8 Questions Answered to Help You Better Understand Mental Health

With May being National Mental Health Awareness Month, we’ve decided to answer some of the most important questions regarding mental illness, in an effort to better educate people and end the negative stigma that often surrounds mental illness

Question: How prevalent is mental illness?

Answer: Mental illness is far more widespread than most people realize. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), 1 in 5 Americans – 43.8 million, or 18.5%, experience mental illness in a given year. On top of that,1 in 25 American adults will experience a serious mental illness that significantly interferes with or limits one or more major life activity. A 2016 study by JAMA Internal Medicine, revealed that 1 in 6 people have taken a prescribed psychiatric drug at least once. The prevalence of mental illness goes beyond the United States – the World Health Organization reports that 300 million people globally suffer from depression, an increase of 18% over the last decade.

As these numbers show, all races and ethnicities are equally affected by mental illness. However, different cultural influences may determine how certain races or ethnicities interpret mental illness symptoms and could prevent them from getting proper help. Additionally, mental health awareness varies throughout minority groups, often causing certain groups to get overlooked.

Question: What causes mental illness?

Answer: Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is unknown, recent research found that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors, not personal weakness or a character defect. In terms of genetics, people who have a family member with a mental illness may be somewhat more likely to develop one themselves. They don’t inherit the mental illness, but rather have a higher susceptibility to mental illness. The mental illness itself usually occurs from the interaction between multiple genes and environmental factors, such as stress, abuse, or a traumatic event, which can then trigger the mental illness in a person who has an inherited susceptibility to it. However, some mental illnesses are more hereditary than others. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have a much higher rate of inheritance, while depression and anxiety are less likely to be inherited.

Other causes of mental illness include:

• Infections
• Brain defects or injury
• Prenatal damage
• Poor nutrition
• Substance abuse

Question: Does mental illness affect women and men differently?

Answer: Yes, there are gender differences when it comes to mental health. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression because they tend to ruminate on their negative emotions and problems more than men. On the other hand, men tend to be more susceptible to substance abuse or antisocial disorders. A Journal of Abnormal Psychology study found that women with anxiety disorders are more likely to internalize their emotions, leading to withdrawal, loneliness and depression. While men are more likely to externalize their emotions, leading to aggressive, impulsive, coercive and noncompliant behavior.

The differences continue into how each gender goes about treatment. In men, treatment for impulsive behaviors often focus on rewarding planned actions and shaping aggressive tendencies into non-destructive behavior. While treatment for women focus on coping and cognitive skills to help prevent rumination from progressing into clinically significant depression or anxiety.

Question: What is the link between mental illness and violence?

Answer: There is a link between mental illness and violence, but it isn’t the one most people suspect. The stigma around mental illness has caused many to believe that those with a mental illness are prone to be the instigators of violence, when in fact people with a mental illness are more likely to be the victims of violence. Only 3%-5% of violent acts can be attributed to individuals living with a mental illness. But those living with a mental illness are 4 times more likely to be victims of violence than the general public. Why? Well, symptoms associated with severe mental illness, such as disorganized thought processes, impulsivity and poor planning and problem solving may compromise one’s ability to perceive risks and protect oneself. Other factors correlated with victimization, including substance abuse, conflicted social relationships, poverty and homelessness, are also common among persons with severe mental illness.

Question: When do mental health disorders begin to manifest?

Answer: The vast majority of mental health disorders emerge during one’s adolescence or early 20’s. Research suggests adolescence is a time when the brain is changing to a great degree, making it more sensitive to environmental influences. Researchers suspect that many people are predisposed to develop a mental illness from birth or childhood, but don’t exhibit symptoms until they hit a particular phase of development and/or certain stressors. Such stressors may include living away from home, starting college, entering the workforce or increased financial responsibility.

Question: Is mental health becoming more serious?

Answer: Yes, as we mentioned earlier, there has been a 18% increase in those who have depression worldwide. More alarming is the CDC report that suicides have increased 24% from 1999 to 2014, making it 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. – though the vast majority of people who experience a mental illness do not die by suicide. However, more than 90% of those who do die from suicide have a diagnosable mental disorder. Most of those who make up the 90% are frequently suffering from undiagnosed, untreated or under-treated mental health issues.

Question: How serious is the lack of treatment and care for those with a mental illness?

Answer: According to a 2016 Mental Health America report, 56% of adults in the U.S., with a mental health condition, are not receiving proper treatment. Six out of ten young people, with major depression, are not receiving any treatment. And in states with the lowest workforce, there’s only one mental health professional per 1,000 individuals – that’s including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors and psychiatric nurses combined.

More alarming than the poor treatment, is the lack of understanding and care that is often shown towards those who struggle with a mental illness. According to the CDC only 25% of people living with a mental issue feel that others are sympathetic to or care about their situation. This should be the most alarming statistics of them all, because it means that 75% of the 43.8 million people (32.8 million people), with a mental illness, feel ashamed or judged. The shame and judgement that those with mental illness feel can be the reason they don’t seek the proper treatment, often causing their condition(s) to worsen.

Question: What can you do to help end the stigma surrounding mental health?

Answer: Educate yourself and others about mental illness. The stigma that surrounds mental health most often stems from a lack of understanding as to what mental illness truly is. You’ve taken an important first step by reading this blog post. Now continue to educate yourself and others about mental health. The more educated we are the better we can care for those who are afflicted with a mental illness.