What are mental health issues?

In this brief article, we will be talking about mental health issues, various information about mental health, and the different problems we are facing that concerns mental health.

What are mental health issues?

Mental health issues are problems that emphasize a dysfunction in mental health.

Some people would even get a comorbid diagnosis such as anxiety and depression. 

Anxiety and depression can come together since they tend to be related to some of the symptoms of these psychological disorders such as negative feelings, negative thoughts, and unhealthy behaviours.

People with this kind of comorbidity will suffer distress and dysfunction in important areas in life such as work, school, and social life. 

If there were many people with this comorbid diagnosis, it has been found that it can affect the country’s economy.

This might occur because these people are willing to leave work due to their mental health issues. 

Every employee is valuable in an organisation which makes the lack a great impact in the business.

You can learn more about the comorbid diagnosis of mixed anxiety and depression by buying this book on this website.

An overview of mental illness

Mental illness is a dysfunction in a person’s mental wellbeing where the individual feels distressed, has the risk of endangering themselves or others, and this condition is deviant in the present society.

These kinds of mental illnesses can alter a person’s thoughts, behaviours, and feelings than the normal state they were in before. 

These different kinds of mental illnesses found in psychological literature and applied today are anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, mood disorders, sexual dysfunctional disorders, eating disorders, gender dysphoria, substance abuse disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, personality disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurocognitive disorders.

Most people would exhibit some signs and symptoms of these kinds of illnesses but it tends to be mild.

People who have the full criteria of mental illness are recommended to take professional help since these symptoms can become chronic.

These treatments can help these kinds of people to minimize their symptoms and live a healthy quality of life. 

Most people who are affected by these mental illnesses tend to be consulted by primary care doctors when their exhibiting symptoms are more physical than mental.

This kind of doctor will let the individual go through a series of medical tests and if no indication is implied for physical conditions then the doctor may refer this individual to a psychiatrist.

What are the types and kinds of mental health problems or illnesses?

The following are the types and kinds of mental health issues or illnesses that are quite rampant in the world today.

Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders are a class of psychological disorders that are described with anxiety symptoms which contain generalized anxiety disorders, specific phobias, social anxiety disorder panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

If these disorders are left unaddressed then people with these disorders are more likely to suffer significant dysfunction in their lives.

You can learn more about anxiety disorders by buying this book on this website.

Behavioural and emotional disorders and problems in children

Behavioural and emotional disorders that are found in children are oppositional defiant disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and conduct disorder.

Psychological interventions that have been proven effective against these disorders in children are medication, education, and therapy.

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is part of the class of mood disorders which was previously known as manic depression.

People with this disorder experience two mood episodes such as mania and depression. 

People with a bipolar disorder may or may not experience psychotic signs and symptoms.

The direct influence of this disorder is currently unknown but genetic roots are the most likely cause. 

Like all mental illnesses, bipolar disorder can be influenced by environmental circumstances.

You can learn more about this disorder by buying this book on this website.

Depression

Depression is another type of mood disorder that is characterized by two prominent features which are loss of interest or anhedonia and constant low mood.

This mood disorder is not synonymous with feeling sad despite popular belief. 

Different kinds of signs and symptoms are prominent in people with depression.

The level of severity of this mood disorder is different for all affected people. 

The severe symptoms and signs of depression may lead the affected person to engage in suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Dissociation and dissociative mental disorders

Dissociation is a mental experience where the affected person is out of sight with his or her thoughts, feelings, and identity.

When taken into extremes, this can become a dissociative disorder which are dissociative amnesia, depersonalisation disorder, dissociative fugue and dissociative identity disorder.

You can learn more about the mental state of dissociation by buying this book on this website.

Eating disorders

Eating disorders are another class of psychological disorders which include anorexia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and bulimia nervosa.

These psychological disorders can affect any person of any gender and can create debilitating psychological and physical outcomes.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is part of the class of anxiety disorders.

Obsessions are persistent thoughts that aren’t appropriate and unwanted by the affected person. 

While compulsions are counterproductive behaviours that can waste an affected person’s time.

Psychological interventions that have been effective for obsessive-compulsive disorder are cognitive-behavioural therapy and anti-anxiety medications.

You can learn more about the obsessive-compulsive disorder by buying this video here.

Paranoia

Paranoia is a type of delusion where the affected person will think that he or she is being followed or someone is out to attack him or her.

This delusion can be a symptom of several psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and paranoid personality disorder. 

Psychological interventions for paranoia include therapy and social support.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychological disorder in the anxiety disorder class where there is a distressing response from a traumatic event.

