What is Mental Health?
Mental health refers to an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Additionally, the state of someone’s mental health impacts their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It also determines how someone deals with stress, interacts with others and makes decisions.2
Mental health is equally as important as physical health, and certain mental health issues may even increase the risk of problems with physical health. For example, depression can increase the risk of long-lasting health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The presence of chronic conditions can also increase the risk of mental illness.2
Treating mental health disorders is an essential aspect of mental health. Mental illnesses can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, geography, income, social status, race/ethnicity, religion/spirituality, or sexual orientation.3
Additionally, the impacts of mental illness can be temporary or long-lasting. An individual may also experience more than one mental health disorder at a time. For example, someone may have a substance use disorder and experience depression simultaneously. 4
Mental Health Statistics
- Over 50% of individuals will have a mental illness diagnosis at some point in their life 2
- 1 out of 5 Americans experience a mental health disorder each year 2
- 1 out of 5 children have had a severe mental illness at some point in their life 2
- 1 out of 25 Americans have a severe mental health disorder, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression 2
- In 2020, 25.8% of females and 15.8% of females had a mental illness 5
- In 2020, 30.6% of young adults aged 18-25, 25.3% of adults aged 26-49, and 14.5% of adults aged 50 and older had a mental health disorder 5
- 50% of lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% by age 24 6
Common Mental Illnesses
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders usually develop in infancy or childhood, before grade school. Examples of this kind of disorder include autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and learning disorders.7
Anxiety Disorders
Individuals who have anxiety disorders feel fear and dread in response to or in anticipation of certain situations. They may engage in behavior that will allow them to avoid situations that cause anxiety. 7 They also exhibit physical signs of anxiety or panic, including a rapid heartbeat or sweating.8
Someone is only diagnosed with an anxiety disorder if their responses are not appropriate for a given situation, they cannot control their response, or if their anxiety interferes with daily functioning. 8
Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias. 8
Bipolar and Related Disorders
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Personality Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
These disorders are characterized by repetitive thoughts or obsessions and repetitive actions in response to those thoughts. 7
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) includes persistent thoughts and fears that create compulsions to carry out specific rituals and routines. For example, someone with OCD might have an irrational fear of germs (obsession) and, as a result, constantly wash their hands (compulsion). 8
Other examples of these disorders include hoarding disorder and hair-pulling disorder (trichotillomania). 7
Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
Somatic symptoms and related disorders include symptoms that can cause significant emotional stress and functioning challenges. Individuals with these disorders may have another medical condition responsible for their symptoms, but their reaction to them is abnormal. 7
Examples of these disorders include somatic symptom disorder, illness anxiety disorder, and factitious disorder. 7
Eating Disorders
Impulse Control and Conduct Disorders
Impulse control and conduct disorders include problems with self-control, emotionally and behaviorally. 8
Impulse control disorders involve an inability to resist urges to engage in behaviors that could be harmful to the self or others. Some examples of these disorders include pyromania (fire-starting), kleptomania (stealing), and compulsive gambling.
Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
Addictive disorders involve excessive alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and drug use. They can also include gambling disorders. 7
Alcohol and drugs are both addictive substances. Individuals with addiction disorders may prioritize the substance they are addicted to over responsibilities, relationships, and once enjoyable activities. 8
Neurocognitive Disorders
Individuals with neurocognitive disorders experience challenges related to thinking and reasoning. These disorders are acquired rather than developed and include delirium and disorders due to conditions or diseases like traumatic brain injury or Alzheimer’s disease. 7
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are characterized by patterns of emotional instability and unhealthy behaviors that create problems in daily life and meaningful relationships. Examples of personality disorders include borderline, antisocial, and narcissistic personality disorders. 7
Suicidal Ideations
Suicidal ideation includes the thought of ending one’s own life. These thoughts may or may not include a suicide plan. Suicidal ideations can occur due to living with an untreated mental health disorder. 9
Warning Signs and Symptoms
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the following signs or symptoms, it is important to speak with a mental health professional right away for a specific diagnosis and treatment based on that diagnosis. 10
A mental health disorder’s warning signs and symptoms may differ in adults, young adults, and adolescents than in older children and preadolescents, and younger children. 10
Adults, Young Adults, and Adolescents
Adults, young adults, and adolescents with a mental illness may experience: 10
