| Mental illnesses are medical conditions that | | | | |
| disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, mood, | | | | Today, we classify mental illness based on |
| ability to relate to others, and daily | | | | the symptoms a person experiences and the |
| functioning. Mental illnesses can affect | | | | clinical features of the illness, such as |
| persons of any age, race, religion, or | | | | feeling hopeless or having delusions. But as |
| income. Mental illnesses are not the result | | | | we continue to gain a clearer understanding |
| of personal weakness, lack of character, or | | | | of how specific genes interact with illnesses |
| poor upbringing. Mental illness is an | | | | or behaviors, we may be able to develop a |
| illness just like a physical illness. | | | | much more sophisticated classification system |
| | | | that is directly linked to a biological cause |
| Disorders | | | | of mental illness, rather than just symptoms. |
| | | | |
| Categories of diagnoses in these schemes may | | | | For instance, some disorders have similar |
| include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, | | | | symptoms and clinical features but are |
| psychotic disorders, eating disorders, | | | | actually very different in terms of their |
| developmental disorders, personality | | | | underlying biology. Thus, symptoms related |
| disorders, and many other categories. | | | | to behavior or our mental lives clearly |
| Commonly recognized categories of anxiety | | | | reflect variations or abnormalities in brain |
| disorders include specific phobia, | | | | function. |
| Generalized anxiety disorder, Social Anxiety | | | | |
| Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, | | | | Persons suffering from any of the severe |
| Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-traumatic | | | | mental disorders present with a variety of |
| stress disorder. | | | | symptoms, may include inappropriate anxiety, |
| | | | disturbances of thought and perception, and |
| Psychotic disorders centrally involving this | | | | cognitive dysfunction. Often it is a good |
| domain include Schizophrenia and Delusional | | | | idea to first describe the symptoms and/or |
| disorder. Definitions, assessments, and | | | | problems to your family physician or clergy. |
| classifications of mental disorders can vary, | | | | |
| but guideline criterion listed in the ICD, | | | | Treatment |
| DSM and other manuals are widely accepted by | | | | |
| mental health professionals. The recognition | | | | Treatment may include psychotherapy |
| and understanding of mental disorders has | | | | (individual, family, group), skills programs |
| changed over time. | | | | (learning, social skills, behavior), and |
| | | | psychiatric medication, and be provided in a |
| Family | | | | variety of inpatient, outpatient, or day |
| | | | treatment settings. This may include special |
| Mental illnesses can affect persons of any | | | | schools, residential placements, hospitals, |
| age-children, adolescents, adults, and the | | | | private offices, or community clinics. |
| elderly-and they can occur in any family. | | | | |
| Relatives can play a key role in the | | | | Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are |
| identification and treatment of the teen with | | | | two major treatment options, as well as |
| a mental illness, with family members | | | | supportive interventions. Most people |
| themselves often needing help and support. | | | | diagnosed with a serious mental illness can |
| | | | experience relief from their symptoms by |
| You can be a better friend by looking for | | | | actively participating in an individual |
| signs and symptoms of mental illnesses and | | | | treatment plan. |
| then helping someone you know reach out to | | | | |
| some of the following people: family doctor | | | | Without treatment the consequences of mental |
| or pediatrician, school counselor or teacher, | | | | illness for the individual and society are |
| parent and other family members, | | | | staggering: unnecessary disability, |
| psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, or | | | | unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, |
| the emergency department of the nearest | | | | inappropriate incarceration, suicide and |
| hospital. | | | | wasted lives; The economic cost of untreated |
| | | | mental illness is more than 100 billion |
| The next time you and your family member | | | | dollars each year in the United States. |
| visit your doctor or mental health | | | | |
| professional, discuss these behaviors and | | | | Early identification and treatment is of |
| develop a strategy for coping. Family | | | | vital importance; By ensuring access to the |
| awareness, early identification and | | | | treatment and recovery supports that are |
| prevention are often the first steps to | | | | proven effective, recovery is accelerated and |
| effective treatments. | | | | the further harm related to the course of |
| | | | illness is minimized. |
| Symptoms | | | | |