What is mental illness
Mental illness is a general term that refers to a group of illnesses, in the same way that heart disease refers to a group of illnesses and disorders affecting the heart.
A mental illness is a health problem that significantly affects how a person feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people. It is diagnosed according to standardised criteria. The term mental disorder is also used to refer to these health problems.
A mental health problem also interferes with how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, but to a lesser extent than a mental illness.
Mental health problems are more common and include the mental ill health that can be experienced temporarily as a reaction to the stresses of life.
Mental health problems are less severe than mental illnesses, but may develop into a mental illness if they are not effectively dealt with.
Types of mental illness
Mental illnesses are of different types and degrees of severity. Some of the major types are depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, personality disorders, and eating disorders.
The most common mental illnesses are anxiety and depressive disorders. While everyone experiences strong feelings of tension, fear, or sadness at times, a mental illness is present when these feelings become so disturbing and overwhelming that people have great difficulty coping with day-to-day activities, such as work, enjoying leisure time, and maintaining relationships.
At their most extreme, people with a depressive disorder may not be able to get out of bed or care for themselves physically. People with certain types of anxiety disorder may not be able to leave the house, or may have compulsive rituals to help them alleviate their fears.
Less common are mental illnesses that may involve psychosis. These include schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder. People experiencing an acute episode of psychosis lose touch with reality and perceive their world differently from normal. Their ability to make sense of thoughts, feelings, and the world around them is seriously affected. You can read more about these conditions here
Treatment of mental illness
Most mental illnesses can be effectively treated. Recognising the early signs and symptoms of mental illness and accessing effective treatment early is important. The earlier treatment starts, the better the outcome.
Episodes of mental illness can come and go during different periods in people’s lives. Some people experience only one episode of illness and fully recover. For others, it recurs throughout their lives.
Effective treatments can include medication, cognitive and behavioural psychological therapies, psycho-social support, psychiatric disability rehabilitation, avoidance of risk factors such as harmful alcohol and other drug use, and learning self-management skills.
It is rarely possible for someone with a mental illness to make the symptoms go away just by strength of will. To suggest this is not helpful in any way.
People with a mental illness need the same understanding and support given to people with a physical illness. A mental illness is no different -it is not an illness for which anyone should be blamed.
People with mental illness may be at risk of harmful alcohol and other drug use. This makes treatment more complex, so that effectively managing alcohol and other drug use is important.
Risk of suicide is heightened for people with some mental illnesses, particularly soon after diagnosis or release from hospital.
Visit beyond blue’s e-learning module to challenge your ideas around mental health.
More on keeping your team well
- What is mental health?
- What is workplace stress?
- Tips for leaders
- Dealing with mental illness
- Myths around mental illness
- Tips for specific workplace situations
