Updated January 2023
Although strides have been made to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental illness, the issue remains shrouded in shame and secrecy.
Research clearly shows that millions of people across the globe are suffering from poor mental health. Yet health care providers and front-line community workers still lack training in how to identify and assist those in need.
And despite the prevalence of mental illness, there is a wide array of poisonous myths regarding the nature of mental health disorders—and the people who are afflicted by them.
Do you have questions about which mental illnesses are most common, their key characteristics, and treatment options?
If you work closely with the public, there is little doubt that you have encountered people suffering from one (or more) of the following five mental health issues.
This list isn't definitive, but it offers a good summary of attributes, statistics, and warning signs associated with these very common mental illnesses.
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders on the planet.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 280 million people suffer from depression worldwide. In the United States alone, 21 million people have a major depressive episode each year.
Depression impacts people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds—but adolescents are particularly vulnerable to this mood disorder.
In Canada, the CBC reported that youth aged 15 to 24 had the highest rates of depression of any age group in the country. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among this demographic, and the WHO reports similar trends on a global scale.
But it's not just young people who are impacted.
The Canadian Institute for Health Information estimates that close to half of all seniors in long-term care suffer from depression (18 per cent of whom have no documented diagnosis or treatment plan).
Depression is a global problem, made worse by stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access to health care services.
Common signs of depression include:
- Loss of interest in daily life
- Withdrawal from social activities
- Impaired functioning at work or school
- Inability to cope with routine tasks
- Major changes in eating and sleeping habits
- Sadness, hopelessness
- Emotional "numbness"
- Difficulty concentrating and remembering things
- Physical aches and pains with no clear cause
With early diagnosis and effective health care, depression is highly treatable. Common approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy and antidepressants.
2. Anxiety Disorders
As a group, anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses.
In the US, a staggering 40 million adults suffer from anxiety every year. And some experts suggest this number is even higher, since many people don't report their illness or are misdiagnosed. In Canada, anxiety impacts roughly five per cent of the population.
Anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Phobias (such as fear of flying, heights, or specific animals)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Panic disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Social anxiety disorder
Each type of anxiety disorder has its own unique symptoms and triggers. But in general, anxiety is characterized by:
- Intense and prolonged feelings of fear and distress that do not align with a real threat or danger
- Avoidance of work, school, and social situations
- Headaches, muscle tension, irritability
Anxiety disorders often start in adolescence or young adulthood and are paired with another mental health problem.
Nearly half of people diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety is highly treatable, but due to a lack of mental health training , health care providers often miss key signs and symptoms.
Meanwhile, patients typically fear being labelled "weak" or "over-emotional" and avoid discussing their problems with anxiety. Like so many mental health issues, stigma is a major barrier to treatment and recovery.
3. Bipolar Affective Disorder
About 40 million people worldwide suffer from bipolar affective disorder. It is characterized by alternating episodes of depression and mania, separated by periods of normal mood.
Symptoms of manic episodes include:
- Elevated mood, feelings of joy and excitement
- Inflated self-esteem
- Lack of desire for sleep
- Rapid speech
- Racing thoughts
- Very short attention span
- High-risk behaviours
Symptoms of depressive episodes include:
- Extreme sadness
- Little energy but trouble sleeping
- Suicidal thoughts/actions
Bipolar affective disorder can be treated with mood stabilizers, anti-anxiety and antipsychotic medications, and behavioural cognitive therapy.
Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects approximately 24 million people worldwide.
People suffering from schizophrenia often have trouble differentiating between the real and unreal.
Symptoms tend to appear in the early 20s and 30s, and include:
- Hallucinations and paranoid delusions (hearing voices, distorted perceptions and beliefs)
- Difficulty expressing emotions
- Confused thinking and speech
- Bizarre behaviour, abnormal movements
- Decline in memory and concentration (often impacting work/school performance)
There are many harmful myths surrounding schizophrenia. This illness is not the same as split personality or multiple personality disorder.
Nor are sufferers always violent, homeless, or living in hospitals. Many people with schizophrenia live independently, with family, or in group homes.
