Article posted on January 11, 2024

The focus of this article is to:

1. To gain understanding of mental health disorders

2. To teach more acceptance and empathy for those who suffer from mental disorders.

3. Understand what makes a person susceptible to suffer from a mental health disorders.

4. To learn how to recognize how Mental Health Disorders that affects youths and adults in the US

5. To learn how it affects their daily living, social and relationship skills

6. To Learn about the different disorders and their symptoms

What is Mental Health Disorder?

Two general definitions:

A person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being (Oxford dictionary.

A person suffering from a disorder that affects the person’s ability to think, feel and act as well as how they handle stress.

Mental Health:

According to the World Health Organization mental health is define as follows: As a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.

Mental Health Problems:

Mental disorder, serious emotional disorder, extreme emotional distress, psychosis, psychiatric illness, mental illness, nervous exhaustion, mental breakdown, nervous breakdown, and burnout.

Stigma Associated Slang terms Used to describe a Person Who Suffers from Mental Health:
Crazy, Psycho, mad, loony, nuts, disturbed, cracked up, and wacko

What is Mental Illness?

Based on National Alliance for Mental Illness “A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Thus, affecting the brain, cognitive abilities and processes. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder.

The Good News about Mental Illness is that Recovery is Possible.

Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, or lack of character. Some conditions are as a result of a dysfunctional family upbringing, abuse, neglect, head injury, major trauma and other genetic propensity that makes the person a high risks of developing a mental illness. All of which can be treated with therapy, medication, and as a result recovery can be achieved and maintained. Like any disease the person can experience triggers, high and lows which can cause setbacks, but the important thing is for them to have a compassionate support system that will help them in continuing their recovery.

Mental illnesses is Treatable.

Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan. Having a good support system that involves psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, visiting nurses, Cognitive, Occupational and Behavioral therapist and family supports will assist in the treatment of the mental illness.

Psychiatric Disorder:

Any psychiatric disorder that causes untypical behavior

Based on National Alliance for Mental Illness “A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and affect their daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder amongst many other included in the DSM 5 diagnostic manual. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible.

How Does it Affect the Person:
Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. The onset for some of the conditions varies and can be precipitated by stress, trauma or other familial crisis. And with manic depressive disorders it can also mask certain medical conditions therefore a medical assessment needs to rule out a medical condition. There has been a correlation with ADHD and hyperactivity disorder masking manic depression in some ADHD hyperactivity disorder diagnosed children who were later diagnosed as adults with Manic depression. For example, schizophrenia may have an adolescent onset or young adult onset. Schizophrenia in teenagers is difficult to recognize because it often mask the symptoms of typical development during teenage years. Some of those symptoms are withdrawal from friends and family, drop in school performance, trouble sleeping, irritability, depression, and lack of motivation. Some may start using drugs to mask the symptoms. Another differentiating factor from adults to teen symptoms is that they are less likely to have delusions but more likely to have visual hallucinations. In adults, it will demonstrate psychotic symptoms, hallucinations, delusions, thought disorder, movement disorder and negative symptoms or behaviors. A schizophrenic person will demonstrate high level of cognitive dysfunction and symptoms such as short attention, concentration, and memory loss. As a result, they have problems with processing information, using information, keeping information and focusing. The person may also display aggressiveness or have a tendency to become violent and be a risk harm to themselves.

What is the Person Actually Experiencing?

A mental illness is a diagnosable illness that affects a person’s thinking, emotional state, and behavior and disrupts the person’s ability to work or carry out other daily activities and engage in satisfying personal relationships.

How Common are Mental Disorders?

The Mental Health America Organization survey data from 2019-2020, shows that 21% of adults were experiencing a mental illness within that given year. That is an equivalent of 50 million Americans. In comparison to the National Alliance on Mental Illness Nami most recent 2021 data states that 57.8 % adults experienced mental illness each year. 15.35% of the adults had a substance disorder in the past year of which 93.5% did not receive any treatment. And in 2020 12.1 Million adults reported suicide thoughts. The most remarkable data is that 28.2% of adults with a mental illness reported not able to receive the treatment they needed. 42% of adults reported unable to receive care because they could not afford it. Over 5.5 million adults with mental illness were uninsured.