Several traumatic events can cause this trauma-related disorder such as war, physical or sexual abuse, and witnessing a murder.

Psychosis

Psychosis is a symptom of psychotic disorders which can be categorized as hallucinations or delusions.

This symptom can be present in several psychological disorders such as mood disorders and this symptom is prominent in psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia. 

Medication and social support are the psychological interventions used for psychosis and are effective in minimizing symptoms.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a complicated psychotic disorder where the affected person will have distorted thinking, speech, and strange perceptions.

This psychotic disorder has symptoms that are related to psychosis such as hallucinations, disorganized behaviours, delusions, social withdrawal, and disorganized speech. 

People who are diagnosed with schizophrenia are capable of taking suicide just like people with depression.

Despite popular belief, this psychotic disorder doesn’t mean split personality.

The signs and symptoms of mental illness

The signs and symptoms of mental illnesses will be different because they are based on the kind of psychological disorder and the severity of the symptoms.

These kinds of symptoms can create a huge impact on one’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviours.

The following are some signs and symptoms of some common mental illnesses:

• Feeling sad or low
• Distorted thinking or minimized ability to concentrate
• Extreme fears or worries or excessive feelings of remorse
• Excessive mood switching of highs and lows
• Avoidance of friends and activities
• Extreme restlessness, low energy or difficulties in sleeping
• Disconnected from reality or delusions, hallucinations or paranoia
• Inability to deal with everyday issues or stress
• Trouble understanding and connecting with circumstances and to people
• Difficulties with alcohol or substance use
• Significant alterations in eating habits
• Sex drive alterations
• Extreme aggression or violence
• Suicidal thinking

Some symptoms and signs of mental illnesses are physical symptoms such as back pain, stomach ache, and severe fatigue.

Probable causes of mental health problems

We all have to face difficult situations and negative reactions to these kinds of situations are important to express.

However, many of us may get too deep with our negative reactions which makes us exhibit some symptoms of mental health issues.

Knowing what your triggers you are important reminders to knowing our mental health limitations and issues which can help us be more caring about our mental wellbeing.

Influences that may create a huge impact on our mental health are the following:

• Parental upbringing and circumstance which shapes our brain development when young and developmental opportunities throughout life
• Experiences such as our relationships, our financial situation, how we are treated by other people, work, physical health, where we live in the present, life events and the changes we go through
• heredity and temperament which may make some of us more likely to have specific kinds of mental health issues when interacting with our life experiences

These kinds of influences help shape what we think and feel and how we respond to any kind of situation.

This also gave us the choice to think about what other people are and what we need to do with them. 

As mentioned before, these influences can greatly affect our mental health in the long run with or without treatment.

There will always be situations or circumstances where we find ourselves having a hard time coping. 

In any case, we have our own methods of responding to a distressing event.

Sometimes, triumphant events can still greatly affect us and may distress us to the point of being unable to deal with it.

You shouldn’t worry too much since how we respond to certain events is part of who we are.

Although some of us are made to see these traumatic experiences as disturbing and may manifest that we may not be all fortunate in life.

Daily life factors that can affect our mental health are the following:

• personal life and relationships
• money, housing or work
• life changes
• health issues
• traumatic life experiences
• smoking, alcohol, substance misuse, and gambling

Who has the potential to have a mental health problem?

People who have the potential to have a mental health problem are those people who are not only vulnerable in their personal attributes such as personality, thoughts, and emotions, they are also vulnerable due to their present environment such as economic problems and living in a country that is full of terrorism.

Nutritional factors and stress can create mental health issues in the person if he or she is vulnerable to these influences.

Available treatments for people with mental health problems

Recently, not all health centres are taking care of people with mental health issues.

Because of this, several treatments may not be given to people who are already endangering themselves or others due to their mental health problems. 

In countries that are having a low economy and middle economy, a lot of people who fit the criteria of a mental health issue are suffering due to the lack of psychological interventions.

Also, another problem is inherent in these kinds of people where they’re being treated poorly by mental health care.

Social support from loved ones is also an effective treatment for people with mental health issues.

This can be seen when social support helps with the daily needs of these affected people such as employment and taking their government benefits where they have to make critical decisions.

Conclusion 

In this brief article, we will be talking about mental health issues, various information about mental health, and the different problems we are facing that concerns mental health.

If you have any questions about mental health issues, please let us know and we will gladly answer your questions.

FAQs: What are mental health issues

Citations

BetterHealth Channel. Types of mental health issues and illnesses.

MAYO CLINIC. Mental illness.

Mind. Mental health problems – an introduction.

NHS. Possible causes of poor mental health.

World Health Organization. Mental disorders.