Mental Health Awareness
Task Group

We are committed to: 

Mental Health?????

You cannot know it unless you understand
Mental Illness!

 Mental Illness basics:

• Mental Illnesses are very common; in fact, they are more common than cancer, diabetes or heart disease.
• Estimated 23% or 1 out of five American adults (18 and older) � about 44 million people suffer from a serious mental illness.
• And 20% of American children suffer from a mental disorder during a give year.
• 7 million adults and 5 million children suffer from a serious mental condition that significantly interferes with daily life.

Mental Illnesses are:

• Biological brain disorder (chemical imbalance in the brain)
• Equal opportunity disease, striking families from all walks of life, regardless of age, race, income, religion, or education.
• Devastating to ill persons and their families. 
• Treatable! Early medical care and treatment, which includes medication and counseling, will enable many people to recover and live productive lives.

 Mental Illnesses are not:

• Anybody's fault. 
• A result of personal weakness, character defect or poor upbringing.
• Are not simply a matter of will and self-discipline.

What Are the Major Mental Illnesses?

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

People who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event where serious physical harm occurred or were threatened harm that cause intense fear, helplessness or horror. Such events as War, Natural Disasters, Death of a Loved One, an Accident, or Sexual or Physical Assaults may induce PTSD. 

Panic and Social Anxiety Disorders   

People suffering with Anxiety Disorders experience constant worry and fear that can be overwhelming and crippling. 

• Panic disorder:  People may experience excessive sweating, chest pains, irregular heart beats, or feel as if they are having a heart attack.  Often sudden onset. 
• Social anxiety disorder:  Overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations.  Extreme fears of being judged or ridiculed by others.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Obsessions are recurring and distressing thoughts, fear or images
• Compulsions are the need to perform certain rituals or routines. These rituals are performed
  in an attempt to prevent the obsessive thoughts or make them to go away.
• People may be aware of their obsessions and compulsions, but are unable to stop themselves.

 Depression

• Sad or irritable mood, loss of interest and pleasure in daily activates

• Poor appetite and weight loss/ or increased appetite and weight gain
• Too much sleeping / too little sleeping, extreme fatigue and lack of energy
• Pacing or restlessness / slowed movements
• Inability to think, remember, concentrate and indecisiveness
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and suicidal thoughts

Bipolar Disorder

• Symptoms of depression that cycle with abnormally elevated, euphoric and / or irritable mood
• Decreased need for sleep; insomnia; staying up all night )
• Excessive spending or impulsive buying, sexual recklessness, foolish business investments
• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity, excessive talking; pressured speech
• Rapid thoughts and "flight of ideas" (moving from one topic to another with little or no pause)
• Distractibility; short attention span, difficulty concentrating

Schizophrenia

• Delusions (false beliefs)
• Hallucinations (hearing and seeing things that others can not)
• Disorganized Speech (a jumbo of words and phrases that do not make sense)
• Grossly disorganized (busy nonproductive behavior or lack of ability to focus on any task) or catatonic behaviors (frozen in place, vacant stare)
• Continuing social and occupational dysfunction (person is not comfortable in society or keep a job)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Is easily distracted, has problems organizing daily tasks, avoids activities that require a sustained effort
• Does not follow directions or finish tasks, is forgetful about daily activities
• Does not appear to be listening when someone is speaking, has a tendency to daydream
• Does not pay attention, makes careless mistakes, often loses things, including personal items

Co-Occurring Brain Disorders & Addictive Disorders:
The Dilemma of Dual Diagnosis

• 50% of people suffering from mental illness have not only a serious brain disorder but an addictive disorder.
• Both are biological illnesses and require intensive treatment
• Many people self-medicate with un-prescribed drugs or alcohol in order to better tolerate the anxiety they feel or to escape the highs and lows of their mental illness.

Distributed with Care by the Northern Illinois Conference Mental Health Ministries Task Group, June 2005

We appreciate your comments and questions.

Steve Howland, Web Site Liaison