Mental health is related to how people think, feel, and behave. Mental health professionals can help people deal with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, addiction, and other conditions that affect their thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
Mental health can affect a person’s daily life, relationships, and physical health. External factors in people’s lives and relationships can also play a role in their mental well-being.
Taking care of your mental health can help a person maintain their ability to enjoy life. This includes balancing their activities, responsibilities, and efforts to achieve psychological well-being.
Stress, depression, and anxiety can affect mental health and disrupt a person’s routine.
Although health professionals commonly use the term “mental health,” doctors recognize that many mental health problems can have physical causes as well.
This article explains what mental health and mental health conditions mean. It also describes the types of common mental health problems, their early symptoms and treatment methods.
Risk factors for mental health problems:
Anyone can experience a mental health problem regardless of age, gender, income, or ethnicity. In the United States and other developed countries, depression is a leading cause of disability.
Social and financial circumstances, adverse childhood experiences, biological factors, and medical conditions can affect mental well-being.
Many people experience multiple mental health conditions.
It is important to note that mental well-being depends on the balance of various factors, and many factors can contribute to the emergence of mental health problems.
The following factors can contribute to mental health problems:
Economic and social pressures:
Having limited financial resources or belonging to a disadvantaged ethnic group may increase the risk of mental health problems due to biases in health facilities.
A 2015 Iranian study described several socioeconomic causes of mental health problems, such as poverty and living in the suburbs of large cities.
Researchers have also described modifiable and nonmodifiable factors that may affect the availability and quality of mental health care for certain groups.
Modifiable factors for mental health problems include:
- Economic and social conditions, such as the availability of jobs in an area
- Profession or employment
- A person’s level of social inclusion
- Education
- Quality of accommodation
Immutable factors include:
- Sex
- Age
- Race
- Nationality
Research has found that being a woman increases the risk of having a low mental health condition by almost four times. In the study, people from “poor economic status” scored the highest in mental health problems.
Adverse childhood experiences
According to several studies, childhood traumas such as child abuse, parental death, parental separation, and parental illness significantly affect children’s mental and physical health.
There is a link between childhood abuse and other adverse events and mental health problems. These experiences can also predispose people to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Biological factors
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that a person’s family history can increase the likelihood of mental health problems based on certain genes and genetic variants. However, having a gene linked to a mental health problem does not guarantee a certain condition.
Similarly, people who don’t have the relevant genes or family history can also suffer from mental health problems.
Chronic stress and mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, can also be caused by physical health problems such as cancer, diabetes, and chronic pain.
Types of mental health problems
Health professionals group mental health problems according to their common characteristics, including:
- Anxiety problems
- Mood problems
- Schizophrenia problems
Anxiety problems
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems.
People with these disorders have intense fears or anxieties about certain objects or situations. Most people try to avoid the thing that causes their fear.
Below are some examples of anxiety disorders:
Generalized anxiety problem
Generalized anxiety disorder
(GAD) causes unnecessary worry or fear that affects daily life.
Individuals may also experience physical symptoms, including:
- Restlessness
- Exhaustion
- Poor ability to concentrate
- Muscle tension
- Disturbed sleep
Anxiety symptoms in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) do not always have a specific cause. They may feel overly anxious in everyday situations that do not pose a direct threat, such as household chores or meetings. Sometimes a person with GAD may feel anxious for no apparent reason.
Panic disorder
People with panic disorder experience frequent panic attacks, which involve a sudden sense of dread or fear of destruction and death.
Phobias
There are many types of phobias, and what may be normal for one person may be a major life-dominating problem for another. The different types include:
- Simple phobias: These disproportionate fears of specific objects, situations or animalsmay be Fear of spiders is a common example.
- Social Phobia: Sometimes called social anxiety, this is the fear of being seen or judged by others. People with social phobia often try to stay away from social environments.
- Agoraphobia: “Agoraphobia” refers to the fear of a situation from which it may be difficult to escape, such as being in an elevator or on a moving train. People sometimes mistake this phobia as a fear of being outside.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): People with OCD experience persistent, intrusive thoughts and urges to perform certain actions over and over again, such as washing their hands.
