Mental IllnessProblems of Well-BeingBy: Cassandra Cavasin

What Is Mental Illness?

Mental illness is a broad term that is used to refer to all mental health disorders as a whole (Holmes, Knox, Mooney, & Schacht, 2013)

Just as physical illness can take on many different forms, mental health can as well

In order to understand mental illness we need to understand mental health

Mental health refers to how we cope with the normal stresses of everyday life through how we interact with others, think, act, and feel

Mental illness affects a person’s mood, thinking, or feeling, and can impair their ability to function (Canadian Mental Health Association, 2015)

Mental Health at a Glance

Each year 20% of all adults will experience a mental health condition; that is equivalent to every 1 in 5 people (National Alliance of Mental Illness, 2015)

50% of mental health conditions develop by the age of 14, and 75% develop by the age of 24

Women have higher rates of anxiety and mood disorders while men report higher rates of addiction

In Canada alone it is estimated that the cost of mental health to the government is approximately $51 billion per year

Even though mental illness affects so many people and is becoming more prevalent there is still a great amount of stigma attached to it

Putting a Face on Mental Illness

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are the second most prevalent mental illness in Canada, affecting about 10% of the population (CMHA, 2015)

The most common mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder

Depression affects a person’s mood and manifests itself in feelings of sadness, guilt, low self-worth, and even emptiness. Those affected by it tend to isolate themselves and lose interest in things that they normally enjoy

Those affected by bipolar disorder go through episodes of mania and depression. These mood swings can be intense and vary in length

Mood disorders can affect anyone, but women are more likely than men to develop them (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 2012)

Mood disorders can be treated with medication and counselling

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is a natural response to a dangerous situation

Those who have an anxiety disorder respond to these situations more intensely, more frequently, and the feelings may last longer or linger

Anxiety is the most common mental illness in Canada, and affects about 12% of the population

Types of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social phobias, panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder

Common symptoms of anxiety disorders are uncontrollable and excessive anxiety, thoughts, or fears and avoidance of certain places and situations that provoke these feelings

All forms of anxiety disorder are treatable either with the use of medication, therapy, or a combination of both

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is classified as a psychotic disorder. “Psychosis” describes conditions where a person loses some contact with reality.

Schizophrenia is a very complex mental illness but is characterized by disruptions in thinking. These disruptions cause the person’s language, perception, and sense of self to be altered. (Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, 2013)

Researchers know very little about what causes schizophrenia

Approximately 1 in 100 people in Canada have schizophrenia

This disorder most commonly begins in either late adolescence or early adulthood

Most cases of schizophrenia can be treated through medication, hospitalization, therapy, and social supports (SSO, 2013)

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are not just about food but about a way to regain a feeling of control or a coping method (CMHA, 2015)

There are three main types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder

A person with anorexia nervosa refuses to maintain a normal body weight by exercising excessively or restricting what they eat. They could be severely underweight but still see themselves as overweight when they look in the mirror. 10% who experience this mental illness die as a result of suicide or health problems (CMHA, 2015)

Bulimia is when a person binge-eats and then follows this by purging food through either the use of laxatives or vomiting.

Binge-eating involves periods of over-eating followed by feelings of guilt and depression.

Because eating disorders can cause severe health problems it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible

Mental Illness and Youth

Youth between the ages of 15 and 24 are most likely to experience mental illness than any other age group (CAMH, 2012)

10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by mental illness (CMHA, 2015)

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults in Canada. In fact the youth suicide rate in Canada is the third highest in the industrialized world (CMHA, 2015)

70% of mental health problems will have their onset during either childhood or youth (CAMH, 2012)

Aboriginal youth die by suicide 5 or 6 more times than non-Aboriginal youth (CAMH, 2012)

In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receive them (CMHA, 2015)

Once depression is recognized, treatment and help can make a difference for 80% of those who are affected (CMHA, 2015)

Mental Illness in the Workplace

Mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Canada (CMHA, 2015)

