What is mental health?
The word 'mental' simply means 'of or involving the mind'. So mental health is all about what's happening in our minds, and physical health is all to do with our bodies.
What are mental health problems?
Mental health problems can be diagnosed when these problems persist over a longer period of time and affect the way a person thinks, feels and behaves.
The problems can range from anxieties (worries) and phobias (fear) to more severe mental illnesses where people are unable to cope with their day to day life becuase their state of mind is so confused. When this happens it may be best for the person to go into hospital to get better. In other cases a GP might prescribe some medication to tackle the illness and help the person sleep or relax. We shall look at this in more detail later.
One of the main problems when dealing with mental health is trying to understand what is happening in someone else's mind. We all have hundreds of thoughts and feelings which come and go every day, some we remember, others we forget
These ideas are very real for the person involved, however unusual they appear to anyone else. This is important to remember. It is part of their illness.
Biological ...
Sometimes chemicals in the brain are not working properly which causes the brain to send out the wrong messages. It is these messages which make people behave in a strange manner. So, for exmaple, people who suffer from schizophrenia may hear voices talking to them and may talk back to them. These voices are very real to the person involved, even though no else can hear them. The voices are products of the person's own mind which has been disturbed by chemicals in the brain not working properly. These chemicals affect behaviour, thoughts and feelings. Medication aims to restore a healthy chemical balance.
Genetic ...
This is to do with a family's medical history. For example, there may be a history of depression in a family, from one generation to another, which means that people from this particular family are more likely to suffer from depression in the future than others. This may sound alarming. You may think, "I wonder if I will get it!". This is only one possible contributory factor and it is a fact that people with no family history can become ill, just as people with a relative who suffers from depression do not fall ill.
Environmental ...
Sometimes things can happen if life which people find hard to cope with, like the death of a loved one, or the break up of a relationship or losing a job. Such events can be very stressful and can make a person more vunerable to illness, which include mental health problems.
There seems to be no single cause for mental health problems. Every person is different and will react to situations in different ways according to personality. Other key factors in mental health are a person's support network (family and friends), what other stresses are involved in that person's life, and earlier life experiences.
Many people will experience mental health problems at some stage in their lives. 1 out of 4 people will go to their doctor complaining of mental health problems and these can range from panic attacks and anxiety disorders to more severe illnesses like schizophrenia and manic depression.
Mental health affects the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. A person can be said to be experiencing a severe mental illness when they are unable to continue with their daily life, and their thoughts and behaviour are putting themselves or other people in danger.
When illnesses are described, professionals often talk of symptons. A doctor may ask you what are the symptons of your parent's illness? Symptons are indications of a particular illness, so for example, red spots covering the body is a sympton of measles. The main symptons of the most common mental health problems are described next...
Schizophrenia ...
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False beliefs (called delusions) e.g. people may believe that others are against them
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Hearing voices (auditory hallucinations) which are often critical and unpleasant
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Muddled speech and thoughts.
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Loss of feelings or emotions.
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Loss of energy and interest. People may become withdrawn and behave out of character. For example, a person who is usually neat and tidy may suddenly take no interest in their appearance.
Schizophrenia is likely to affect 1 person in 100. Schizophrenia is often connected with feelings of paranoia. This means that the person suffering from the illness may believe that everyone is plotting against them. For example, people may be suddenly suspicious of their neighbours, or become convinced that their phones are being tapped by the FBI.
Speech can be muddled at times.
C is for the person who behaves out of character.
H is for the likelyhood that it may be herited from past family members.
Illness which is not recognisable.
Z is for that you should know a-z before you make comments about this illness.
One in a hundred people is likely to be affected by schizophrenia.
People with schizophrenia believe others are against them (called delusions).
Hearing voices which are often unpleasent called hallucinations.
Rights which all people with this illness have.
Emotions or feelings are of loss.
Non one loves me is often used by the person with the illness.
Injections which the person with the illness may have to have.
Actions of the person change, a person who is usually clean and tidy suddenly becomes untidy and dirty.
By Sarah
Manic Depression
Extreme mood swings between elation and depression (between highs and lows).
During the manic (high) phase
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Hyperactivity (always on the move) and energetic drives. It seems as if people can cope with very little sleep.
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False beliefs, often about famous people, e.g. "I had tea with the Queen yesterday."
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Impulsive behaviour (doing things without thinking about them first). People behave out of character. For example, a person who is usually responsible with money, may suddenly start overspending and quickly run up debts.
During the depression (low) phase
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Loss of energy and drive
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Sense of hopelessness and despair
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Withdrawn behaviour. People want to left on their own.
Manic depression is also likely to affect 1 person in 100.
Depression
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Loss of drive or motivation (not wanting to do very much). Life seems meaningless and empty.
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Feelings of hopelessness affect simple, everyday activities like eating and sleeping.
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People feel over-sensitive and vunerable. They feel bad about everything they do - a bad parent, a bad worker etc.
Most of us can recognise these feelings. But when they last for a long time someone can be said to be suffering from depression. These are feelings which cannot be just be shrugged off, and this can be hard for other people to understand.
Severe depression can lead some people to have suicidal thoughts, and these should be taken seriously. It is important to seek professional help in these circumstances from the doctor social worker, or community psychiatiric nurse.
More women suffer from depression than men. Depression can be triggered by a specific event like the death of a loved one or child birth (called post-natal depression). For some people it can also be caused by the time of year (called Seasonal Affective Disorder).
Dementia
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People's ability to remember, think and reason becomes affected. People forget names and events, and have trouble with everyday tasks, like getting dressed.
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People become easily confused and get frustrated and angry as a result.
Dementia usually occurs in people in their mid-60s and older. But people younger than this can also be affected. Alzheimer's Disease is the most common form of dementia, and when it occurs in people below the age of 65 it is known as early onset Alzheimer's Disease
Phobias
Phobias are where a person is totally overcome by a fear or anxiety about something. For example, if you are agoraphobic you are scared of open spaces, and this can result in the sufferer becoming housebound (not able to leave the house).
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Is where a person is driven to repeat the same act, such as washing their hands, over and over again.
All of these illnesses can put a huge strain on both sufferer and family. Your parents may suddenly appear to change personality. This can be very distressing for everyone around them. What happened to the person you once knew? Can't they just pull themselves together or snap out of it? Unfortunately they can't. They have an illness which needs to be treated. Most people who have an illness can expect sympathy and understanding, but those suffering from mental health problems and their families can often have a different experience.
Introduction
What is mental health?
Living with mental health problems
What about me?
Treatment
Who can help
Legal matters
And finally....
Useful addresses and telephone numbers
