Learn More About Mental Illnesses
Mental illnesses affect more than 54 million Americans.
They can strike individuals from all walks of life no matter
what age, race, education, gender or income. They can affect
the person's ability to think clearly, their behavior and
how they relate to others. Mental illnesses are medical
illnesses just like diabetes, high blood pressure or heart
disease and today, due to ongoing research, 80- 90% of people
with mental illnesses will improve or recover if they get
appropriate treatment. An accurate diagnosis by a doctor
or mental health professional is critical.
Researchers have determined that many mental illnesses
are the result of imbalances in the way the brain metabolizes
certain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Too much or
too little of these chemicals may result in depression,
anxiety or other emotional or physical disorders. This may
be inherited, or may develop because of excessive stress
or substance abuse. Our brain, just like other organs, is
vulnerable to
disease but many individuals with brain diseases experience
hostility, discrimination, and stigma. Accurate
information can help change public perception.
There are over 200 forms of mental illnesses listed in
the current edition of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual
(DSM). For more detailed information, check the following
resources:
Mental Health America
http://www.nmha.org
National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov
Screening for Mental Health
http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org
American Psychiatric Association
http://www.psych.org
American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org
Center for Mental Health Services
http://www.mentalhealth.org
SC Department of Mental Health
http://www.state.sc.us/dmh
South Carolina Resource Connection, an online mental health
resource for mental health professionals across the state
www.scresourceconnection.com
Anxiety Disorders
The most common mental illnesses are anxiety disorders.
There are three main types: phobias (extreme fear or dread
from a particular object or situation); panic disorders
(sudden, intense feelings of terror for no apparent reason
and symptoms similar to a heart attack); and obsessive-compulsive
disorders (repeated thoughts and words/phrases or repetitive,
ritualistic behavior such as constant hand washing. Other
anxiety disorders include post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) and generalized anxiety
disorder.
National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
http://www.adaa.org
Obsessive Compulsive Foundation
http://ocfoundation.org
Freedom from Fear
http://www.freedomfromfear.org
Mood Disorders
Depression, bipolar disorder (or manic depression) are
considered mood disorders. Symptoms may include moodswings
such as extreme sadness or elation, sleep and eating disturbances,
and changes in activity and energy levels. Suicide can be
a risk with these disorders.
National Foundation for Depressive Illness
http://www.depression.org
Screening for Mental Health
http://www.mentalhealthscreening.org
National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association
http://www.ndmda.org
Suicide.org (1-800-Suicide)
http://www.suicide.org
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious disorder that affects how a
person thinks, feels, and acts. Symptoms can include hallucinations,
delusions, withdrawal, incoherent speech and impaired reasoning..
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
(NARSAD)
http://www.mhsource.com
Eating Disorders
Serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses which include
a preoccupation with food and an irrational fear of being
overweight; behavior may include excessive exercise. Anorexia
is self-starvation while bulimia involves cycles of bingeing
(consuming large quantities of food) and purging (self-induced
vomiting or using laxatives).
American Anorexia Bulimia Association
http://www.aabainc.org
Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention
http://www.edap.org
Harvard Eating Disorders Center
http://www.hedc.org
Children and Mental Illnesses
More than 6 million youth suffer from a mental health disorder
that severely disrupts their ability to function at home,
in school, or in their community.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
http://www.aacap.org
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
http://www.ffcmh.org
National Association of School Psychologists
http://www.nasponline.org
Suicide
Over 30,000 people in the US kill themselves every year.
Over 60% of all people who die by suicide suffer from major
depression. Alcohol is a factor in about 30% of all completed
suicides.
The QPR Institute
http://www.qprinstitute.com/
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
http://www.afsp.org
American Association of Suicidology
http://www.suicidology.org
Support and Advocacy
Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg
http://www.cacsp.org
Mental Health America in South Carolina
http://www.mha.net
Mental Health America
http://www.mha.net
SC SHARE (Self Help Association Regarding Emotions)
http://www.scshare.com
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
http://www.nami.org
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
http://www.bazelon.org
Veteran's Services
P.A.C.E.
Center Veteran's Support Group
Operation Healthy Reunions
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reunions
The National Alliance on Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/veterans
Military OneSource
http://www.militaryonesource.com
TRICARE
http://www.tricare.mil
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