What You Should Know About Mental Disorders

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 the lives of their loved ones.  One in four people will be affected by mental disorders 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  aged 8 to 15 with a mental disorder did not receive treatment in the past year, reports the National Alliance on Mental Illness. 

Understanding Mental Disorders

What is mental illness?  Experts define a mental disorder as a significant dysfunction in a person's thinking, emotional control, and behavior.  The condition often disrupts a person's ability to relate to others and to deal with the demands of life.

The severity of symptoms can vary in length and intensity, depending on the individual and the particular ailment and circumstances it can affect people of any gender, age, culture, race, religion, or educational and income level. Mental-health disorders are not the result of person weakness or a character flaw. Through appropriate medical care, individuals can be treated and can live a productive and fulfilling life. 

Next time: What You Should Know About Mental Disorders/ Treating Mental Disorders

From the Awake! magazine