Youth:

1 out of 10 youths in the U.S. are experiencing depression. 16.39% of youth aged 12-17 years old are suffering from one major depressive episode in the past year. 11.5% of youth, which is over 2.7 million youth experiencing major depression. Just as alarming is the fact that 60% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. In comparison to the National Alliance on Mental Illness Nami most recent 2021 data youth ages 6-17 who experienced a mental health disorder was 7.7 million youth. Remarkably the age decrease to 6 years old to 17 years old.

Type of Mental Health Disorders Adults

Anxiety Disorder 19.1 %

Major Depressive Disorder 8.3%

Substance Abuse Disorder 3.8%

Bipolar Disorder 2.8%

Eating Disorder 1.2%

Schizophrenia 1.1%

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 3.6%

Any Mental Disorder 33.7%

Impact of Mental Illness

Mental health disorders often start in adolescence or young adulthood. In fact, a national survey reported that half of mental health disorders began by age 14 and three quarters by age 24. When mental disorders start at this stage, they can affect the young person’s education, movement into adult occupational roles, forming key social relationships (including marriage), and establishment of unhealthy habits, such as alcohol or other drug use. Consequently, mental disorders can cause disability across a person’s lifespan. It is important to detect problems early to ensure the person is properly treated and supported.

Facts

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide among persons aged five and older.

For women throughout the world as well as those in established market economies, depression is the leading cause of DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years). In established market economies, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are also among the top ten causes of DALYs (Disability Adjusted Life Years) for women.

· Mental health disrupt the individual daily Life

· Mental health is amongst the most disabling illness

· Disability is the disruption of physical health, mental health as a result the disability causes impairment of the person’s ability to work

· Ability to care for himself or herself

· Ability to maintain relationships

· Ability to manage daily living skills

Misconceptions:
Many of the disabilities caused by mental illness cannot be visible to others, people with mental disorders can be negatively judge as being weak, lazy, uncooperative, or not really ill. This lack of understanding contributes to the stigma of people with mental disorders.

What is Depression?
Depression is define by some as having the “blues,” “Sadness” being “withdrawn.” However everyday “blues or sadness” is not a depressive disorder. We all at one point or another suffered from a depressed mood. But we are able to cope and recover without needing treatment. A major depressive episode last for at least two weeks or more and affects a person’s ability to work, to carry out usual daily activities, and to have satisfying relationships.

Facts:

· Mood disorders affect about 1 out of 10 adults in a given year

· The most common is depressive disorder and it affects 8.3 percent of adults in any one year.

· The median age of onset is 37 years old * This means that half the people who will ever have an episode will have the first one by this age.

· Depression often co-occurs with anxiety and/or substance abuse

· Depression is more common in females than in males.

· Once a person has an episode they are most likely to suffer other episodes.

· A person who is clinically depressed will display at least one or two symptoms, nearly every day for at least two weeks.

Symptoms of Depression:

· Unusually sad mood, Loss of interest and enjoyment in activities, Isolation and Changes in eating and sleeping habits

Other symptoms include:

Lack of energy, Tiredness, Feeling of worthlessness, Feeling guilty, Thinking often about death or wishing to be dead, Difficulty with concentration or making decisions, Moving more slowly or sometimes becoming agitated and unable to be still, Having sleeping difficulties or sleeping too much, Loss of interest in food or eating more than usual without being hungry, and Weight gain or weight loss

Bipolar disorder:

Bipolar disorder can be cyclical, with bouts of depression and accompany with a Manic-Depressive episode in which the person experiences extreme high/low mood swings

The individual experience shifts of depression and periods of mania, and long/short periods of normal mood in between. 2.8 Percent of adults in the US suffer from Bipolar disorder

The age of onset is 25 years which means that half the people with Bipolar disorder will have the first episode by this age. The percentage of female vs male is equally common.

