Mental Health and Illness

About 450 million people suffer from mental and behavioural disorders worldwide, reports the World Health Organisation. In many parts of the world socio economic conditions have a negative impact to mental health: poverty, illiteracy, war, violence discrimination on various aspects are all detrimental factors. Awareness that some behaviours and symptoms are signs of illnesses, is lacking. There is a stigma to voicing mental problems and seeking help.

Mental Illness covers a wide spectrum where the boundaries between “normal” and “abnormal” are not very sharply defined. Illnesses can be classified in different ways. Some broad categories are:

• Organic, where there are structural/physiological abnormalities in the brain or nerves, leading to illness

• Functional where there are no structural abnormalities identifiable

• Neurosis - severe forms of normal experiences

• Psychosis – severe distortion of perception of reality.

Illnesses are also grouped as:

• Mood disorders

• Anxiety disorders.

• Substance-related disorders.

• Schizophrenia related disorders

• Dementia and Memory Related Disorders

• Developmental disorders

• Personality disorders.

While it is difficult to define what is normal when a behaviour interferes with your ability to cope with life on a daily basis, then it is better to seek help.