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Increase
general public awareness and education of mental health issues
by including Mental health education in the curriculum of public
schools, as well as collaborating with school counselors. |
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Mental
illness, or mental health concern,
is a collective term that refers to all the different types
of mental conditions, including those that affect your mood,
your thinking and your behavior. To be classified as a mental
illness, a condition must cause distress in your life and reduce
your ability to function in one or more areas of your life,
such as at work, in relationships or in social situations |
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More
than 200 conditions are classified as mental illnesses, ranging
from minor to severe. Common mental illnesses include depression
and schizophrenia. |
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A
mental illness is technically considered a disorder rather than
a disease because it's classified by descriptions of signs and
symptoms that are open to interpretation. In general, what's
considered a mental illness comes down to the severity of signs
and symptoms, how long they've lasted, and how much they impair
your ability to function in your daily life. |
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Causes
There's no specific identifiable cause of mental illness. But
mental illnesses, in general, are thought to be caused by a
variety of biochemical, genetic and environmental factors. |
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Risk
factors
Although the precise cause of mental illness isn't known, certain
factors may increase the risk of developing or triggering mental
illness, including: |
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Having
other biological relatives with a mental illness |
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Stressful
life situations, such as financial problems, a loved one's
death or a divorce |
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Chronic
medical conditions, such as cancer |
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Combat |
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Taking
psychoactive drugs during adolescence |
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Lack
of friendships or healthy relationships |
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Mental
illness is common worldwide. In the United States, about one
in four adults have a mental illness in any given year. And
nearly half of them have more than one mental illness at the
same time. Mental illness can begin at almost any age, from
childhood through later adult years. |
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Complications
Mental illness exacts a heavy toll. It's one of the leading
causes of disability. Aside from reducing your overall quality
of life, untreated mental illness can result in severe emotional,
behavioral, health, and even legal and financial problems. Complications
that mental illness may cause or be associated with include: |
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Substance
abuse |
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Suicide/
Homicide |
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Heart
disease and other medical conditions |
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Work
or school problems |
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Family
conflicts |
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Relationship
difficulties |
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Social
isolation |
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Poverty/
Homelessness |
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Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of mental illness can vary greatly depending
on the particular disorder and your age, among other factors.
Symptoms also can be related to emotions, thoughts (cognitive),
behavior or physical issues which may include: |
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Feeling
sad or down |
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Confused
thinking |
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Excessive
fears or worries |
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Withdrawal
from friends and activities |
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Problems
sleeping |
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Delusions
or hallucinations; believing, hearing, feeling, seeing
things that are not in reality |
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Inability
to cope with daily problems or stress |
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Alcohol
or substance abuse
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Significant
changes in eating habits |
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Excessive
anger, hostility or violence |
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