Mental Health Basics

The images evoked by the phrase “mental health” are too often based on false stereotypes and misconceptions.

We see a different image when we refer to someone who suffers from mental illness. We think of children wearing backpacks, playing in a school yard or just enjoying the day with other neighborhood kids. One of four people suffers from mental illness, but it is not apparent or obvious. Most are certainly not homeless or disabled by a severe psychosis that requires admission into a psychiatric institute. It’s time to set the record straight!

That’s why Minding Your Mind is fielding programs to dispel false images. We do not stigmatize a kid who has severe asthma or juvenile diabetes. He or she is given sympathy, understanding, treatment and support. We should view someone with a mental health disorder in the same context; someone who has a physical alignment that can be treated successfully given today’s range of therapies. This person is “normal” just like the individual who suffers from diabetes or cancer. The only difference is our society carries impressions created by years of false generalizations. We are all much smarter than to carry around those damaging disbeliefs.

Facts About Our Children

Given the onset of mental illness during adolescent years, MYM has targeted an aggressive outreach program for our middle and high schools. Facts support the value of this priority and the urgency to change the way people think and deal with mental health issues as they relate to our school communities. Consider these statistics:

  • Most mental health disorders begin to surface among our young between the ages of 14-24.
  • Top three U.S. children’s health concerns in 2007 were
    • teen-smoking
    • illicit drug use and
    • high obesity rates
  • Compared to youth without mental health disorders, young people with mental health issues are:
    • 50% more likely to smoke
    • 50% more likely to initiate illicit drug use and
    • 50% more likely for teens with depression to develop obesity
  • Studies on suicide by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that at least 90 percent of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric illness.
    • Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15-24.
    • Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among children aged 10-14 years.
    • 17% of US high school students seriously considered suicide and 8.4% had attempted suicide at least once during the preceding year.i

These facts underscore the correlation between impaired mental health and self-destructive behavior among our youth.

So the data from numerous studies clearly reveal that untreated mental disorders have considerable costs to our young, their families and our society in general. Risky, self-injurious behaviors as well as difficulty in maintaining healthy peer and familial relationships are outcomes that can be prevented.

When the early signs are recognized and treated, the likelihood that a young person will engage in risky behavior or develop a severe or chronic mental illness is much less likely. Early intervention efforts have demonstrated effectiveness in contributing to the overall mental well-being of children by reducing delinquency, substance abuse, health-risking sexual behaviors and school failure.

A key to encouraging treatment is to end the suffering in silence that has a root cause — stigma. By engaging in open discussions to dispel misconceptions, more people will seek treatment and that will yield a broad range of benefits to families as well as our society.

Problem or Illness?

It is very important to clarify what “mental health” means. For our purposes, we follow the guidelines outlined by the Surgeon General.

Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General notes that mental health and mental illness are not mutually exclusive categories but are points on a continuum ranging from positive mental health through mental health problems to mental illnesses. The report defines these constructs as follows:

Mental health—a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity.

Mental health problems—signs and symptoms of insufficient intensity or duration to meet the criteria for any mental disorder. Mental health problems may warrant active efforts in health promotion, prevention, and treatment.

Mental illnesses—all diagnosable mental disorders, health conditions characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.ii

We use the term “mental health disorder“ in lieu of “mental illness.“

Warning signs, disorders and interventions

People can and do recover from mental disorders. Psychiatric, psychosocial and various alternative therapies bear significant results when part of a centralized integrated treatment plan shared by the child, their family and caregivers and educators.

For general information about warning signs, disorders and interventions: www.psychcentral.com; www.aboutourkids.org

For information on specific disorders and behavior:

i Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention September 7, 2007 / 56(35);905-908.

ii Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services (2007). Promotion and Prevention in Mental Health: Strengthening Parenting and enhancing Child Resilience, DHHS Publication No. CMHS-SVP-0175. Rockville, MD