May is Mental Health Awareness Month

This month of May is dedicated to Mental Health Awareness.

 

Mental Health America is proud to continue its tradition of celebrating "May is Mental Health Month," which began in 1949 to raise awareness of mental health conditions and mental wellness for all.

This year, we are addressing these important issues through two themes:

Do More for 1 in 4 is a call to action to help the 1 in 4 American adults who live with a diagnosable, treatable mental health condition and the fact that they can go on to live full and productive lives.The second theme, Live Well! It's Essential for Your Potential, focuses on the importance of mental wellness and the steps everyone can take to improve their well-being and resiliency in the face of difficult times and challenges. Mental Health America's Live Your Life Well program offers ten science-based tools to manage stress and help you relax, grow and flourish.

So what are some examples of mental illness/disorders, you may be surprised or not:

Mental retardation
Learning disorder (reading, math, written expression),
Motor skills disorder,
Communication disorders (expressive language, mixed receptive- language disorder, stuttering),
Pervasive developmental disorder), (autism, Rett’s, Asperger’s)
Tic disorder (Tourette’s)
Elimination Disorders
Selective Mutism
Delirium
Dementia (at least 10 different forms)
Amnesic disorders,
Catatonic Disorder
Substance Related Disorders
Alcohol Related Disorders,
Amphetamine Related Disorders
Caffeine-Related Disorders (I was once diagnosed with this…I have know idea why, by the way where is my coffee!)
Cannabis-Related Disorders
Cocaine-Related Disorders
And the list goes on for each substance addiction
Schizophrenia (five different types)
Other Psychotic Disorders
Mood Disorders ( depression, bipolar, mood disorders, substance –induced mood disorder)
Anxiety Disorders (Panic Disorde, Social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder)
Somatoform Disorders (presence of physical symptoms that suggest an illness, but is actually attributed an underlying stress. For me, my psoriasis and rash on my neck expresses my anxiety)
Dissociative Disorders (five types)
Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders
Paraphhilias
Eating Disorders
Sleep Disorders
Impulse-Control Disorders
Adjustment Disorder
Personality Disorder (Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial, Histrionic, Narcissistic, Avoidant, Dependent, Borderline, Obessive-Compulsive)

WHO (World Health Organization) statistics for 2002 show that 154 million people globally suffer from depression, only one form of mental illness. Mental disorder effects everyone as one in four have some type of disorder globally. Mental disorders comprise a broad range of problems, with different symptoms. However, they are generally characterized by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others. They must interfere with daily life functioning or cause significant distress. Mental, neurological and behavioural disorders are common in all countries around the world, causing immense suffering and staggering economic and social costs. People with disorders are often subjected to social isolation, poor quality of life and higher death rates.

For more information, go to Tasmania Department of Health and Human Services, WHO (World Health Organization), World Federation of Mental Health, World Congress Federation for Mental Health or do a Google Search. There is a lot of information available.

Do you or someone you know have a mental illness? Please describe your experience.