MENTAL HEALTH STATISTICS

This article will discuss mental health disorders, signs of mental health issues, and mental health statistics.

The information below is presented as a generalized and educational overview. The specific details of treatment protocols mentioned in this article may not reflect the protocols utilized by A Mission for Michael.

If you would like to learn more about AMFM’s individualized programs to aid those struggling with mental health disorders, please reach out.

We look forward to hearing from you: (844) 993-2217

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MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

What do you think of when someone asks you how you are? Most people will think of physical health. If they are not experiencing major aches and pains, are free disease, and have all major organs are functioning correctly, they are A-okay. But what about mental health? Lately, there has been a major focus on mental health, and studies show that mental health disorders can be just as dangerous as any other type of illness. This article will dive into mental health statistics.

Mental health disorders are any type of disorder that affects your mental state. They may cause feelings of anxiety and depression, a disconnection from reality, dangerous behaviors, and more.

WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH?

The various components of mental health include the following:

Physical Health: Physical and mental health are closely tied together. If a patient is not feeling well physically, it can cause anxiety and depression. Conversely, severe mental health disorders can result in physical pain.
Emotional Health: Emotional health and mental health are essentially one in the same. Your mood and your ability to regulate it makes all the difference in determining whether you may be suffering with mental health disorders.
Environmental Health: Environmental health refers to how your health is affected by the environment around you. Stress in the workplace and abuse or neglect at home can cause mental health disorders.

SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

There are many signs of mental health disorders to look out for. These symptoms can include the following.

PHYSICAL SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Mental health disorders can be so severe that they produce physical symptoms, including issues such as:

Headaches
Migraines
Digestive issues such as pain, constipation and diarrhea
Sleep issues
General pain
Fatigue
Vision problems
Feelings of sluggishness
Muscle tension and soreness

BEHAVIORAL SIGNS OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

People with mental health disorders may showcase the following issues:

Withdrawal from society
Lack of interest in the things they once loved doing
Restlessness
Fearful impulses
Mood swings
Substance abuse
Outbreaks of anger
Defiance of authority
Engaging in dangerous behavior
Inability to manage responsibilities
Changes in eating and sleeping habits

PSYCHOLOGICAL SIGNS

Mental health disorders will result in psychological symptoms that include:

Suicidal thinking
Confusion
Hallucinations
Irrational fear, anxiety and depression
Difficulty coping with problems
Paranoia

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

There are many types of mental health disorders a person may deal with. Here is a list of disorders that you should be aware of.

MOOD RELATED MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Mood related mental health disorders are common mental disorders that can occur causing severe ups and downs. They include the following:

Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings with soaring highs and devastating lows. People with the disorder may experience a reduced need for sleep, high energy levels, and a loss of touch with reality followed by episodes of low motivation, low energy, and a lack of interest in day-to-day activities.
Clinical Depression: Everyone feels depressed occasionally, but people with clinical depression will be depressed for long periods. The lows they feel may not be tied to any specific reason. The disorder can be so severe that it causes physical pain or gets in the way of one’s ability to function.

ANXIETY DISORDERS

Anxiety is another symptom many of us are familiar with, but in some cases, it can get out of control.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by prolonged feelings of anxiety that may not have any reasoning behind them. It can cause feelings of physical pain and an inability to function.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): People with OCD will be obsessed with certain thoughts and will use compulsive behavior to gain control over these thoughts. For example, they may be obsessed with the possibility that they may become injured. They then engage in a behavior, such as tapping their foot three times before stepping into a room, as their way to keep injury at bay.
Panic Disorder: Panic disorder involves episodes of intense fear and panic that can bring on symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD occurs in people that have been exposed to a traumatic event such as murder, war, acts of violence, or a personal injury. The event continues to haunt them causing flashbacks and nightmares as well as overall feelings of depression and anxiety.
Social Phobia: People with a social phobia will fear social situations. The phobia could be specific to one type of event, such as public speaking, or it can be general.

PERSONALITY DISORDERS

Personality disorders affect how a person acts in general or toward other people. The list of mental disorders that are considered personality disorders include:

ADHD: ADHD is among the common mental disorders involving personality. Affected individuals have trouble paying attention, focusing, and completing tasks. They may also exhibit symptoms of restlessness and hyperactivity. The problem usually affects children, but it can continue into adulthood.

PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS

Psychotic disorders affect the mind and get in the way of a person’s ability to think clearly. The list of mental disorders that are considered psychotic include:

Schizophrenia: People with schizophrenia will exhibit symptoms such as disorganized speech or behavior, being out of touch with reality, and a decreased participation in daily activities.
Catatonia: Catatonia may be linked to schizophrenia. It may produce strange movements, a lack of speech, moving quickly or standing still, and other types of unusual behavior.

MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS RELATED TO EATING

It is not unusual for people to form mental health disorders that affect the way they eat. Here is a list of mental disorders that involve eating.

AVOIDANT RESTRICTIVE FOOD INTAKE DISORDER

People with this disorder have little to no interest in eating food. They are very picky about what they eat to the point where it may lead to poor growth and nutrition.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

This eating disorder involves a distorted body image. People dealing with it often think they are overweight no matter how thin they may be. They reduce the amount they eat and many end up starving to death.

BULIMIA NERVOSA

The most common symptom of bulimia nervosa is throwing up after you eat to avoid the caloric intake. Individuals with bulimia may also not like to eat in front of others and may develop odd eating habits such as chewing selectively, hoarding food, and more.

BINGE EATING

Binge eating involves eating large amounts of food without being hungry and/or without being aware of how much you are eating. People often binge eat alone, away from other people. They may feel disassociated from reality after an episode.

PICA

Pica is a compulsive eating disorder in which people eat nonfood items such as dirt, clay, and flaking paint.

RUMINATION DISORDER

This is a rare behavioral disorder in which food is brought back up from the stomach. The food will either be rechewed and re-swallowed or spit out.

No one is sure why odd eating habits such as Pica and rumination disorder come about. They may be nervous habits, or they may be culturally ingrained.

TRAUMATIC AND STRESS RELATED MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Traumatic and stress related mental illnesses typically occur due to a traumatic situation that happened at some point in a person’s life. They negatively affect stress and mental health. The list of mental disorders that involve trauma include the following:

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

Post-traumatic stress disorder can be considered both an anxiety disorder and a trauma-related disorder.

ACUTE STRESS DISORDER

Like PTSD, acute stress disorder occurs after a traumatic event. However, an acute stress disorder refers to the symptoms that occur immediately after the event while PTSD refers to the long-term symptoms.

REACTIVE ATTACHMENT DISORDER

This stress and mental health disorder occurs when children do not form healthy attachments with parents or caregivers. It can result in unhealthy relationships and a need for therapy later in life.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER

Many people with mental health issues are reluctant to get help because they are afraid of what people may think of them. Others may think that their problems are not that bad, or they may not have the time and money to deal with them. Instead of reaching out for help, they self-medicate with drugs and alcohol which starts them on a vicious cycle.

CAUSES OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

There are many possible causes of mental health disorders Here are few to consider.

BIOLOGICAL

GENETICS

Genetics are popular causes of mental health disorders. Mental health disorders are often due to imbalances in the brain chemistry. These imbalances can be passed on from generation to generation. Statistics show that children born to parents with mental illness have a one in three chance of developing a disorder by adulthood.¹

INFECTIONS

Studies have shown that people with infections that present as encephalitis and meningitis are likely to develop mental health disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.²

PROBLEMS DURING GESTATION OR BIRTH

Women with mental disorders have been shown to be more likely not to take care of themselves during pregnancy. Lack of proper care can cause mental health problems and other issues for their children.³

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Psychological issues are common causes of mental health disorders. Here are some examples of how they can become severe enough to produce a mental illness.

STRESS

Stress, anxiety, and health are closely linked. If an individual cannot manage their anxiety, it can lead to a mental health disorder.

DEPRESSION

Just like stress, ongoing depression that is not properly managed can become a mental illness.

ABUSE

If people are abused at home or in other environments, it can cause a disorder to develop. These disorders include anxiety, depression and trauma-based illnesses.

ENVIRONMENT

Environmental factors can lead to mental health disorders. These include the following:

CULTURE

A person’s culture can determine whether they are the type to open about mental symptoms or keep them bottled up inside. If a person was raised feeling like they cannot talk about their problems, it can make the disorder worse.

POVERTY

People that are raised in poverty may constantly feel anxious or depressed about their situation. Poverty can cause them to become mentally ill.

TREATMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

Mental illness is difficult to deal with. Fortunately, treatment of mental health disorders is available. Here are some methods you may want to investigate.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): ECT is often used on patients with severe depression and bipolar disorder. It involves using electrical stimulation on the brain while the patient is anaesthetized. It causes changes in brain chemistry that can reverse the symptoms of a mental health condition.⁴
Vagus Nerve Stimulation: This treatment involves using electricity to stimulate the vagus nerve. It has been approved to treat depression and epilepsy. It requires a device to be implanted under your skin and with a wire that runs to the left vagus cells. It sends signals to certain areas of the brain and may be useful in improving mental health.⁴
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: This noninvasive therapy uses a magnetic field which causes an electric current at a specific area in the brain. It involves an electromagnetic coil being placed on the scalp near the forehead which stimulates nerve cells in the part of the brain responsible for mood control and depression. It may activate regions of the brain that have decreased activity due to depression.⁵

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Certain lifestyle changes may also be beneficial in the treatment of mental health disorders. They include the following:

PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Exercise is an effective treatment for mental health disorders. It increases endorphins and serotonin levels, thereby relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is recommended that you get at least one hundred and fifty minutes of moderate aerobic activity or seventy-five minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week.

