MENTAL DISORDERS BY DUA JAVED
What is Mental Health?
Mental health refers to cognitive, health, behavioral and emotional well-being. It is all about how people think, feel, and behave. People sometimes use the term “mental health” to mean the absence of a mental disorder.
What WHO says about mental Health
The WHO stress that mental health is “more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.” Peak mental health is about not only avoiding active conditions but also looking after ongoing wellness and happiness.
How Mental Health is affecting life?
Mental health can affect daily living, relationships, and physical health.
Modifiable Factors:
Modifiable factors for mental health disorders include:
● socioeconomic conditions, such whether work is available in the local area
● occupation
● a person’s level of social involvement
● education
● housing quality
Non-Modifiable Factors:
● gender
● age
● ethnicity
● Biological factors
Biological Factors:
The NIMH suggest that genetic family history can increase the likelihood of mental health conditions, as certain genes and gene variants put a person at higher risk. Mental health conditions such as stress, depression, and anxiety may develop due to underlying, life-changing physical health problems, such as cancer, diabetes, and chronic pain.
COMMON MENTAL ILLNESSES:
The most common types of mental illness are as follows:
● anxiety disorders
● mood disorders
● schizophrenia disorders
Anxiety Disorders:
People with these conditions have severe fear or anxiety, which relates to certain objects or
situations. Most people with an anxiety disorder will try to avoid exposure to whatever triggers
their anxiety.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder( GAD):
People might also experience physical symptoms, including:
● restlessness
● fatigue
● tense muscles
● interrupted sleep
Panic Disorders:
People with a panic disorder experience regular panic attacks, which involve sudden,
overwhelming terror or a sense of imminent disaster and death.
Phobias:
There are different types of phobia:
● Simple Phobia: These might involve a disproportionate fear of specific objects,
scenarios, or animals. A fear of spiders is a common example.
● Social Phobia: Sometimes known as social anxiety, this is a fear of being subject to the judgment of others. People with social phobia often restrict their exposure to social
environments.
● Agoraphobia: This term refers to a fear of situations in which getting away may be difficult, such as being in an elevator or moving train. Many people misunderstand this phobia as a fear of being outside.
Globally, more than 70% of people with mental illness receive no treatment from health care staff.
Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.