What is mental illness?
Click here for Mental Health Facts See our Bibliography of Brain and Neurological Diseases NAMI-MASS Bookshelf Click here for a list of publications available from our library which we can mail to you Mental illness is a term used for a group of disorders causing severe disturbances in thinking, feeling, and relating. They result insubstantially diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age-children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly-and they can occur in any family. Several million people in the country suffer from a serious long term mental illness. The cost to society is high due to lost productivity and treatment expense. Patients with mental illness occupy more hospital beds than do persons with any other illness. Those with mental illnesses are usually of normal intelligence although they may have difficulty performing at a normal level due to their illness. Schizophrenia Schizophrenia is one of the most seriou
Mental illness is not a single disease but a broad classification for many mental health problems. A mental health problem might also be described as a mental disorder, poor mental health, psychiatric illness, nervous breakdown and burnout, to name a few. Mental health problems are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behaviour (or a combination of these) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.
The Facts About Mental Illness Mental illness is common, affecting one out of every five families. Those stricken with this disease experience its disabling effects. Family and friends who witness it know of its devastation. These disorders of the brain disrupt thoughts and moods and can impair self-insight, judgment and behavior. It destroys self esteem and disrupts personal relationships, education, and employment. It is stigmatizing for those who have the disease and for their families. Diagnosis of severe mental illness includes schizophrenia, bipolar, major depression, obsessive compulsive, borderline personality disorder and anxiety disorders. An estimated 80,000 people currently living in the Saint Louis area have, or will be diagnosed with, a severe mental illness. Without effective care and support, they will be denied the kind of productive lives that they deserve and that are possible. The impact of severe mental illness is dramatic, for our neighbors, friends and relatives-