Symptoms:
Same symptoms as Depression

Periods of mania * a person will not be diagnosed unless the person experiences both mania and an episode of depression. Mania can be evident with periods of high energy, fantasy thinking, talkative, full of ideas, less need for sleep and making impulsive decisions. *some common behaviors: spending too much, getting into debt, becoming angry and aggressive, getting into legal problems, or becoming sexually promiscuous.

The Many Causes of Depression:

· A break up of a relationship or living in conflict

· Long term poverty

· Loss of job or difficulty finding one

· Having an accident that results in long-term disability

· Bullying or being victimized

· Victim of a crime

· Chronic medical conditions or long-term illness

· Death of a partner, family member or friend

· Domestic violence

Effects of Medical Conditions that Cause Depression:

· Parkinson disease, Huntington's disease, stroke, vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, lupus, hepatitis, mononucleosis, HIV and some forms of cancers.

· Having a baby

· Side effects of medications

· Stress of having other mental health disorders

· Alcohol or drug abuse

· Caring for a terminally ill family member

Anxiety Disorders:

We all experience some forms of anxiety at some point in our lives and it is generally healthy to experience it. Anxiety can vary in severity from mild uneasiness to a terrifying panic attack. Anxiety also can vary depending on how long it lasts, from a few minutes to a terrifying panic attack.

Anxiety disorder can become more intense, with longer lasting episodes that can interfere with the person’s ability to work, enjoy activities or relationships.

· Approximately 19 percent of U.S. Adults have an anxiety disorder.

· Anxiety tends to begin in childhood, adolescence or early adult onset.

· The media age of onset is 11 years, which means half of the people have their first episode by this age.

· Anxiety disorders often occur with mood disorders and substance abuse disorders.

· Anxiety disorders is more common in females than males

Symptoms of Anxiety:

Physical symptoms:

· Pounding hear, Chest pain, rapid heartbeat and flushing

Respiratory:

· Hyperventilation, and shortness of breath

Neurological:

· Dizziness, headache, sweating, tingling and numbness

Gastrointestinal:

· Choking, dry mouth, stomach pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea

Musculoskeletal:

· Muscle aches and pains, neck, shoulders and back, restlessness, tremors and shaking, and inability to relax.

Psychosis:

Psychosis Is a mental health problem in which a person has lost some contact with reality, resulting in severe disturbances in thinking, emotion, and behavior. Psychosis can severely disrupts a person’s life, relationship, work and the ability to enjoy activities. Self-care is limited.

Psychotic disorders are less common than other mental health disorders. The following disorders can cause psychotic behaviors: Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, psychotic depression, schizoaffective disorder. Drug induced psychosis, and delirium. Psychosis usually occurs in phases, premorbid –at risk phase, prodromal –becoming unwell phase, Acute-Psychotic phase, Recovery-journey to attain wellbeing, Relapse-may experience on episode or may have additional episodes.

Symptoms:
Changes in emotional wellbeing:

· Depression, Anxiety, Irritability, Suspiciousness, Flat affect, Inappropriate display of emotion, Changes in appetite, Reduced energy and motivation

Changes in thinking and perception:

· Difficulties concentrating, Sense of alteration, Unusual perception such as reduction or greater intensity of smell, sounds, or color.

Changes in behavior:

· Sleep disturbances, Social isolation or withdrawal, Reduced ability to carry out work or social roles, Symptom's vary from person to person and severity such as experiencing delusions, hallucinations Thinking difficulties, Loss of drive and Blurted emotions

Suicide Risk for Individuals Who Experience Mental Health Disorders:

According to NAMI National Alliance on Mental Health data shows that suicide is the 2ndleading cause of death among people ages 10-14 and 3rd among ages 15-24 in the US.

· Suicide is the 12th most common cause of death overall in the US.

· 46% of people who committed suicide had a diagnosed mental health disorder

· US adults average 4.8%

· US youths 18-25 13%

· High School Students 22%

· 79% of people who die were males. Males are at higher risk and adults 75 years old are at higher risk

· Females in their 40’s and 50’s have the highest rate of suicide

· In 2021, suicide took the lives of 48,000 people in the US

· 12.3 Million adults had thoughts of suicide 3.5 Million made plans and 1.7 million attempted suicide.