39% of Ontario workers would not tell a manager if they were suffering from a mental illness (CAMH, 2012)

64% of Ontario workers said that they would be concerned how work would be affected if a colleague had a mental illness (CAMH, 2012)

At least 500 000 employed Canadians are not able to work due to mental illness in any given week (CAMH, 2012)

Mental illness costs employers billions of dollars in sick days and absenteeism, and results in a loss of productivity (CMHA, 2015)

The Stigma of Mental Illness

Even though mental health awareness is increasing and so many people are effected by it, there is still a stigma attached to it

42% of Canadians are unsure whether they would continue to socialize with a friend if they had a mental illness (CAMH, 2012)

Many of those who suffer from a mental illness are reluctant to talk about it or get help for fear of being labelled. This fear directly relates to the labelling theory of the symbolic interactionist perspective

For so long mental health was labelled as disgraceful, strange, or would let to rejection. People who suffer from mental health are afraid of being assigned the status of “schizophrenic” or “depressed” because they are afraid that is all society will ever see them as

The stigma attached to mental illness is a serious barrier to both treatment, diagnosis, and acceptance

Stigma- We’ve Got it Mapped!

Bell Let’s Talk Campaign

Mental Illness: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Holmes, Knox, Mooney, and Schacht (2013) state that based on the symbolic interactionist theory a “condition must be defined or recognized as a social problem in order for it to be a social problem”.

Social problems develop in three stages. The problem must first be recognized by society. It then goes on to be recognized by the larger community through media, schools, etc. Lastly, a mobilization for action is created and official plan is developed to deal with the problem. (Holmes et al., 2013)

Centuries ago, no cure or treatment for mental health existed. Unlike physical maladies it was invisible and therefore it was not widely understood.

Those with mental illnesses were left untreated and were labelled as “lunatics” or it was said that they had “gone mad” (Moran, 2009)

Mental Illness: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Many of these individuals were shunned and committed to asylums. Thus, the social problem of mental illness, or at the time “madness” was first recognized by society

As decades went by mental illness began to be understood better and it gained more and more attention. Only recently however has it been recognized by the media, schools, and other institutions

Now that mental illness was recognized by the larger community many groups wanted to promote awareness and start campaigns to combat it

Although it took several years, the social problem of mental illness was created and passed through all three stages as defined by the symbolic interactionist perspective

The challenge now is to reduce the stigma attached to mental illness and to change the meanings and labels that society attaches to it

Mental Illness: Is There a Solution?

The solution is to continue to spread awareness and to change the way mental illness is perceived by society

Symbolic interactionist theory can also provide a way to create a solution to this social problem

Changing the definitions of what it means to have a mental illness will encourage those who suffer from one to finally begin to speak up and to reach out for help

If the stigma of having a mental illness disappears then there is no need for sufferers to fear being labelled as a “disgrace” or to fear rejection

References

Bell Canada. [BellCanada]. (2014, December 22). Bell Let’s Talk 2015- Howie Mandel Testimonial [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnVZCnotBi4

Canadian Mental Health Association. (2015). Understanding Mental Illness. Retrieved from http://www.cmha.ca/mental-health/understanding-mental-illness/

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2012). Mental Illness and Addictions: Facts and Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/about_camh/newsroom/for_reporters/Pages/addictionmentalhealthstatistics.aspx

Holmes, M., Knox, D., Mooney, L.A., & Schacht, C. (2013). Understanding Social Problems. Toronto; Nelson Education LTD.

Moran, J.E. (2009). History of Madness and Mental Illness: A Short History of Care and Treatment in Canada

National Alliance of Mental Illness. (2015). Mental Health Conditions. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions

Neinstein & Associates. [neinsteinassociates]. (2012, December 14). Mental Illness: What You See/What You Don’t See [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54sDdNa9vek

Schizophrenia Society of Ontario. (2013). About Schizophrenia. Retrieved from http://www.schizophrenia.on.ca/Resources/About-Schizophrenia