INCREASING AND ENHANCING SOCIAL LIFE

Talking to people improves your mood, making you feel better. If you feel like you do not have many people to talk with, then consider joining a community group or volunteering.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Activities like meditation, deep breathing, and yoga will reduce stress and anxiety. You can go to a class to engage in meditation and yoga, but a more convenient option is to download apps on your phone that can guide you through the processes.

PUT A CURB ON YOUR VICES

Certain vices like drug use, smoking, and other bad habits may seem to relieve symptoms of mental illness, but they will make things worse in the long run. The euphoria you feel will be followed by devastating lows and you will run into other issues like financial problems, troubled relationships and more. You are best off leaving them behind before matters get worse.

MAINTAIN A JOURNAL

Journaling can be very therapeutic, and it can improve mental health. You can use your journal to write down things that may be bothering you, you can enter random thoughts and poems, or you can simply write about how your day went.

GET THERAPY

You may choose to seek professional help for your mental illness. A therapist will find a treatment that’s right for you and work on improving your condition.

PSYCHOTHERAPY

Psychotherapy is also called talk therapy and it is one of the most common methods of mental health treatment. It is used to treat a variety of disorders and can eliminate negative thought processes to improve wellbeing. There are various forms of psychotherapy including the following.

Behavioral Therapy: Behavioral therapy focuses on helping people change their behavior patterns to promote healthy responses to negative stimuli.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a form of behavioral therapy that includes talking through your problems. It identifies negative thought processes to yield healthy behavior.
Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis involves analyzing the conscious and unconscious parts of the brain to determine what’s behind negative behaviors and thought processes.

SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT AND RECOVERY FROM MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

A successful treatment and recovery from mental health disorders is contingent on various factors including the following.

MEANING OF RECOVERY

To successfully treat mental health disorders, it is essential to understand what recovery from mental health disorders means. For those that self-medicate, it can mean getting over addictive tendencies. For those dealing with mental illness, it can mean moving on to healthier behavior patterns.

Recovery is an ongoing process, and you may need continued treatment to maintain a high level of mental health. However, patients should not get discouraged and should pat themselves on the back for any progress being made.

MEANING OF BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT AND RECOVERY FROM MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

While there are many types of mental health treatments, patients often face barriers in the recovery process. The first barrier is the decision to reach out for help.

RELUCTANCE TO FIND HELP

Many individuals are reluctant to do so because they are afraid of what people think of them. They may not think their problem is that bad or they may not have the time and money to deal with it. However, they must realize that taking the first step is the most important part. Friends and family should support them in doing so.

RELAPSING

The second barrier that may interfere with successful recovery is relapse. Relapsing commonly happens in patients dealing with addiction. They may finish a rehab program and go out into the world again only to find they are unsure of how to deal with stressors. They may see the people they used to use with and the places they used to use at and be tempted to go back to their old ways.

Fortunately, many treatment centers provide aftercare giving them the support they need to make it through these difficult times.

Moreover, relapse does not only occur in patients with addiction. It can happen when mental health patients go back to their old thought and behavior patterns. Hopefully, they will be getting ongoing treatment to keep them on a healthy path.

RECOVERY SUPPORT

Recovery support comes in many forms. It could be your peers, your family, your therapist and/or the people you went to group therapy with. The main thing is to surround yourself with people you love and trust and who understand what you are going through. This will give you the strength you need to get through.

HOW AMFM TREATMENT CAN HELP

There are many mental health facilities that provide treatment for people with disorders, but which one is right for you? Start the road to recovery with AMFM.

AMFM is a mental health facility located in the laid back, upscale community of San Juan Capistrano. We offer inpatient treatment ensuring around-the-clock care that allows us to update our therapy plans according to patient’s current needs. We have a caring, compassionate, knowledgeable staff that offers a two-to-one client-to-flight ratio.

We treat a variety of mental health issues including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and trauma. We offer TMS therapy, talk therapy and other evidence-based methods integrated in a plan customized for each patients’ individual needs.

After inpatient treatment is completed, patients can move on to our outpatient program and transitional living program. The outpatient program allows them to continue recovering while going about their everyday lives. The transitional living program helps them transition back into society. They may also learn valuable skills that will help them retain a job and feel like a productive member of society.

Mental health disorders are not easy to deal with. AMFM Treatment provides services that will help you deal with your stressors in a healthy way. Contact us to get on a path to higher quality living.

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