Basics Problems Testing Treatments Therapy Types Professionals Advice Links
Basics ————————————————————————————————————————
A mental health problem is a disorder of the mind that affects a person's thoughts, emotions, personality, or behaviour to the extent that it damages the person's ability to function effectively in everyday activities and situations.
For some people, coping with life's problems is easy, but for others, it's very difficult.
Approximately 25% of adults experience at least one mental health problem in any one year.
Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health issues.
Symptoms of mental health problems include: sleeping difficulties; increased irritability; inability to concentrate / focus; heightened sensitivity to criticism; loss of appetite; drinking and smoking more; removal from social activities.
Most people occasionally have mild mental illness symptoms but a person who is mentally ill has them frequently.
Women are more likely than men to have received treatment for a mental health problem.
Men are three times as likely as women to die by suicide.
It's certain that if more people asked for help with mental health issues, less people would commit suicide.
If you're worried that you're suffering from a mental health problem, consult your doctor about it as soon as possible.
If you're concerned that someone you know is suffering from a mental health issue: talk to them; let them know that you care about them; encourage them to consult their doctor about it as soon as possible.
It’s advisable to get a full medical check-up before seeking the help of a mental health professional because it's possible to experience psychological problems as a result of a physical medical condition.
Problems ——————————————————————————————————————-
The ‘Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ (DSM-IV-TR), published by the 'American Psychiatric Association', is the most used resource in the diagnosis of mental health problems.
The term ‘neurosis’ is used to describe mild mental illnesses and the term ‘psychosis’ is used to describe severe mental illnesses.
A neurosis incorporates symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
A psychosis is characterised by symptoms that most people would consider abnormal, such as delusions and hallucinations.
Anxiety disorders are those where the main cause of a person’s distress is inappropriate or excessive anxiety e.g. obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobias.
Dissociative disorders are characterised by disruptions in consciousness, identity, memory, or perception e.g. amnesia and multiple personality disorder.
Eating disorders are present where a person has abnormalities in eating behaviour (typically eating too much or too little) e.g. anorexia and bulimia.
Impulse control disorders are those where a person can’t control their urges despite the obvious negative consequences of them e.g. self-injuring and pathological gambling.
Mood disorders are characterised by severe disturbances in mood and in inappropriate or exaggerated displays of feelings e.g. bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder.
Paraphilias incorporate people who repeatedly suffer from distressing sexual fantasies or urges over a significant period of time e.g. fetishism and voyeurism.
Psychotic disorders are those where delusions and hallucinations are occurring e.g. schizophrenia and delusional disorder.
Sexual disorders are present where a person is unable to function sexually in a way that's considered normal e.g. sexual aversion disorder and orgasmic disorder.
Sleep disorders are characterised by severe disturbances in sleeping patterns over a significant period of time e.g. insomnia and narcolepsy.
Somatoform disorders incorporate people who believe they have a medical problem despite no medical problem being present e.g. hypochondria and body dysmorphic disorder.
Substance related disorders are present where a person is either abusing or is dependent on a substance e.g. alcoholism and drug addiction.
Personality disorders are characterised by extreme character traits having negative consequences on a person's life e.g. narcissistic personality disorder and anti-social personality disorder.
Testing ———————————————————————————————————————–
The purpose of psychological testing is to assess whether you’re suffering from a mental health problem / disorder.
Psychological testing normally forms part of a full psychological assessment.
Psychological testing can take the form of: an interview; a computer test; a written test.
Written and computer-based tests and more objective and scientific than interviews.
There are many different types of psychological tests; each being used to assess a particular aspect of a persons mind.
Two of the most frequently used psychological tests are the ‘MMPI’ (requiring answers to many ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions) and the ‘Rorschach’ (requiring descriptions of inkblot cards).
Psychological testing can give a good indication about your state of mind but no test is completely valid or reliable.
A psychological test’s accuracy depends on how carefully and seriously you answer the questions.
Many psychological tests include a number of trick / contradictory questions that let practitioners know if you’re not giving truthful answers.
If being given a psychological test, you have the right to know: the purpose of the testing; the name of the test being used; the results of the test; who will have access to the test results.
Copies of standard professional psychological tests aren’t available online because they’re protected by copyright law; though self-diagnosis isn’t recommended anyway.
Treatments —————————————————————————————————————-
Before being given any treatment for a mental health problem, you’ll first have to undergo a psychological assessment.
A psychological assessment includes: psychological testing; interviews, the reviewing of your medical history, diagnosis.
Questions to ask a mental health professional before beginning any treatment: have you treated many people with this kind of problem?; what kind of treatment do you use and how does it work?; what kind of success can I expect?
Treatment for psychological problems normally involves medication, therapy, or a combination of both.
There’s normally no time limit set for the resolution of mental health problems; treatment could take one session or many years to complete.
Medications can be used to control unwanted and distressing symptoms arising from a mental health problem.
Medications can’t cure psychological problems; once you stop taking them, the symptoms of the problem will return.
There are 5 main types of psychiatric medication: antidepressants; mood stabilisers; hypnotics; antipsychotics; anxiolytics.
