Problems of Well-Being

What is Mental-Illness?

Mental illness is an illness of the mind; can be a

serious “disorder”

which effects the way

someone thinks or behaves.

(refers to all mental disorders)

(Mooney et al., 2013, pg.39)

A few examples of mental disorders:

Eating Disorder

Bipolar Disorder

DepressionMood

Disorders

Personality Disorders

Anxiety Disorder

DEPRESSION Depression is the most common mental disorder in Canada.

It is estimated to affect 1 in 4 Canadian women; 1 in 10 Canadian men (Mooney et al., 2013, pg.39)

It was the leading cause of disability in Canada and developed nations in 2009.

Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.

3.2 million 12-19 year olds in Canada are at risk for developing depression.

What causes Mental Disorders?

The exact cause of the majority of mental disorders is not known to man, though through research it’s becoming more clear that many are caused by these factors:

• Biological• Psychological• Genetics• Environmental

(WebMD, 2012)

Biological: Mental illnesses have been linked to neurotransmitters, which is an abnormal balance of brain chemicals. They help nerve cells in the brain communicate with one another. If they’re out of balance or not working proper, the messages may not make it through the brain in the correct manner, leading to mental illness.

Psychological: Mental illnesses may be caused by psychological trauma you suffered when you were a child, such as severe emotional, physical, or sexual abuse; a traumatic loss, like the loos of a parent; it could also be the result of neglect.

Genetics: Mental illnesses can run in families, this suggests they can be passed on from parents to children through their genes. Genes are basically instructions for the functioning of each cell in our bodies and are in charge for how we look, think, act, etc. Just because your parents may have a mental illness does not mean you will have one, though.

Environmental: Death, divorce, a dysfunctional family, switching jobs or schools, and substance abuse can cause a disorder in a person who might be at risk of developing a mental illness.

(WebM

D, 2012)

Who can this affect?

Child Adolescent Adult

Anyone.It is said one in four people in this world WILL be affected by mental disorders or

neurological disorders at some point in their long lives.

** Up to 70 per cent of young adults living with mental health problems report that the symptoms started in

childhood (MHCOC, n.d.)**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyYnqFb_Egc

A friend, a close relative, a peer at school.. It can happen to anyone.

o It’s been said that 10-20% of youth in Canada are affected by a mental disorder or illness.

o 5% of male and 12% of female youth, aged 12 to 19, are said to have experienced a depressive episode.

o 3.2 million 12-19 year olds in Canada alone are at risk for developing some kind of depression.

o Canada’s suicide rate within youth is the third highest in the industrialized world.

o Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians; 4,000 people die prematurely

each year by suicide.

o Schizophrenia is a great disabler within youth as it strikes most often in the 16 to 30 year age group.

o Mental disorders within youth are ranked as the second highest hospital care expenditure in Canada.

o In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them.

o First Nations experience suicidal feelings 5 to 6 times more often than non-Aboriginal youth.

o Suicide rates for Inuit youth are among the highest in the world, at 11 times the National average.

(CMHA,

2012)

Mental Disorders Within Canadian

Youth

“Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in 15-24 year old Canadians; 4,000 people die prematurely each year by suicide.”

10-14 y/o 15-24 y/o 25-44 y/o

11%

24%

16%

Suicide Age Rates Within Canada

(Statistics Canada, 2013)

The stigma and/or discrimination attached to mental illnesses creates a unfortunate barrier, not only to diagnosis of the illness and treatment, but it also affects your acceptance in the community.

• Almost one half (49%) of the population who feel they have suffered from depression and/or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem.

• If one seeks help, treatment may include:

• Family • Psychiatrist• Psychotherapist• Pharmacist

• Social Worker• Therapy• Medication• Group Meetings

(Mayo Clinic, 2012)

From a Symbolic Interactionists Perspective, it is believed there are no

illnesses or diseases in nature; there is only

conditions that society has developed to consider as

an illness or disease.

Psychiatrist Thomas Szaz believes that a mental

illness is no more than a label to describe people

who are “different”.(Mooney et al., 2013, pg.266)

S-T-I-G-M-A

Unfortunately, due to stigmitization, there is not enough awareness brought upon mental illnesses.

For so long, mental illnesses have been looked at as a disgrace. Out of the norm, and you can easily be rejected when individualizing yourself to have one.

One of the reasons of this can be due to the labelling theory.

As long as it is viewed as a “disgrace”, “not real”, or “you’re just different”, the majority of people will believe just that; without looking deeper into the situation.

This is a result of no education towards the situation; there has been very little awareness brought upon this subject matter throughout the years.

Labelling Theory

More organizations and awareness days like the following:

• Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH)  

• Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW)

How can we bring more awareness to

Mental Health?

• Eliminate the negative labelling and bring a positive outlook.

• Incorporate more mental education throughout education systems.

• ENCOURAGE beings to seek help and SUPPORT them every step.

• Donations towards more Mental Health research, etc.

The following is a video from normal everyday people who give their ideas of how

to improve and bring more awareness towards mental health:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m4MyDMpHQA

In conclusion, mental health is REAL. Mental health is NOT a figment of one’s imagination. It is not to differentiate beings who are “not normal”. It is an illness of the

mind, and you CAN get help for it. It can happen to ANYONE – it is not your fault. Ignore the labelling, ignore false definitions. You know yourself better than anyone.

Educate yourself and others on Mental Health today.

Money, L. A., Holmes, M., Knox, D., Schacht, C. (2013). Understanding social problems.  Illness and health care.  (Custom ed). Toronto, ON: Nelson  

Mental Health Comission of Canada (n.d.) Home. The facts. Retrieved from http://strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca/the-facts/

 Mayo Clinic (2012) Mental Illness. Treatment and drugs. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental- illness/DS01104/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs Statistics Canada (2013) Health at a glance. Suicide rates: an overview. Retrieved

from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-624-x/2012001/article/11696-eng.htm Canadian Mental Health Association (2012) Media. Fast facts about mental illness.

Retrieved from http://www.cmha.ca/media/fast-facts-about-mental-illness/#.Upuu6MRDtIE

Youtube (2011) headspaceAustralia. How can we improve young people's mental health? Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m4MyDMpHQA

References