It is a medical condition, just like heart disease or diabetes. And mental health conditions are treatable. We are continually expanding our understanding of how the human brain works, and treatments are available to help people successfully manage mental health conditions.
Although scientists at this time do not know the causes of mental illnesses, they have identified factors that put individuals at risk. Some of these factors are environmental, some are genetic, and some are social. In fact, all these factors most likely combine to influence whether someone becomes mentally ill.
Mental illnesses, in general, are thought to be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors: Inherited traits. Mental illness is more common in people whose blood relatives also have a mental illness.
Research conducted and funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has found that many mental disorders are caused by a combination of biological, environmental, psychological, and genetic factors.
Unlike other general physical illnesses, mental illnesses are related to problems that start in the brain. The brain is an organ. Just like any other organs in our body, it can experience changes (healing or injury) based on life experiences like stress, trauma, lack of sleep, and nutrition.
stereotypes. Society can have stereotyped views about mental ill health. Some people believe people with mental health problems are dangerous when in fact, they are at a higher risk of being attacked or harming themselves than hurting other people.
Where does mental illness begin? New research suggests the seeds of psychological problems are planted well before birth. Schizophrenia, for example, is often thought of as a genetic disorder. But environmental factors can also boost risk – sometimes considerably.
For example, the following factors could potentially result in a period of poor mental health: childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect. social isolation or loneliness. experiencing discrimination and stigma, including racism.
Most mental disorders are thought to arise from a complex mix of genetic and environmental factors. Past studies have found evidence of shared genetic risk factors among different mental disorders.
It's important to note that only a mental health professional can diagnose a mental health condition. Therefore, the only way to receive a definite answer to the question, “Do I have a mental illness, or am I overreacting?”, is to get in touch with a professional at an accredited treatment center.
Borderline personality disorder is one of the most painful mental illnesses since individuals struggling with this disorder are constantly trying to cope with volatile and overwhelming emotions.
The increase in mental health issues is most consistent between the 1930s and the early 1990s.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20369/), or NCBI, many researchers or scientists who study the brain believe that the development of most mental disorders is caused, at least in part, by an imbalance of chemicals within the brain, or neurochemicals.
Charles Darwin was aloof, obsessive-compulsive, and a hypochondriac. His co-discoverer and fellow genius, Alfred Wallace, was also aloof and a lonely wanderer. Nikola Tesla was often mentally compromised, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart suffered from mood swings.
It can take months, and sometimes years, for doctors to accurately diagnose a mental illness. Some reasons: Symptoms of mental illnesses often overlap. Psychotic features, for example, are a part of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders as well as mood disorders, dissociative disorders, and personality disorders.
Mental illness is the term that is used most commonly today, as it better displays that psychiatric conditions can affect more than just your “mind.” Additionally, the term “disorder” has a negative connotation, while illness encourages people to imagine a person struggling with a medical condition.
The United States, Colombia, the Netherlands and Ukraine tended to have higher prevalence estimates across most classes of disorder, while Nigeria, Shanghai and Italy were consistently low, and prevalence was lower in Asian countries in general.
Mental health is the foundation for emotions, thinking, communication, learning, resilience, hope and self-esteem. Mental health is also key to relationships, personal and emotional well-being and contributing to community or society. Mental health is a component of overall well-being.
50% of mental illness begins by age 14, and 3/4 begin by age 24.
“The term 'mental health' implies the absence of illness or disorder. But there are a lot of ways people can be mentally healthy or ill, just like there are many ways to be physically healthy or unwell.” Both mental health and mental illness are states of being that are on a spectrum.
Part of the reason mental health is often ignored is because there is still a lot of stigma surrounding mental illness. For many people, mental illness is seen as a sign of weakness. There's a belief that if you can't “just snap out of it,” then there's something wrong with you.
Mental illnesses prove tricky to treat because it is so hard to pinpoint exactly what to do; treating a mental illness is not as simple as taking cold medicine. There isn't an equivalent catchall treatment like a statin or cholesterol pill. Half of all mental illnesses begin to show symptoms by age 14.