Mental IllnessMental Illness

Mental illnesses can take many forms, just Mental illnesses can take many forms, just as physical illnesses do. Mental illnesses are as physical illnesses do. Mental illnesses are still feared and misunderstood by many still feared and misunderstood by many people, but the fear will disappear as people people, but the fear will disappear as people learn more about them. If you, or someone learn more about them. If you, or someone you know, has a mental illness, there is good you know, has a mental illness, there is good news: all mental illnesses can be treated. news: all mental illnesses can be treated.

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Mental illness is common. Studies Mental illness is common. Studies indicate that in any given year, one in indicate that in any given year, one in every five Canadian adults under age every five Canadian adults under age 65 will have a mental health problem1. 65 will have a mental health problem1. Mental illnesses account for a large Mental illnesses account for a large percentage of hospital stays every percentage of hospital stays every year. Yet, in spite of the fact that every year. Yet, in spite of the fact that every Canadian knows someone who has Canadian knows someone who has been, or will be, affected by mental been, or will be, affected by mental illness, few people know very much illness, few people know very much about it. about it.

Because of this stigma, many people Because of this stigma, many people hesitate to get help for a mental hesitate to get help for a mental health problem for fear of being health problem for fear of being looked down upon. looked down upon.

Worse, the stigma experienced by Worse, the stigma experienced by people with a mental illness can be people with a mental illness can be more destructive than the illness more destructive than the illness itself. itself.

The myths of mental illnessThe myths of mental illness

People with mental illness are People with mental illness are violent and dangerous.violent and dangerous. The truth The truth is that, as a group, mentally ill is that, as a group, mentally ill people are no more violent than any people are no more violent than any other group. In fact, they are far other group. In fact, they are far more likely to be the victims of more likely to be the victims of violence than to be violent violence than to be violent themselves.themselves.

The myths of mental illnessThe myths of mental illness

People with mental illness are People with mental illness are poor and/or less intelligent.poor and/or less intelligent. Many Many studies show that most mentally ill studies show that most mentally ill people have average or above-people have average or above-average intelligence. Mental illness, average intelligence. Mental illness, like physical illness, can affect like physical illness, can affect anyone regardless of intelligence, anyone regardless of intelligence, social class or income level. social class or income level.

The myths of mental illnessThe myths of mental illness

Mental illness is caused by a Mental illness is caused by a personal weakness.personal weakness. A mental illness is A mental illness is not a character flaw. It is an illness, and not a character flaw. It is an illness, and it has nothing to do with being weak or it has nothing to do with being weak or lacking will-power. Although people with lacking will-power. Although people with mental illness can play a big part in their mental illness can play a big part in their own recovery, they did not choose to own recovery, they did not choose to become ill, and they are not lazy become ill, and they are not lazy because they cannot just "snap out of because they cannot just "snap out of it." it."

The myths of mental illnessThe myths of mental illness

Mental illness is a single, rare Mental illness is a single, rare disorder.disorder. Mental illness is not a single Mental illness is not a single disease but a broad classification for disease but a broad classification for many disorders. Anxiety, depression, many disorders. Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, eating disorders and organic brain eating disorders and organic brain disorders can cause misery, tears and disorders can cause misery, tears and missed opportunities for thousands of missed opportunities for thousands of Canadians. Canadians.

Mental illness in the mediaMental illness in the media

People with mental disorders are, many People with mental disorders are, many times, not described accurately or times, not described accurately or realistically in the media. Movies, realistically in the media. Movies, television and books often present television and books often present people with mental illnesses as people with mental illnesses as dangerous or unstable. News stories dangerous or unstable. News stories sometimes highlight mental illness to sometimes highlight mental illness to create a sensation in a news report, create a sensation in a news report, even if the mental illness is not relevant even if the mental illness is not relevant to the story. to the story.

DepressionDepression

Problems and misfortunes are a part of Problems and misfortunes are a part of life. Everyone experiences unhappiness, life. Everyone experiences unhappiness, and many people may become depressed and many people may become depressed temporarily when things don't go as they temporarily when things don't go as they would like. Experiences of failure would like. Experiences of failure commonly result in temporary feelings of commonly result in temporary feelings of worthlessness and self-blame, while worthlessness and self-blame, while personal losses cause feelings of sadness, personal losses cause feelings of sadness, disappointment and emptiness. Such disappointment and emptiness. Such feelings are normal, and they usually pass feelings are normal, and they usually pass after a short time. This is not the case with after a short time. This is not the case with depressive illness. depressive illness.

Bipolar and Manic DepressionBipolar and Manic Depression

People with bipolar disorder, or manic People with bipolar disorder, or manic depressive disorder, experience depressive disorder, experience alternating mood swings, from emotional alternating mood swings, from emotional highs (mania) to lows (depression). The highs (mania) to lows (depression). The condition can range from mild to severe.condition can range from mild to severe.

It is not known what causes bipolar It is not known what causes bipolar disorder. Research suggests that people disorder. Research suggests that people with the condition have a genetic with the condition have a genetic disposition. It tends to run in families. Drug disposition. It tends to run in families. Drug abuse and stressful or traumatic events abuse and stressful or traumatic events may contribute to or trigger episodesmay contribute to or trigger episodes

Anxiety & Panic Disorders Anxiety & Panic Disorders OverviewOverview

Anxiety is a normal human emotion that Anxiety is a normal human emotion that we all experience. But when panic and we all experience. But when panic and anxiety symptoms escalate into anxiety anxiety symptoms escalate into anxiety attacks and panic attacks, it may be an attacks and panic attacks, it may be an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and panic disorder. There social anxiety, and panic disorder. There is excellent treatment for anxiety is excellent treatment for anxiety attacks, as well as panic attack attacks, as well as panic attack symptoms, including medication and symptoms, including medication and psychotherapy.psychotherapy.

Psychotic disordersPsychotic disorders::

Psychotic disorders involve distorted Psychotic disorders involve distorted awareness and thinking. Two of the most awareness and thinking. Two of the most common symptoms of psychotic disorders common symptoms of psychotic disorders are hallucinations -- the experience of are hallucinations -- the experience of images or sounds that are not real, such images or sounds that are not real, such as hearing voices -- and delusions -- false as hearing voices -- and delusions -- false beliefs that the ill person accepts as true, beliefs that the ill person accepts as true, despite evidence to the contrary. despite evidence to the contrary. SchizophreniaSchizophrenia is an example of a psychotic is an example of a psychotic disorder. disorder.

Impulse control and addiction Impulse control and addiction disorders:disorders:

People with impulse control disorders are People with impulse control disorders are unable to resist urges, or impulses, to unable to resist urges, or impulses, to perform acts that could be harmful to perform acts that could be harmful to themselves or others. Pyromania (starting themselves or others. Pyromania (starting fires), kleptomania (stealing), and fires), kleptomania (stealing), and compulsive gambling are examples of compulsive gambling are examples of impulse control disorders. Alcohol and impulse control disorders. Alcohol and drugs are common objects of addictions. drugs are common objects of addictions. Often, people with these disorders become Often, people with these disorders become so involved with the objects of their so involved with the objects of their addiction that they begin to ignore addiction that they begin to ignore responsibilities and relationships. responsibilities and relationships.

Eating disorders:Eating disorders:

Eating disorders involve extreme Eating disorders involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors emotions, attitudes, and behaviors involving involving weightweight and food. and food. AnorexiaAnorexia nervosa, nervosa, bulimiabulimia nervosa and binge nervosa and binge eating disorder are the most eating disorder are the most common eating disorders. common eating disorders.