Mental Illness
A mental illness is a health problem that significantly affects how a person thinks, behaves and interacts with others. Depression, anxiety, bipolar mood disorder, personality disorders and schizophrenia or psychosis are major types of mental illness.
Mental illness results from complex interactions between the mind, body and environment.
The following factors can contribute to mental illness:
- biological factors including genetics
- cognitive patterns such as constant negative thoughts
- long-term stress, bereavement
- use of alcohol or drugs
- social factors such as isolation, unemployment and financial problems, family breakdown, abuse or violence
Mental illness is different to many other disabilities in that it can fluctuate and recur over time.
Some facts about mental illness:
- At some stage in their lives, one in five Australians will experience a mental illness which may vary from mild or temporary to severe or prolonged
- Mental illness can be transient and come and go throughout a person's life. Some people may only experience a mental illness once and fully recover
- Many people with mental illness are able to lead rewarding lives in the community
- Many people with mental illness say that overcoming the stigma attached to the illness can be more daunting than coping with and overcoming the illness itself
- Participation in meaningful, community-based activity has been identified as a critical factor in the recovery process (Kotake Smith, 2000).
Types of mental illness
Depression
Depressive disorders are characterised by excessive or long-term depressed mood and loss of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable. Signs of depression include a lack of concentration, low energy, changes in appetite and sleep patterns Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and despair are common. The symptoms can severely disrupt the person's life.
Depressive disorders are serious and distressing illnesses with real risks to the person's life and well-being. Fortunately, treatment of depression is usually very effective.
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Bipolar mood disorder is a form of depressive disorder that used to be called manic depression. People with bipolar mood disorder experience extreme mood swings. 'Mania' describes the most severe state of extreme elation and overactivity. Common symptoms include elevated mood (feeling 'high'), increased energy and over-activity, reduced need for sleep, irritability, rapid thinking and speech, recklessness, grandiose plans and beliefs (associated with psychosis) and lack of insight. Most people who have episodes of mania and depression experience normal moods in between. They are able to live their lives productively and manage home and work commitments.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety describes a normal feeling when faced with threat, danger, or when stressed. When people become anxious, they feel upset, uncomfortable, and tense. Feelings of anxiety can result from many of life's challenges and anxiety in these situations is appropriate, lasting for a limited time only.
Anxiety disorders are characterised by persistent feelings of high anxiety, and extreme discomfort and tension. These levels of anxiety significantly interfere with a person's daily life. Anxiety disorders can be accompanied by intense sensations, such as breathlessness and palpitations. Other symptoms can include sweating, trembling, feelings of choking, nausea, dizziness, feelings of losing control, feelings of impending doom or uncontrollable worry.
Personality Disorders
Personality traits, the way a person thinks and behaves, become a personality disorder when the pattern of thinking and behaviour is extreme, inflexible and maladaptive. They may cause major disruption to a person's life and personal or work relationships and are usually associated with significant distress to the self or others.
The causes of personality disorders generally relate to an individual's specific life experiences. Generally, the person has developed a behaviour pattern to cope with these life experiences. While personality can be difficult to change, with early and appropriate treatment and support, people with personality disorders can live full and productive lives.
Psychosis and Schizophrenia
A person with schizophrenia experiences changes in behaviour and perception, and disordered thinking that can distort their sense of reality. This is referred to as psychosis. During onset, the person often withdraws from others, gets depressed and anxious, and develops unusual ideas or extreme fears. Major symptoms include:
- Delusions – false beliefs of persecution, guilt or grandeur, or being under outside control
- Hallucinations - most commonly hearing voices, but can include seeing, feeling, tasting or smelling things that to the person are very real, but that are not actually there.
- Thought disorder - speech may be difficult to follow with no logical connection.
Other symptoms of schizophrenia include:
- Lack of drive – an inability to engage in everyday activities.
- Thinking difficulties - concentration, memory, and ability to plan and organise may be affected.
- Blunted emotional expression - often accompanied by an inappropriate response to happy or sad occasions.
- Social withdrawal - caused by a number of factors including a fear of being harmed, or a fear of interacting because of a loss of social skills.
- Lack of insight - some experiences appear so real, some people with schizophrenia may be unaware that they are ill.
With the right support, assessment and treatment, a person can learn how to manage mental illness and the stresses and triggers for their particular situation, which can mean the risk of a recurrence of symptoms is minimised.
What you can do
Listed below are some strategies to use when communicating with a person who is exhibiting symptoms of mental illness or who appears distressed:
- Use clear and straightforward language
- Check that the person understands - ask if necessary
- Repeat using different words
- Take the emotional concerns the person is presenting seriously
- Recognise the stress level and try to help the person calm down
- Be clear about the function or role of your service
- Eliminate physical or sensory barriers which may be causing a problem
- If possible, try to relocate the person to a quieter place
- If a request is beyond your control, ask the person how you can best help
For advice and support in a mental health emergency, call the Mental Health Emergency Response Line: Perth Metro callers 1300 555 788 (local call) Peel callers 1800 676 822 (free call)
Things to avoid:
- The use of jargon
- Talking over the person
- Generalising or talking down to the person
- Getting too personal, asking irrelevant personal details
- Agreeing with the person's delusions (be non-committal)
- Trying to talk the person out of the delusion
- Getting too many people involved