking, feeling, mood , such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia. Such conditions may be occasional or chronic and affect one’s ability to relate with others and our day-to-day activities.
What is mental health?
Mental health are our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and react. It determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy and right choices.
Mental health is important at every point of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood even till you die.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably with poor mental health and mental illness are not the same. A person can experience poor mental health and may not be mentally ill. Likewise, a person may be mentally ill and experience periods of physical, mental, and social well-being.
Why is mental health important for overall health?
Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. Mental illness, especially depression, increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like stroke, diabetes, and heart disease. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.
Can your mental health change over time?
Yes, it’s important to know that one’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors. When the demands placed on a person exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health could be affected. For instance, if someone is working long hours, caring for an ill relative or experiencing economic hardship you may experience poor mental health.
How common are mental illnesses?
Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the world.
More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.3
1 in 5 persons will experience a mental illness in a given year.
1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point during their life.
1 in 25 persons lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
What causes mental illness?
There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as
- Early adverse life experiences, (for example, child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc.)
- Experiences related to other chronic medical condition, such as cancer or diabetes.
- Biological factors, such as genes or chemical imbalances in the brain
- Use of alcohol or recreational drugs
- Having few friends or no friends
- Having feeling of loneliness or isolation
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