About Mental Illness

This section discusses the facts and fiction of mental illness and expands on information presented in Mental Illness and Suicide: A Mindframe resource for stage and screen.

 

 

Mental health is a state of emotional and social wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively or fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community (WHO, 1999).

 

 

Mental health problems and mental disorders refer to the spectrum of cognitive, emotional and behavioural disorders that interfere with the lives and productivity of people.

 

A mental disorder is a diagnosable illness that significantly interferes with an individual’s cognitive, emotional or social abilities. Mental disorders are of different types and degrees of severity and some of the major mental disorders perceived to be public health issues are depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, psychosis and dementia. The term mental illness is sometimes used instead of mental disorder.

 

A mental health problem usually interferes with cognitive, social or emotional abilities to a lesser extent than a mental disorder and has a shorter duration, but may develop into a mental disorder. Mental health problems are more common mental complaints and include temporary mental illness experienced as a reaction to life stressors.

 

The distinction between mental health problems and mental disorders is not well defined and is made on the basis of the severity and duration of the symptoms.