Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being are all parts of our mental health. It influences our feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. It also influences how we respond to stress, interact with people, and make wise decisions. Every stage of life, from infancy and adolescence to maturity, is critical for mental health.
Both physical and mental well-being are crucial aspects of total health. Depression, for instance, raises the risk for a variety of physical health issues, especially chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. In a similar vein, the likelihood of mental disease might rise in the presence of chronic disorders.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that a variety of circumstances might cause a person’s mental health to alter over time. A person’s mental health may be harmed when demands are greater than their resources and coping mechanisms. For instance, someone may have poor mental health if they are working long hours, taking care of a relative, or going through financial difficulties.
Types of mental illness and disorders are listed below
ADD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Adolescent Development/ Teen Development
Agoraphobia
Alzheimer’s disease
Amnesia
Anorexia Nervosa/Eating Disorders
Antidepressants
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Anxiety
Asperger Syndrome/Autism Spectrum Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Baby Blues/Postpartum Depression
Bereavement
Bi-polar Disorder
Binge Eating
Borderline Personality Disorder
Bulimia/Eating Disorders
Cancer-Living with Cancer
Child Behavior Disorders
Child Mental Health
Chronic Illness
Compulsive Gambling
Conduct Disorder/Child Behavior Disorders
Coping with Disasters
Cyclothymic Disorder/Mood Disorders
Delirium
Dementia
Depression
Developmental Disabilities
Dual Diagnosis
Dyscalculia
Dyslexia
Dysthymic Disorder
Eating Disorders
Emotional Health
Gambling
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Hair Pulling
Hoarding
How to Improve Mental Health
Hyperactivity
Learning Disabilities
MCI – Mild Cognitive Impairment
Memory
Mental Disorders
Mental Health
Mental Retardation
Mood Disorders
Narcissism
OCD/Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Panic Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Prader-Willi Syndrome
Psychiatric Disorders
Psychological Stress
Psychotic Disorders
PTSD see Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Reading Problems
SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder
Schizophrenia
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Self-Harm
Senility/Dementia
Seniors’ Mental Health
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Phobia
Specific Learning Disorder/Learning Disabilities
SSRIs/Antidepressants
Stress
Suicide
What is the root cause of mental illness?
A single cause does not exist for mental illness. There are several factors that can increase one’s risk of mental illness, including
Trauma or a history of abuse, including child maltreatment, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc., are examples of adverse childhood experiences.
Experiences pertaining to various ongoing (chronic) illnesses like diabetes, cancer, or traumatic brain damage
Chemical or biological abnormalities in the brain
Using drugs or alcohol
Experiencing emotions of isolation or loneliness
Who is most vulnerable to mental illness?
A wide range of personal, familial, social, and institutional variables can either support or compromise mental health at any one moment. Even while the majority of people are resilient, those who are subjected to unfavorable situations—such as poverty, violence, handicap, and inequality—are more vulnerable. Individual psychological and biological characteristics, such as emotional intelligence and heredity, are examples of protective and risk factors. Alterations in brain structure and/or function impact numerous protective and risk factors.
Being a caregiver for someone who has a mental condition requires a significant commitment. Although it can be quite physically and emotionally taxing, it can also be a tremendously fulfilling experience. It’s critical that you learn how to support someone with a mental illness, gather as much information as you can about their condition, maintain constant communication and honesty with them, and—most importantly—take care of yourself in order to give the person you are caring for the best chance of recovery.
Practical tactics for mental health providers
It’s a good idea to consider what’s involved and how providing care for someone with a mental illness would impact your life before accepting the task. Investigate the various forms of mental health treatment that are available as well as the type of mental illness that you are experiencing. Speak with people who have provided care for someone in a comparable circumstance and consider the kind of practical, financial, and emotional help you will require. You can get help from mental health aid programs.
To provide the individual you are taking care of the best support possible, attempt to:
Discuss openly and urge them to be truthful with their friends and family
Learn about mental illness from reliable sources, including books written by experts or websites run by the government or health organizations
Set boundaries and communicate to them what you are able to do for them and what you cannot, and urge them to have an active part in their mental health recovery, go out and interact with people, and lead a healthy lifestyle
Find out about any in-person or virtual training programs for caregivers of mental illness
Join a mental health support group to connect with others who share your experience
If the person mentions suicide or self-harm, discuss with a mental health professional as soon as you can, and take any discussions about these topics seriously
Make backup arrangements in case you have to travel, go on vacation, or are unable to care for them for whatever reason
