Mental Illness Overview

Mental Illness

• Mental illness is a general term that encompasses a range of illnesses affecting a person's thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and behaviours.
• Mental health issues and illnesses can have a significant impact on both working and personal relationships.
• Treatment options for mental illness include counselling, medication, or a combination of both.

Mental Health Conditions

• A mental health condition is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, behavior, or mood, and deeply impacts day-to-day living and relationships with others.
• 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.
• 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.
• 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.

Prevalence and Onset

• 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
• Mental health conditions are common, but people often don't talk about them due to fear or stigma.

Causes and Risk Factors

• Research suggests that multiple, linking causes contribute to the development of mental health conditions.
• Genetics, environment, and lifestyle influence the likelihood of developing a mental health condition.
• Risk factors include:
  • Stressful job or home life
  • Traumatic life events
  • Biochemical processes and circuits
  • Basic brain structure

Recovery and Treatment

• Recovery is possible for many people, including meaningful roles in social life, school, and work.
• Early treatment and active involvement in the recovery process are key to successful outcomes.
• Mental illness is not the result of personal fault or wrongdoing.