· From 2021-to-2022 there was a 2.6% increase of suicide deaths. This provisional data not yet finalized.

Warnings signs of Suicide

1. Threatening to hurt or kill himself or herself

2. Looking for ways to kill himself or herself, seeking access to pills, weapons, or other means

3. Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide

4. Expressing hopelessness

5. Feeling rage or anger, seeking revenge

6. Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking

7. Feeling trapped, like there is no way out

8. Increasing alcohol or drug use

9. Withdrawing from friends, family, or society

10. Experiencing anxiety or agitation, being unable to sleep, or sleeping all the time

11. Undergoing dramatic changes in mood

12. Feeling no reason for living, no sense of purpose in life

13. Individuals may exhibit one or more signs

14. Giving things away

How to Help someone who is experiencing Suicidal ideations or having a Mental Health Crisis: by

Listening Non-Judgmentally:

If you believe that a person is in a crisis that needs immediate attention, you can engage the person in conversation, by speaking and listening non-judgmentally, such as asking how they are feeling and how long they have been feeling this way. Maintaining yourself calm and in control. Listening non-judgmentally is important at this stage as it can help the person to feel heard and understood while not being judged in any way. This can make it easy for the person to feel comfortable and talk freely about their problems or ask for help. The focus of the conversation should be the person’s feelings, thoughts, and experiences, you need to be aware of your own. Helping someone in distress may evoke an unexpected emotional response in you; you may find yourself feeling fearful, overwhelmed, sad or even irritated or frustrated. In spite of any emotional response you have, you need to continue listening respectfully and avoid expressing any negative reaction. This is sometimes difficult and may be made more complex by your relationship with the person or your personal beliefs about the situation. You need to set aside these beliefs and reactions in order to focus on the needs of the person you are helping to be heard, understood, and helped. Remember, you are providing people with a safe space to express themselves, and a negative reactions may block that sense of safety. If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) , or dial 911 in case of emergency.

Effective Communication Skills for Non-judgmental Listening

You can be an effective non-judgmental listener by paying special attention to two areas:
Important!! Your attitudes and how they are conveyed their answers

Communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal

Attitude:

Acceptance, genuineness, and empathy

Acceptance:

Respecting the person’s feelings, personal values and experiences as valid, even if they are different from your own or you disagree with them.

Genuineness:

Means what you say and do to show that you are accepting of the person. This means not holding one set of attitudes while expressing another.

Empathy:

Means being able to imagine yourself in the other person’s place. Showing them that they are truly heard and understood by you.

If you have serious concerns, call 911

· Assess for risk of suicide or harm

· Listen non-judgmentally

· Give reassurance and information

· Encourage appropriate professional help

· Encourage self-help and other support strategies

If you or someone that you know would like to learn more about mental health disorders or on how to become Mental Health First Aid certified you can visit https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org to find your local training chapter in your area.

By Claribel Coreano, MS. Transformational Coach

@June 2014

Images: Freepik.com

Suggested Videos:

Beyond the Label Nicholas story of resilience and recovery

https://youtu.be/dYBnhSdtuxc?si=TeExGl8mZwgexB-c

Bipolar-Manic-Depressive Illness

https://youtu.be/6JXL2n8s9mg?si=BJNAWbj3c7Vp574i

The Misunderstood Epidemic by Randal Rodriguez

Bi-Polar: Manic Depressive Illness By Caden

Resources

https://mhanational.org

https://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=by_illness

https://Freedomfromfear.org

Mental Health First Aid, 2009 Anne Arundel County Mental Health Agency, Inc.

https://www.homelessnessmentallyill.org/dual/htm

https://www.homelessmentallyill.org/dual/htm

“Coalition for the homeless article retrieved on March 3, 2014

National Coalition for the Homeless “Mental Illness and Homelessness” published by the National Coalition for the Homeless, July 2009