• Mental Illness
• About Depression

Mental Illness

Mental illnesses affect thousands of people from every income level, race, gender, age and nationality. Mental illnesses are physical brain disorders that profoundly disrupt individuals' ability to think, feel and relate to others and their environment. Mental illnesses are more common than cancer or heart disease. More than five million Americans suffer an acute episode of mental illness each year. One in every five families is affected by a severe mental illness.

Myths and Stigmas
Unfortunately, mental illness is often misunderstood. The myths and stigmas that surround mental illness mean that many people are not diagnosed and do not receive treatment. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, family upbringing or a lack of character.

Classifications
Mental illnesses are classified according to the symptoms. There are eight classifications that include:

• anxiety disorders (e.g., agoraphobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder)
• childhood disorders (attention-deficit disorder, autism, Tourette's syndrome)
• cognitive disorders (Alzheimer's, dementia)
• eating disorders (e.g., bulimia and anorexia)
• mood disorders (e.g., depressive disorder and bipolar disorder)
• personality disorders (e.g., borderline personality and paranoid personality)
• schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia and delusional disorder)
• substance disorders (e.g., alcohol dependence and amphetamine dependence)

Treatment
Although there are still many things we do not know about mental illness, the fields of medicine and psychology have been successful in developing effective treatments. The success rate for treatment of mental illnesses is from 60-80 percent higher than successful treatment for diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
As with all diseases, it is important that persons are correctly diagnosed, so the appropriate treatments can be instituted. Medication, counseling, self-help groups and vocational rehabilitation are common treatment modalities for mental illness. Additionally, many resources provide support and information for people who have a mental illness and for the people who love them. These organizations and agencies can be located in telephone books, through health care professionals and on the Internet.

About Depression

Depression is the feeling of being sad, unhappy, discouraged and "down." Hopelessness and helplessness characterize this feeling. Everyone experiences these feelings at times, but usually they are short-lived. When these feelings last longer than two weeks or interfere with daily routine, professional help is indicated.
Depression is often called "the common cold of mental illness," because it is so prevalent. It may be triggered by situational crises such as loss. The death of a loved one, loss of a job, leaving a school and old friends are examples of loss. Many times, however, the cause of depression cannot be explained. Most experts believe there is a biochemical imbalance in the brain that is linked to depression. Depression also seems to run in families.

Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of depression include:

• changes in sleep patterns
• changes in eating patterns
• loss of interest in normal, pleasurable events
• fatigue or loss of energy
• inability to concentrate
• difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• feeling guilty, helpless or worthless
• thoughts of death or suicide

Depression is difficult on the person who is depressed and the people who care about them. It is also a contributing factor for suicide. Unfortunately, many people who experience depression do not get the professional help they need.

Treatment
Depression can be treated with good results. Individual, group, and/or family therapy may be used, as well as specific medications.
Many community and national agencies provide information and resources for people who are affected by mental illnesses. These agencies can be located in telephone books, through health care professions and on the Internet.