Mental Health and Disorders

Definition of Mental Health

• Mental health refers to the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of an individual
• It affects how we think, feel, and behave, and is important for our overall quality of life

Types of Mental Disorders

• Anxiety Disorders: excessive fear or anxiety, e.g. phobias, panic disorder, PTSD
• Mood Disorders: disturbances in mood, e.g. depression, bipolar disorder
• Personality Disorders: patterns of thought and behavior that impair relationships and daily life, e.g. borderline personality disorder
• Psychotic Disorders: distorted perceptions of reality, e.g. schizophrenia
• Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders: reactions to traumatic events, e.g. acute stress disorder
• Dissociative Disorders: disconnection from thoughts, feelings, or experiences, e.g. dissociative identity disorder
• Eating Disorders: disturbances in eating behaviors, e.g. anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa
• Sleep Disorders: disturbances in sleep patterns, e.g. insomnia, sleep apnea

Common Mental Health Conditions

• Depression: persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities
• Anxiety: excessive worry, fear, or anxiety that interferes with daily life
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): reactions to traumatic events, e.g. flashbacks, nightmares
• Bipolar Disorder: extreme mood swings, from manic highs to depressive lows
• Schizophrenia: distorted perceptions of reality, including hallucinations and delusions

Risk Factors and Causes

• Genetics: family history of mental health conditions
• Environmental: trauma, stress, social isolation
• Brain Chemistry: imbalance of neurotransmitters, e.g. serotonin, dopamine
• Lifestyle: poor sleep, exercise, and nutrition habits

Symptoms and Diagnosis

• Symptoms: changes in mood, behavior, or cognition that interfere with daily life
• Diagnosis: clinical evaluation by a mental health professional, using diagnostic criteria from the DSM-5

Treatment and Management

• Psychotherapy: talk therapy, e.g. cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy
• Medications: prescribed by a mental health professional, e.g. antidepressants, antipsychotics
• Lifestyle Changes: healthy habits, e.g. regular exercise, balanced diet, adequate sleep
• Support Systems: social support from family, friends, and support groups

Definition of Mental Health

• Emotional, psychological, and social well-being of an individual affects overall quality of life
• Influences how we think, feel, and behave

Types of Mental Disorders

• Anxiety Disorders: characterized by excessive fear or anxiety, e.g. phobias, panic disorder, PTSD
• Mood Disorders: involve disturbances in mood, e.g. depression, bipolar disorder
• Personality Disorders: patterns of thought and behavior that impair relationships and daily life, e.g. borderline personality disorder
• Psychotic Disorders: distorted perceptions of reality, e.g. schizophrenia
• Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders: reactions to traumatic events, e.g. acute stress disorder
• Dissociative Disorders: disconnection from thoughts, feelings, or experiences, e.g. dissociative identity disorder
• Eating Disorders: disturbances in eating behaviors, e.g. anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa
• Sleep Disorders: disturbances in sleep patterns, e.g. insomnia, sleep apnea

Common Mental Health Conditions

• Depression: persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities
• Anxiety: excessive worry, fear, or anxiety that interferes with daily life
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): reactions to traumatic events, e.g. flashbacks, nightmares
• Bipolar Disorder: extreme mood swings, from manic highs to depressive lows
• Schizophrenia: distorted perceptions of reality, including hallucinations and delusions

Risk Factors and Causes

• Genetic predisposition: family history of mental health conditions
• Environmental factors: trauma, stress, social isolation
• Brain chemistry imbalance: neurotransmitter imbalance, e.g. serotonin, dopamine
• Unhealthy lifestyle habits: poor sleep, exercise, and nutrition habits

Symptoms and Diagnosis

• Symptoms: changes in mood, behavior, or cognition that interfere with daily life
• Diagnosis: clinical evaluation by a mental health professional using DSM-5 diagnostic criteria

Treatment and Management

• Psychotherapy: talk therapy, e.g. cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy
• Medications: prescribed by a mental health professional, e.g. antidepressants, antipsychotics
• Lifestyle changes: healthy habits, e.g. regular exercise, balanced diet, adequate sleep
• Support systems: social support from family, friends, and support groups