Although there is no cure for schizophrenia, many patients do well with treatment. Medications and cognitive therapy can help control symptoms and greatly reduce the potential for acute psychotic episodes.
Stress management, social support, and employment programs have been shown to help people suffering from schizophrenia enjoy longer periods of remission.
5. Concurrent Disorders
The term concurrent disorder refers to the combination of addiction with another mental health issue.
A national survey on drug use and health in the US found that 50 per cent of adults with addiction problems had a co-occurring mental illness. That's 10.2 million adults suffering from concurrent disorders.
The story is not so different in Canada, where 282,000 people per year experience substance abuse and mental health issues concurrently.
Addiction is a very common mental health issue in its own right and includes problems with gambling, drugs, and alcohol abuse. However, addiction is often intertwined with other mental health issues, making diagnosis and treatment more complicated.
Some of the most common concurrent disorders include:
- Substance abuse + mood and anxiety disorders
- Substance abuse + personality disorders
- Substance abuse + eating disorders
Typical challenges involved in diagnosing and treating concurrent disorders include:
- People suffering from substance abuse often forget to take prescribed medications.
- Relapse in one area can trigger a crisis in the other.
- Addiction can mimic or hide symptoms of another mental health problem.
- People use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate, which can worsen related mental health symptoms.
Health Canada has identified a serious need for mental health training in this area to better understand the nature of concurrent disorders and how to treat them.
Related: Guide to Concurrent Disorders
Learn more about community mental health
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"Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""Mwaka wa 2020,"" ingawa hatua nyingi zimepigwa ili kuongeza ufahamu na kupunguza unyanyasaji wa akili, suala hilo bado limefunikwa na aibu na siri." Utafiti unaonyesha wazi kwamba mamilioni ya watu ulimwenguni pote wanateseka kutokana na afya mbaya ya akili. Hata hivyo, wauguzi na wafanyakazi wa jamii wa mstari wa mbele bado hawana mafunzo ya jinsi ya kutambua na kusaidia wale wanaohitaji msaada. Na licha ya kuenea kwa ugonjwa wa akili, kuna safu pana ya hadithi zenye sumu kuhusu asili ya matatizo ya afya ya akili - na watu wanaopatwa nayo. Je, una maswali kuhusu magonjwa ya akili yanayojulikana zaidi, sifa zake kuu, na njia za kutibu? Ikiwa unafanya kazi kwa karibu na umma, hakuna shaka kwamba umekutana na watu wanaoteseka na moja (au zaidi) ya masuala matano ya afya ya akili yafuatayo. Orodha hii si kamili, lakini inatoa muhtasari mzuri wa sifa, takwimu, na ishara za onyo zinazohusiana na magonjwa haya ya akili ya kawaida. Mshuko wa moyo ni mojawapo ya magonjwa ya akili yanayoenea zaidi duniani. Kulingana na Shirika la Afya Ulimwenguni (WHO), watu milioni 280 hivi wanakabiliwa na ugonjwa wa kushuka moyo ulimwenguni pote. Katika Marekani pekee, watu milioni 21 hupata ugonjwa wa kushuka moyo kila mwaka. Unyogovu huathiri watu wa umri wote na asili ya kijamii na kiuchumi - lakini vijana ni hasa dhaifu kwa ugonjwa