What You Should Know About Mental Disorders

"I felt as though I had my breath knocked out of me," says Claudia, who had just been told she had bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. "Dealing with the stigma of a mental illness seemed overwhelming." 

"It took a long time to come to terms with our situation," says Claudia's husband, Mark.  "But I realize that I had to focus on supporting my wife."

IF YOU or someone you love were diagnosed with a mental disorder, how would you feel? Thankfully, mental illness can be treated. Let us examine a few things you should know that will give you a better understanding of mental disorders."

Key Facts About Mental Health

* "Mental disorders afflict hundreds of millions of people in every part of the world and impact on their love ones. One in four people will be affected by mental disorder at some point in their lives. Depression is the single largest contributor to worldwide disability. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are among the most severe and disabling disorders. . . .Although huge numbers of people are affected, mental disorders remain hidden, neglected and discriminated against." -World Health Organization (WHO) 

* According to WHO, many people with mental illness refrain from seeking treatment because of the stigma associated with it.

*Although most mental disorders are treatable, in the United States approximately 60 percent of adults and almost 50 percent of youths age 8 to 15 with a mental disorder did not receive treatment in the past year, reports the National Alliance on Mental Illness. 

Next time: Understanding Mental Disorders

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2014