- Confused thinking
- Prolonged depression
- Extreme highs and lows
- Excessive fear, worry, or anxiety
- Material and physical well-being
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Changes in eating habits
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Intense anger
- Strange thoughts or delusions
- Hallucinations
- Increasing inability to cope with daily stressors
- Suicidal thoughts
- Various unexplained physical ailments
- Substance use
Adults, Young Adults, and AdolescentsOlder Children and Preadolescents
Older children and preadolescents with a mental illness may experience: 10
- Substance use
- Inability to cope with daily stressors
- Changes in eating habits
- Excessive complaints regarding physical ailments
- Changes in ability to manage responsibilities at home or school
- Defiance of authority or truancy
- Engagement in theft or vandalism
- Intense fear
- Prolonged negative mood, usually accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death
- Frequent anger outbursts
Younger Children
Younger children with a mental illness may experience: 10
- Changes in performance at school
- Poor grades even with strong efforts
- Changes in eating habits
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Excessive worry or anxiety (refusal to go to bed or school)
- Hyperactivity
- Persistent nightmares
- Persistent disobedience or aggression
- Prolonged negative mood, usually accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death
- Frequent temper tantrums
Risk Factors
- Having a blood relative, such as a parent or sibling, with a history of mental illness
- Stressful life situations, such as financial problems, the death of a loved one, or a divorce
- A chronic medical condition, such as diabetes
- Brain damage due to a traumatic brain injury, such as a violent blow to the head
- Traumatic experiences, such as an assault or involvement in military combat
- Use of alcohol or recreational drugs
- Childhood history of abuse or neglect
- Few friends or healthy relationships
- A previous history of mental illness
Treatment
There are several treatment methods available for mental health disorders. Treatment will depend on the type of mental illness, its severity, and the best approach for each individual. 7 The treatment option that works best may differ from one person to another, include a combination of multiple methods, and change throughout an individual’s lifetime. 11
A mental health professional can offer a diagnosis and recommend the best treatment option for each individual. Different treatment methods include self-help, medication, and psychotherapy. 11 A team approach may also be beneficial in some cases, especially when the mental illness is severe. 7
Self-Help Practices
- Reducing alcohol intake
- Getting more sleep
- Eating a healthy and nutritious diet
- Creating a balance between work and personal life
- Prioritizing mental health and well-being
People who have mental health disorders, including anxiety and depression, may benefit from engaging in techniques that promote relaxation, including deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness practices. 11
Additionally, an essential aspect of recovery from a mental illness is cultivating a strong support network. This network may include individuals from self-help groups, close friends, and family members. 11
Medication
Some individuals with mental health disorders take medications prescribed by a doctor as a form of treatment. While medications won’t cure a mental health disorder, they can improve symptoms and make it possible for individuals to engage socially and carry out a regular routine while improving their mental health. 11 They can also make other methods, like psychotherapy, more effective. 7
Some medications work by increasing the body’s absorption of feel-good chemicals, like serotonin, from the brain. Other medications can either boost overall levels of these chemicals or prevent them from destructing.11 Commonly used prescription psychiatric medications include: 7
- Antidepressants. This type of medication is primarily used to treat depression and anxiety. They can improve symptoms like sadness, hopelessness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and lack of interest in activities.
- Anti-anxiety medications. This type of medication is used to treat anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and may help to reduce agitation and insomnia.
- Mood-stabilizing medications. This type of medication is primarily used to treat bipolar disorders. In some cases, mood stabilizers are used with antidepressants to treat depression.
- Antipsychotic medications. This type of medication is primarily used to treat psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia. They may also help treat bipolar disorders and can be used with antidepressants to treat depression.
Residential Treatment Programs
It may be helpful for individuals with more severe mental health issues to seek care from a psychiatric hospital. This type of treatment is especially recommended for individuals who cannot properly care for themselves or might be at immediate risk of harming themselves or others.7
These options can include 12-hour inpatient care, partial or day hospitalization, residential treatment, a supportive place to live while receiving treatment, or intensive outpatient treatment. 7
Sources
- https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month
- https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm
- https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/symptoms-causes/syc-20374968
- https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
- https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374974
- https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-types-illness
- https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/suicidal-ideation
- https://www.mhanational.org/recognizing-warning-signs
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154543#treatment
