Mental health Verses Mental Illness
Mental health (or well being) is an ideal we all strive for. It is a balance of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health. Caring relationships, a place to call home, a supportive community, and work and leisure all contribute to mental health. However, no one’s life is perfect, so mental health is also about learning the coping skills to deal with life’s ups and downs the best we can.
What is Mental Illness?
Mental illness is a serious disturbance in thoughts, feelings and perceptions that is severe enough to affect day-to-day functioning. Some names for mental illness include:
• Schizophrenia - seeing, smelling or hearing things that are not there – or holding firm beliefs that make no sense to anyone else but you,
• Mood Disorders - intense feelings of sadness and worthlessness – so bad that you have lost interest in life, bipolar disorder - cycles of feeling intensely happy and invincible followed by depression,
• Anxiety disorders - panic attacks, phobias, obsessions or post-traumatic stress disorder,
• Eating disorders – anorexia (not eating), or bulimia (eating too much and then vomiting), and
• Borderline personality disorder - severe difficulty with relationships, placing yourself in danger, making decisions that turn out to be very bad for you – most often as a result of a history of child abuse, abandonment or neglect.
FACTS ABOUT POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH
Nearly 7 out of 10 Canadians report that their mental health is excellent or very good. Canadian young women aged 15 to 24 were 1.5 times more likely than young men to report fair to poor mental health. Of the 4,000 Canadians who die every year as a result of suicide, most were confronting a mental health problem or illness. Approximately ½ of Canadian seniors over the age of 80 report feeling lonely.
Causes that affects Mental health
Common external causes of stress
Major life changes
Work or school
Relationship difficulties
Financial problems
Being too busy
Children and family
Unemployment
Career choices
Substance Use
Common internal causes of stress
Chronic worry
Pessimism
Negative self-talk
Unrealistic expectations/Perfectionism
Rigid thinking, lack of flexibility
All-or-nothing attitude
Dealing with Stress
Cognitive Symptoms
Memory problems
Inability to concentrate
Poor judgment
Seeing only the negative
Anxious or racing thoughts
Constant worrying
Emotional Symptoms
Moodiness
Irritability or short temper
Agitation, inability to relax
Feeling overwhelmed
Sense of loneliness and isolation
Depression or general unhappiness
Physical Symptoms
Aches and pains
Diarrhea or constipation
Nausea, dizziness
Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
Loss of sex drive
Frequent colds
Behavioral Symptoms
Eating more or less
Sleeping too much or too little
Isolating yourself from others
Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)
Building Resilience
Resilience is the ability to respond to life with a sense of control and to tolerate surprises or unexpected life events. Resilience goes beyond the capacity just to deal with life’s problems, it is the ability to embrace and fully enjoy life with all its ups and downs. We only really know how resilient we are when life throws us a curve ball - like coping with a mood disorder. The good news is our capacity for resilience grows from managing stressful events.
Resilience is the ability to respond to life with a sense of control and to tolerate surprises or unexpected life events. Resilience goes beyond the capacity just to deal with life’s problems, it is the ability to embrace and fully enjoy life with all its ups and downs. We only really know how resilient we are when life throws us a curve ball - like coping with a mood disorder. The good news is our capacity for resilience grows from managing stressful events.
Resilient people share common qualities
• They seek ways to become independent.
• Take charge and make changes when life makes them unhappy.
• Learn from their experiences - good and bad.
• See new situations as a challenge rather than something to be feared or avoided.
• Find opportunity in a crisis and focus on solving problems.
• Are able to find meaning and purpose in the problems they face.
• Seek out people who support them and provide them with a good example of how to cope.
• Are able to laugh at themselves and find humour in their situation.
• Have the moral courage to do the right thing even if it makes them unpopular.
Restoring Balance and Self-Care
Families who focus only on illness lose a sense of overall balance in life. Over time the family can feel depleted and without hope. Healing and health comes from restoring normal routines for you, the person with the illness and your family. Here are some ideas to consider:
Restore healthy routines
Eat regular well-balanced meals, even if you are not hungry.