huu wa hisia. Katika Kanada, CBC iliripoti kwamba vijana wenye umri wa miaka 15 hadi 24 walikuwa na viwango vya juu zaidi vya kushuka moyo kuliko kikundi kingine chochote cha umri nchini. Kujiua ni kisababishi cha pili cha vifo katika jamii hii, na WHO inaripoti mwenendo kama huo kwa kiwango cha kimataifa. Lakini si vijana tu wanaosumbuliwa. Taasisi ya Habari za Afya ya Canada inakadiria kuwa karibu nusu ya wazee wote katika huduma ya muda mrefu wanakabiliwa na unyogovu (kwa asilimia 18 ambao hawana utambuzi au mpango wa matibabu uliorekodiwa). Matatizo ya kihisia-moyo ni tatizo la ulimwenguni pote, ambalo huongezeka kwa sababu ya kutambuliwa, kukosa ufahamu, na upatikanaji mdogo wa huduma za afya. Dalili za kawaida za kushuka moyo ni pamoja na: - Kupoteza kupendezwa na maisha ya kila siku - Kujiondoa katika shughuli za kijamii - Kuathiriwa kwa utendaji kazini au shuleni - Kutokuwa na uwezo wa kukabiliana na kazi za kawaida - Mabadiliko makubwa katika tabia za kula na kulala - Huzuni, kukosa matumaini - "Ugonjwa wa hisia" - Ugumu wa kukaza fikira na kukumbuka mambo - Maumivu ya kimwili na maumivu bila sababu wazi. Mbinu za kawaida zinatia ndani tiba ya tabia ya utambuzi na dawa za kukandamiza mshuko wa moyo. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Matatizo ya wasiwasi - Kwa ujumla, matatizo ya wasiwasi ni ya kawaida zaidi kati ya magonjwa yote ya akili. Katika Marekani, watu wazima milioni 40 wanakabiliwa na wasiwasi kila mwaka. Wataalamu wanasema idadi hiyo ni kubwa zaidi kwa sababu watu wengi hawajulishi ugonjwa wao au wanagunduliwa vibaya. Katika Kanada, wasiwasi huathiri takriban asilimia tano ya watu. Matatizo ya wasiwasi ni pamoja na: - Matatizo ya wasiwasi wa jumla (GAD) - Phobias (kama vile hofu ya kuruka, urefu, au wanyama maalum) - Matatizo ya shida ya baada ya majeraha (PTSD) - Matatizo ya hofu (OCD) - Matatizo ya wasiwasi wa kijamii - Kila aina ya shida ya wasiwasi ina dalili zake za kipekee na kusababisha. Kwa ujumla, wasiwasi huanza katika mateso ya wasiwasi na wasiwasi wa muda mrefu, ambayo haipatani na tishio halisi au hatari, kuepuka kazi, shule, na hali za kijamii, maumivu ya kichwa, misuli, msisimko, na wasiwasi. Karibu nusu ya watu wanaogunduliwa kuwa na mshuko wa moyo pia hugunduliwa kuwa na ugonjwa wa wasiwasi. Wasiwasi ni hatari sana, lakini kwa sababu ya ukosefu wa mafunzo ya afya ya akili, watoa huduma za afya mara nyingi hukosa ishara muhimu na dalili. "Wakati huohuo, wagonjwa kwa kawaida huogopa kutajwa kuwa ""dhaifu"" au ""wenye hisia nyingi"" na huepuka kujadili matatizo yao kwa wasiwasi." Kama ilivyo na matatizo mengine ya akili, stigma ni kikwazo kikubwa kwa matibabu na uponyaji. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Ugonjwa wa hisia za bipolar: Watu milioni 40 hivi ulimwenguni kote wanaugua ugonjwa huo. Huo ni ugonjwa unaoonyeshwa na vipindi vya kushuka moyo na mania, vilivyogawanywa na vipindi vya hali ya akili ya kawaida. Dalili za manic episodes ni pamoja na: - hali ya juu, hisia za furaha na msisimko - inflated kujithamini - ukosefu wa hamu ya usingizi - hotuba ya haraka - mawazo ya mbio - muda mfupi sana wa umakini - tabia ya hatari sana Dalili za episodes depressive ni pamoja na: - huzuni kali - nishati kidogo lakini shida ya kulala - mawazo ya kujiua - vitendo - ugonjwa wa hisia za bipolar inaweza kutibiwa na mood stabilizers, anti- wasiwasi