The same medication can have a variety of names: the trade name; the generic name; the chemical group name.
Medications are mandatory for the treatment of some mental health problems and optional in the treatment of others.
Questions to ask before taking medication: what is this drug designed to do?; how long will it be before it takes effect?; what are the side effects?; how long do I have to take the drug?; do I need to take any precautions?
The aim of therapy is for you to talk about and better understand the reasons why you feel as you do.
For many people, simply talking about their problems with another person can have a beneficial effect.
Therapy provides a nonjudgmental environment where you can feel safe in revealing thoughts or feelings that negatively affect your life.
For therapy to be effective, you must be honest with yourself and with your practitioner.
Therapy may initially be an uncomfortable experience for you; however, after a few sessions, it tends to become more relaxing and positive.
At the end of therapy, you should feel more positive about your thoughts and behaviours.
Though therapy is very effective in treating some mental health problems, it has little effect in the treatment of others.
Therapy Types ———————————————————————————————————-
There are numerous types of therapy that can be used to help you overcome a mental health problem.
Psychotherapy is a series of sessions between yourself and a practitioner in which your life and personal experiences are discussed and analysed.
Psychotherapy is normally only conducted with a psychologist or psychiatrist.
There are two types of psychotherapy: ‘psychoanalysis’ and ‘psychodynamic’.
Psychoanalysis is an intensive, long-term treatment in which you’re encouraged to talk about anything that comes to mind (called ‘free association').
Psychodynamic focuses on the discussion of specific problems rather than giving you the freedom to talk about anything that comes to mind.
Cognitive behavioural therapy uses the theory that the way we feel about something is dependent on the way we think about it (i.e. positively or negatively).
In cognitive behavioural therapy, you’re encouraged to learn new ways of behaving through gradual changes to existing behaviour and exposure to stressful or feared situations.
Cognitive behavioural therapy teaches you to change negative thoughts, feelings and behaviours into positive ones.
Counselling involves helping you deal with common problems that arise in everyday life e.g. bereavements, marital problems, family etc.
Counselling may be carried out by a range of people within the mental health profession.
In group therapy you share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with a group of people who are experiencing, or have experienced, the same problem as you.
Group therapy allows participants to support each other and learn from each others experiences.
Professionals ————————————————————————————————————-
The role of a mental health professional is to work with individuals, couples, families, and small groups to help them overcome issues which negatively affect their lives.
People qualified to help with mental health issues include: psychologists; psychiatrists; counsellors; social workers.
The terms psychologist and psychiatrist are often used interchangeably but they're not the same.
Psychologists are trained specifically to help people manage or overcome problems related to their thinking, feelings or behaviour.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in mental health / illness.
Psychiatrists can prescribe medication whereas psychologists can’t (though they can recommend a doctor to do so).
To find mental health practitioners: ask a doctor; search on the internet; look in a telephone directory.
Points to consider when choosing a mental health practitioner: fees; type of licence; length of experience; academic degrees.
Be wary of people offering / advertising assistance for mental health problems; some will not be qualified to do so.
Always ask a mental health practitioner if they have a licence to practice and are regulated.
Check the validity and professionalism of regulatory bodies by phoning them or viewing their website.
It's advisable to speak with a few practitioners before selecting one to proceed with.
Try to find a mental health professional that has experience of dealing with problems / issues similar to your own.
Practitioners are legally required to keep all information about you confidential; they can't even pass on information to other health professionals without your permission.
Mental health professionals are providing a service and you have similar rights as you would with other services e.g. to query, to complain, to change provider etc.
Advice ————————————————————————————————————————-
It's not possible to avoid having negative thoughts but it is possible to minimise the negative affects those thoughts have on you.
Don't avoid the causes of anxiety and stress; confront them and try to overcome them.
Don’t hide or hold back your thoughts and feelings; instead be honest and express what’s going on inside you to others.
Find good role models and imitate the way in which they approach problems.
Don’t wait for things to get better by themselves; take the initiative and make them get better.
Set goals for yourself to achieve; they should be challenging but realistic enough that you'll be able to reach them.
Spend as much time as possible doing the things that you love to do.
Don’t belittle yourself for minor faults and mistakes.
Accept that no-one can be perfect all the time.
Do congratulate and reward yourself for minor successes.
Talk to yourself positively; using phrases such as “I can…” and “I will…”
Keep a diary / journal of your thoughts and feelings; it helps to highlight the positives in your life and resolve the negatives too.
Your physical health affects your mental health so eat well and exercise.
Sleep is essential for your mind to refresh itself; it's recommended that you get at least 7-8 hours every night.
Set aside time each day for uninterrupted relaxation.
Learn to manage your negative emotions through yoga or meditation.
Basics Problems Testing Treatments Therapy Types Professionals Advice Links
www.webmd.com : Mental health problems and disorders. Message boards.
www.nmha.org : Mental health factsheets.
www.bbc.co.uk : Therapy. A to Z of mental health medication. Coping techniques.
www.health.discovery.com : Anxiety. Depression. Mental health articles.
www.guidetopsychology.com : Psychologists. Psychological treatments.