What is Mental Illness?

The impacts of climate change are familiar — more and more we see news about extreme weather events, droughts, water scarcity, wildfires, and flooding and their impacts on agriculture and human systems. The impact of these events on health and mental health is becoming clear. The air pollution and higher temperatures that come with rising greenhouse gases significantly increase the risk of neurological and psychiatric problems like strokes and dementia. Changes in the supply and nutritional content of food contribute to psychiatric illness, and changes in infectious disease patterns are exposing more people to the neuropsychiatric consequences of encephalitis.

Following a disaster, most people will ultimately do well and return to their previous level of functioning. However, many people will initially experience distressing thoughts, feelings, and physical symptoms and may engage in risky behaviors to help cope. Traumatic events are not easy for anyone to comprehend or accept. Understandably, many children feel frightened and confused. Fortunately, most children, even those exposed to trauma, are quite resilient. Parents, teachers and caring adults can help by listening and responding in an honest, consistent and supportive manner.

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, think, act, and perceive the world. Symptoms of depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can appear differently in each person. These symptoms can include: Feeling sad, irritable, empty and/or hopeless. Losing interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed. A significant change in appetite (eating much less or more than usual) and/or weight (notable loss or gain unrelated to dieting). Sleeping too little or too much. Decreased energy or increased tiredness or fatigue. Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements and speech that are enough to be observed by others. Feeling worthless or excessively guilty. Difficulty thinking or concentrating, forgetfulness, and/or difficulty making minor decisions. Thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts.

Learn about what you can do to help a loved one cope with a mental illness. It can be difficult to see a loved one struggle with symptoms of mental illness. It can also be hard to know how to best help and support a loved one. Every individual is different, and situations vary greatly. Below are some ideas that might help you get started in approaching a loved one you’re concerned about.

Integrated behavioral health is an evolving way of organizing the care people receive when they go to a primary care clinic. When behavioral health is integrated with your primary care, your primary care team can more easily address both your physical and mental health concerns, including problems like anxiety and depression. When these areas of your health are understood and addressed together, you have a better chance of being healthy.

Intellectual disability refers to neurodevelopmental conditions that affect functioning in two areas: Cognitive functioning, such as learning, problem solving, judgement. Adaptive functioning, activities of daily life such as communication skills and social participation. Additionally, the intellectual and adaptive deficit begin early in the developmental period, typically before age 18 years for diagnosis. Intellectual disability affects about 1% of the population, and of those about 85% have mild intellectual disability.