na dawa za antipsychotic. Schizophrenia ni ugonjwa wa akili unaowasumbua watu milioni 24 duniani kote. Mara nyingi watu wanaopatwa na ugonjwa wa akili huwa na matatizo ya kutofautisha kati ya mambo halisi na yasiyo halisi. Dalili za ugonjwa huu huonekana katika miaka ya 20 na 30, na ni pamoja na: - Hallucinations na paranoid delusions (kusikia sauti, maoni na imani zilizopotoka) - Ugumu wa kuelezea hisia - Mawazo na usemi uliochanganyikiwa - Tabia ya ajabu, harakati zisizo za kawaida - Kupungua kwa kumbukumbu na umakini (mara nyingi huathiri utendaji wa kazi au shule). Ugonjwa huu si sawa na ugonjwa wa utu uliogawanyika au ugonjwa wa utu mbalimbali. Wala wagonjwa si wenye jeuri sikuzote, hawana makao, au wanaishi katika hospitali. Watu wengi walio na ugonjwa wa akili huishi peke yao, pamoja na familia, au katika nyumba za kikundi. Ingawa hakuna tiba ya ugonjwa wa akili, wagonjwa wengi hufaulu kwa matibabu. Dawa na tiba ya utambuzi zaweza kusaidia kudhibiti dalili na kupunguza sana uwezekano wa kupatwa na magonjwa makali ya akili. Usimamizi wa mfadhaiko, utegemezo wa kijamii, na programu za kuajiri wameonyeshwa kusaidia watu wanaoteseka kutokana na ugonjwa wa schizophrenia kufurahia vipindi virefu zaidi vya kupona. 5. Uwe na mtazamo mzuri. Matatizo ya wakati mmoja (Concurrent Disorders) ni hali ya kutegemea dawa za kulevya na matatizo mengine ya akili. Uchunguzi wa kitaifa wa matumizi ya dawa za kulevya na afya nchini Marekani uligundua kuwa asilimia 50 ya watu wazima wenye matatizo ya kulevya walikuwa na ugonjwa wa akili unaotokea pamoja. Watu wazima milioni 10.2 wanaugua ugonjwa huo. Kwa mfano, nchini Canada, watu 282,000 kila mwaka wanakabiliwa na matatizo ya afya ya akili na matumizi mabaya ya dawa za kulevya. Uraibu ni tatizo la kawaida la afya ya akili na linajumuisha matatizo ya kucheza kamari, kutumia dawa za kulevya, na kutumia kileo vibaya. Hata hivyo, mara nyingi uraibu huambatana na matatizo mengine ya afya ya akili, na hivyo kufanya uchunguzi na matibabu yawe magumu zaidi. Baadhi ya matatizo ya kawaida ya wakati mmoja ni pamoja na: - Matumizi mabaya ya dawa za kulevya + hali ya moyo na wasiwasi - Matumizi mabaya ya dawa za kulevya + matatizo ya utu - Matumizi mabaya ya dawa za kulevya + matatizo ya kula Matatizo ya kawaida yanayohusika katika kugundua na kutibu matatizo ya wakati mmoja ni pamoja na: - Watu wanaoteseka kutokana na matumizi mabaya ya dawa za kulevya mara nyingi kusahau kuchukua dawa. - Kurudi nyuma katika eneo moja kwaweza kusababisha mgogoro katika eneo jingine. - Uraibu waweza kuiga au kuficha dalili za tatizo jingine la afya ya akili. - Watu hutumia dawa za kulevya na pombe kujipatia dawa, jambo linaloweza kuzidisha dalili zinazohusiana na afya ya akili. Afya ya Canada imegundua haja kubwa ya mafunzo ya afya ya akili katika eneo hili ili kuelewa vizuri asili ya matatizo ya wakati mmoja na jinsi ya kuwatibu. "Kama ""Mwongozo wa Matatizo ya Pamoja"" unajifunza zaidi juu ya afya ya akili ya jamii, unafanya kazi katika jukumu la huduma ya jamii na unataka kuimarisha maarifa yako ya afya ya akili?" Chunguza cheti cha Jumuiya ya Afya ya Akili na Uraibu inayotolewa na Kompass. Mafunzo hutolewa mtandaoni na kufundishwa na wataalamu wa afya ya akili wenye uzoefu mkubwa. Bonyeza hapa chini kwa habari zaidi juu ya cheti au kuzungumza kuishi na mshauri. Tuko hapa kusaidia!