Mental Illness

Mental illness is the term that refers to mental disorders that can be diagnosed. They are health conditions and are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behaviour associated with distress and/or imparied functioning.  Many people may thnk mental illness is rare but it is actually more prevalent than though.  About 20% of the population will personally experience a mental illness.  As a result, a large proportion of the population will be indirectlyl affected through family, friends, or acquaintances dealing with a mental illness.  People of all ages, education levels, income levels, and cultures can be affected.  Some examples of mental illness are anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and schizophrenia.

 

There are many myths about mental illness which perpetuate the stigma surrounding it.  The stigma is so strong that people who may have or have a mental illness will not seek help or tell anyone about it.  Through education and awareness this stigma can be taken away and many people can get the help they need.  One myth about mental illness is that the person is weak and that is why they have it or that it is their own fault for having it.  Neither of these are true.  Recent studies show that it is a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors which contribute to having a mental illness.  One should not blame themselves for having a mental illness or feel weaker just as you would not blame yourself for having ashtma or diabetes.

 

Here are a list of 10 you can do to fight stigma surrounding mental illness taken from the Canadian Mental Health Association website.

 

Ten things you can do to fight stigma and discrimination:

 

1.  Learn more about mental illnesses, to become more informed.

2.  Listen to people who have experienced mental illness-how they have been stigmatized, how it affected their lives.

3.  Watch your language-avoid terms and expressions that can perpetuate stereotypes, such as 'lunatics', 'nuts' or 'schizophrenic'.

4.  Monitor media and report stigmatizing material.

5.  Respond to stigmatizing material in the media. Protest such material to those responsible-journalists, editors, advertisers, movie producers - and provide more appropriate information.

6.  Speak up about stigma. When someone misuses a psychiatric term (such as 'schizophrenic'), tells a joke that ridicules mental illness or makes disrespectful terms, let them know you find it hurtful and unacceptable.

7.  Talk openly about mental illness. The more mental illness remains hidden, the more people will continue to believe it is shameful

8.  Demand change from your elected representatives. Speak up on issues such as insurance parity, limited funding for research and inadequate budgets for mental health services.

9.  Support organizations that fight stigma and discrimination. Join them, donate money to them and volunteer for them.

10.  Contribute to research related to mental illness and stigma.

Source: Adapted from Telling is Risky Business: Mental Health Consumers Confront Stigma, by Otto Wahl, Rutgers University Press, 1999

 

There are different ways to deal with mental illness just as there are different causes for them. There are professional and non-professional methods.  Professional methods could include visiting a doctor, psychologist, or therapist and in some cases medication.  Medication must be prescribed by a doctor and is usually given in addition with talk therapy.  Non-professional help includes a good support network of family and friends and self-help groups where you can discuss various topics with others dealing with simliar experiences.  Some other alternative approaches that may help are having a balanced diet, regular exercise, yoga, and meditation.  One must remember that everyone is different and a treatment plan for one person may not work for another person.  It is important to do what is right for you and what helps you.

 

 

Note: This has just been an overview of mental illness. For more information please contact your doctor.