- PTSD: PTSD can occur after a person experiences or witnesses a stressful or traumatic event. During such an event, the individual feels that their life or that of others is in danger. They may become fearful or feel that they have no control over what is happening. These feelings of trauma and fear can lead to PTSD.
- Mood disorders: People also know mood disorders as affective disorders or depressive disorders. People with these problems have significant mood swings, usually including a phase of energy and euphoria (mania) or depression. Examples of mood disorders include:
- Major Depression: A person who has major depression is in a persistently low mood and loses interest in activities and opportunities they used to enjoy (anhedonia). He may feel sadness or intense sadness for long periods of time.
- Bipolar Disorder: A person with bipolar disorder experiences abnormal changes in mood, energy level, activity level and ability to carry on with daily life. High mood phases are called manic phases, while depressive phases are called low mood.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Low light during the fall, winter and early spring months triggers SAD, a type of major depression. It is more common in countries away from the equator.
- Schizophrenia Disorders: “Schizophrenia” generally refers to a group characterized by psychosis and other severe symptoms. These are very complex issues. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of schizophrenia usually appear between the ages of 16 and 30. A person’s thoughts appear scattered, and they may have difficulty processing information. Schizophrenia has negative and positive symptoms. Positive symptoms include hallucinations, thinking problems, and delusions, while negative symptoms include loneliness, lack of movement, and inappropriate mood states.
- Diagnosis
- Diagnosing a mental health problem requires a multi-step process. A doctor looks at a person’s medical history and performs a thorough physical exam to make sure that no physical problem is causing these symptoms. They may also recommend laboratory tests for possible causes, such as imaging tests and blood tests.
- A health professional also performs a psychological evaluation. This involves asking about a person’s symptoms and experiences and how these affect their life. A doctor may ask a person to complete mental health questionnaires to understand their thoughts, feelings, and behavior patterns.
- Most mental health professionals use the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition, Text Revised (DSM-5-TR) to make a diagnosis. DSM-5-TR includes specific criteria and specifications for diagnosis.
- Treatment
- There are various methods available to treat mental health problems. Treatment depends on the needs of the individual, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.
- Some strategies or treatments may be more successful in combination with others. A person with a mental health problem may choose different options at different stages of life.
- It is important that the individual be in close contact with a doctor who can help determine their needs and provide appropriate treatment.
- Some treatment options for people with mental health problems include:
- Psychotherapy or talking therapies
- The following types of therapy take a psychological approach to treating mental health:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- These treatments are performed by psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, and some primary care physicians.
- Therapy can help individuals understand the cause of their mental health problem. Working with a health professional can help people manage their daily lives and prevent loneliness or self-harmMay help reduce inflammation.
- Medicines
- Some people take prescription antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiety medications.
- Although these medications cannot cure mental health problems, some medications can help improve symptoms. They can also help people manage social relationships and routines.
- Some drugs increase the absorption of chemicals like serotonin in the brain. Other drugs either increase the levels of these chemicals or help prevent their destruction.
- Self Help
- A person experiencing a mental health problem may decide to make certain lifestyle changes to improve their health.
- Changes may include:
- Reducing the amount of alcohol, if it is being consumed
- Trying to improve sleep quality
- Eating a balanced and nutritious diet
- Take a break from work if possible
- Practice deep breathing, meditation, and relaxation exercises
- A support network, whether through self-help groups or close friends and family, can be beneficial to an individual’s well-being.
- Steps to maintain mental well-being
- According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the following steps can help a person manage their mental health, reduce the risk of illness, increase energy levels, and manage stress:
- Regular Exercise: 45 minutes of exercise three to five times a week can improve a person’s mental health.
- Eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated: This can sustain energy supply throughout the day.
- Aim for good sleep: A 2021 review found that significant improvements in sleep quality led to greater improvements in mental health.
- Practice calming activities: Breathing exercises, meditation, wellness applications, and journaling can help reduce stress and improve overall health.
- Practice Mindfulness and Gratitude: Individuals can identify and note at the end of each day the things they are grateful for.
- Seek Positive Social Relationships: Connecting with people and maintaining meaningful relationships can reduce stress and be a source of support and practical assistance when needed.