Make mealtime - family time. Find out how things are going for each member of the family.
Exercise regularly - take walks or go swimming. Focus on the beauty around you and not the concerns and worries of life.
Restore good sleep routines. Build in a consistent bedtime routine. Avoid stimulants like coffee and tea. Alcohol can cause sleep interruption.
Get a check up from your doctor and share what is happening in your life.
Make a weekly date to have fun and keep it!
Build your Supports and Self-Esteem
Share your worries with trusted friends and family. Ask for their support - not advice.
Make a list of people you care about - call a friend and go out to play.
See a counsellor to help you cope and rebuild your confidence.
Attend self-help groups - accept and give support.
Get involved- volunteer to help others in your community.
Manage stress positively
Avoid alcohol and drugs - they will only make problems worse.
Limit your worrying - give yourself permission to take a break from problems.
Practice recognizing and communicating all your feelings.
Learn to express your needs directly.
Develop ways to reduce stress by learning yoga or practicing meditation.
Meet your spiritual needs.
Create a “Things I Enjoy” - list and post it. Do one a week.
Causes of Mental Illness
Biological Factors
Some mental illnesses have been linked to abnormal functioning of nerve cell circuits or pathways that connect particular brain regions. Nerve cells within these brain circuits communicate through chemicals called neurotransmitters. "Tweaking" these chemicals -- through medicines, psychotherapy or other medical procedures -- can help brain circuits run more efficiently. In addition, defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain have also been linked to some mental conditions
Genetics (heredity): Mental illnesses sometimes run in families, suggesting that people who have a family member with a mental illness may be somewhat more likely to develop one themselves. Susceptibility is passed on in families through genes. Experts believe many mental illnesses are linked to abnormalities in many genes rather than just one or a few and that how these genes interact with the environment is unique for every person (even identical twins). That is why a person inherits a susceptibility to a mental illness and doesn't necessarily develop the illness. Mental illness itself occurs from the interaction of multiple genes and other factors -- such as stress, abuse, or a traumatic event -- which can influence, or trigger, an illness in a person who has an inherited susceptibility to it.
Infections: Certain infections have been linked to brain damage and the development of mental illness or the worsening of its symptoms. For example, a condition known as pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder (PANDA) associated with the Streptococcus bacteria has been linked to the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder and other mental illnesses in children.
Brain defects or injury: Defects in or injury to certain areas of the brain have also been linked to some mental illnesses.
Substance abuse: Long-term substance abuse, in particular, has been linked to anxiety, depression, and paranoia.
Prenatal damage: Some evidence suggests that a disruption of early fetal brain development or trauma that occurs at the time of birth -- for example, loss of oxygen to the brain -- may be a factor in the development of certain conditions, such as autism.
Other factors: Poor nutrition and exposure to toxins, such as lead, may play a role in the development of mental illnesses.
Psychological Factors
Psychological factors that may contribute to mental illness include:
Severe psychological trauma suffered as a child, such as emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
An important early loss, such as the loss of a parent
Neglect
Poor ability to relate to others
Environmental Factors
Certain stressors can trigger an illness in a person who is susceptible to mental illness. These stressors include:
Death or divorce
A dysfunctional family life
Feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, anxiety, anger, or loneliness
Changing jobs or schools
Social or cultural expectations (For example, a society that associates beauty with thinness can be a factor in the development of eating disorders.)
