What Is A Mental Health Disorder?
A mental health disorder is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thought and/or behavior, resulting in an inability to cope with life.
There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness. Some of the more common disorders are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. Symptoms may include changes in mood, personality, personal habits and/or social withdrawal.
Statistics
- One in five American adults experienced a mental health issue
- One in 10 young people experienced a period of major depression
- One in 25 Americans lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression
- Half of all mental health disorders show first signs before a person turns 14 years old, and three quarters of mental health disorders begin before age 24.
- Less than 20% of children and adolescents with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need.
- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States
Trauma Related Mental Health Disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can occur after living through or seeing a traumatic event, such as war, rape, or physical abuse. PTSD makes you feel stressed and afraid after the danger is over.
Warning Signs
Adults | Teens
- Confused thinking
- Prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
- Feelings of extreme highs and lows
- Excessive fears, worries and anxieties
- Social withdrawal
- Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Strong feelings of anger
- Delusions
- Hallucinations)
- Growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
- Suicidal thoughts
- Numerous unexplained physical ailments
- Substance use
Children
- Inability to cope with problems and daily activities
- Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
- Excessive complaints of physical ailments
- Changes in ability to manage responsibilities – at home and/or at school
- Defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism
- Intense fear
- Prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or thoughts of death
- Frequent outbursts of anger
- Changes in school performance
- Changes in sleeping and/or eating habits
- Frequent temper tantrums
- Excessive worry or anxiety (i.e. refusing to go to bed or school)
- Hyperactivity
- Persistent nightmares
- Persistent disobedience or aggression
Resources:
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Community Policing Crisis Response Team