Mental Illness

Mental illnesses can take many forms, just like physical illnesses do. Mental illness is common. Statistics show that one in every five Canadians will have a mental health problem at some point in their lives. If you or someone you know develops the symptoms of a mental illness, it is important to get it diagnosed and to start treatment as soon as possible.

Mental illnesses include schizophrenia, mood disorders (such as depression and bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and eating disorders. Mental illnesses are still feared and misunderstood by many people, but the fear will disappear as people learn more about them. If you, or someone you know has a mental illness, there is good news for you: all mental illnesses can be treated.

Mental illness doesn't discriminate, but people with mental illness may face discrimination due to stigma. The stigma experienced by people with a mental illness can be more destructive than the illness itself. Learning more about it is a crucial step in dispelling stigma and stopping prejudice.

This quick guide is designed to give you practical information if you or someone you love is affected by mental illness.

What Causes Mental Illness?return to top

Different mental illnesses may have different causes.

Important factors may include:

• Emotional trauma
• Chemical imbalance in the brain
• Structural abnormalities in the brain
• The environment in which one is raised
• Interpersonal problems
• Heredity
• Substance abuse
• Other
• A combination of any of the above

While the cause of any mental illness is not known, the above factors affect each other.

How is Mental Illness Treated?return to top

Treatment may include the following:

• Medication
• Counseling/psychotherapy
• Life skills training
• Addiction counseling
• Self help groups
• Peer and family support
• Other
• A combination of any of the above

Children and Mental Health to top

When children are struggling, treatment focuses on helping families create an environment most likely to help prevent symptoms from worsening, and building on children's capacity for resilience.

When supported, most children "grow out of" their symptoms of mental illness when they get professional help, and most importantly, when they have support from their families.

Anxiety Disorders to top

When someone finds themselves in the grip of great fear or distress that seems to come on strong and stays with them for long periods, it may be that they are dealing with an anxiety disorder.

One in ten people ( more often women) are affected by anxiety disorders like phobic, panic, obsessive compulsive disorders, social phobia, or post traumatic stress disorder. Other symptoms can appear alongside anxiety disorders, like depression, substance abuse, or physical problems.

Mood Disorders to top

The highs and lows of life are experienced with greater intensity, and for longer periods, by people with mood disorders. People with mood disorders may experience depressive episodes (feeling very "low") or manic episodes (feeling very "high"), or both.

The forms of mood disorders are Depression, Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression), Seasonal Affective Disorder and Post Partum Depression. Mood disorders are among the most common mental disorders. Approximately one in 10 people experiences a mood disorder.

Eating Disorders to top

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are characterized by a disturbance in perception of one's own body shape and weight.

People with anorexia nervosa have an intense, fear of and preoccupation with, gaining weight. This can lead to people becoming extremely thin, failing physical health, and even death.

People with bulimia nervosa, the most common eating disorder, engage in secretive binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting, the misuse of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise.

While people of all ages and both sexes can experience eating disorders, they commonly affect young women.

Schizophrenia to top

Delusions, hallucinations, social withdrawal, bizarre behaviour - the symptoms of schizophrenia often develop slowly, usually between the ages of 16 and 30.

For the one in 100 people who develops schizophrenia, anti-psychotic medications and counseling are the most effective means of easing the symptoms.

Psychosisreturn to top

Severe disorder of thought and sometimes of behaviour, most often refers to a loss of touch with reality. Hallucinations or delusions may be present.

Dual Diagnosisreturn to top

In Canada, dual diagnosis usually refers to a person with a mental illness and a developmental disability. The intellectual functioning of people with developmental disabilities is significantly below average, and their life skills are limited.

Concurrent Disordersreturn to top

A concurrent disorder combines both a mental health problem and a substance use problem. Someone with major depression who also abuses alcohol has a concurrent disorder, for example, as does a person with schizophrenia who abuses cannabis.

It's uncertain how many people have concurrent disorders, but it is known that people with mental illnesses have higher rates of addiction than people in the general population.

When Do People Seek Help?return to top

People may seek help when:

• They feel overwhelmed by feelings of depression, fear, anxiety;
or
• The impact of trauma in their lives (such as past abuse) is interfering with their ability to function;
and, or
• The effects of mental illness are beyond their ability to cope.

Suicide: Why Do People Take Their Own Life?return to top

Most people who attempt suicide are ambivalent about taking their own life, however circumstances make them feel that life is unbearable. Suicide seems like the only way to deal with their problems because they have an extreme sense of hopelessness, helplessness and depression.

Some of the factors that may lead a person to attempt suicide are:

• feelings of isolation
• having a serious physical illness
• experiencing a major loss (death of a loved one, unemployment or divorce)
• abuse of drugs or alcohol
• experiencing major changes in life
• prolonged depression with alterations in thinking patterns
• post-partum depression
• history of severe child abuse
• living in a violent relationship

If you are feeling suicidal help is available contact the
Mental Health Crisis Line at 1-866-281-2911

You have made the right choice to look for help.
We hope you will contact someone right away.

More Informationreturn to top

people who can help?	the legal side	links and resources