Substance abuse by the person or the person's parents
Facts about Mental Illnesses
Chances of having a mental illness in your lifetime in Canada: One in five
At any given time, percentage of Canadians who have a mental illness: 10.4%
Percentage of adolescents (aged 15 – 24) who report a mental illness or substance abuse problem: 18%
Percentage of people who commit suicide who have a diagnosable mental illness: 90%
Age with the highest rate of depression symptoms: Under 20 years of age
Age with the highest rate of anxiety symptoms: 20 – 29 years of age
Percentage of Canadians who will experience a major depression in their lifetime: 8%
Percentage of Canadians who will experience bipolar disorder in their lifetime: 1%
Percentage of Canadians who will experience schizophrenia in their lifetime: 1%
Percentage of Canadians who will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime: 12%
Group with the highest rate of hospitalization for anxiety disorders: People 65 and over
Percentage of Canadians affected by eating disorders in their lifetime: 3% of women and 0.3% of men
Number of suicides in Canada every year: Approximately 4000
Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among Canadians aged 15 – 24 and 16% of all deaths for the age group 25 – 44.
Unemployment rate among people with serious mental illness: 70–90%
The cost of supporting someone with serious mental illness to live in the community: $34,418 per year (all costs)
The cost of keeping someone with serious mental illness in the hospital:$170,820 per year
Who is affected?
Number of Canadians who meet the criteria for a moderate risk of problem gambling or who were problem gamblers: 1 in 50
Number of Canadians who meet the criteria for substance dependence (alcohol or drugs): 1 in 30
Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.
20% of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime.
Mental illness affects people of all ages, educational and income levels, and cultures.
Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.
About 1% of Canadians will experience bipolar disorder (or “manic depression”).
How common is it?
Schizophrenia affects 1% of the Canadian population.
Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.
Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age.
The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.
The group of illnesses that contributes more to the global burden of disease than all cancers combined: Mental disorders
Most common cause of violent death in the world: Suicide
Suicide: 49.1%
Homicide: 31.3%
War-related: 18.6%
Rate of suicide all over the world: Someone commits suicide every 40 seconds.
How does it impact youth?
It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder – the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.
Today, approximately 5% of male youth and 12% of female youth, age 12 to 19, have experienced a major depressive episode.
The total number of 12-19 year olds in Canada at risk for developing depression is a staggering 3.2 million.
Once depression is recognized, help can make a difference for 80% of people who are affected, allowing them to get back to their regular activities.
Mental illness is increasingly threatening the lives of our children; with Canada’s youth suicide rate the third highest in the industrialized world.
Suicide is among the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians, second only to accidents; 4,000 people die prematurely each year by suicide.
Schizophrenia is youth’s greatest disabler as it strikes most often in the 16 to 30 year age group, affecting an estimated one person in 100.
Surpassed only by injuries, mental disorders in youth are ranked as the second highest hospital care expenditure in Canada.
In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them.
The phenomenal power of the human mind
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NOTE: I read this somewhere and I just had to pass it around. I do not know the origins of the text
Good example of a Brain Study: If you can read this you have a strong mind:
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References:
- The human face of mental health and mental illness in Canada (2006). A publication of the Government of Canada available at:
- http://strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca/the-facts/
- WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-causes-mental-illness
- Report on mental illness in Canada (2002). Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/miic-mmac/index.html
-Employment and mental illness fact sheet, Canadian Mental Health Association. Available
- WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-causes-mental-illness?page=2#1
-at: http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-109&lang=1
- Violence and mental illness factsheet, Canadian Mental Health Association. Available at:
http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-108&lang=1
- The human face of mental health and mental illness in Canada (2006).A publication of the Government of Canada available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/human-humain06/index.html
- WebMD. http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-causes-mental-illness?page=2#1
- http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/
- Kirby, M. & Keon, W. (2004). Report 1, mental health, mental illness and addiction: Overview of policies and programs in Canada (Chapter 5). Interim report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
- Fact Sheet: Mental health in numbers. Available at: www.ontario.cmha.ca
- Kirby, M. & Keon, W. (2004). Report 1, mental health, mental illness and addiction: Overview of policies and programs in Canada (Chapter 5). Interim report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
- Stewart, D. et al (undated). Women’s Health Surveillance report: depression. Available at: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/publicat/ whsr-rssf/pdf/WHSR_Chap_18_e.pdf
- Fact Sheet, Suicide statistics. Available at: www.ontario.cmha.ca
- http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/
