Mental Illnesses Are Brain Disorders

What is Mental Illness?

Mental illness is a term used for a group of brain disorders causing severe disturbances in thinking, feeling, and relating. They result in substantially diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. Brain disorders can affect persons of any age --- children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly --- and they can occur in any family. Several million people in this country suffer from serious, long-term mental illnesses. The cost to society is high due to lost productivity and treatment expense. Persons with mental illness occupy more hospital beds than do persons with any other illness.

People with mental illnesses are usually of normal intelligence, although they may have difficulty performing at a normal level due to their illness.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is one of the most serious and disabling of the brain disorders. It affects approximately one person in a hundred. The disease affects men and women about equally. Its onset is usually in the late teens or early twenties. People with schizophrenia usually have several of the following symptoms:

· disconnected and confusing language

· poor reasoning, memory, and judgment

· high levels of anxiety

· eating and sleeping disorders

· hallucinations -- hearing and seeing things that exist only in the mind of the patient

· delusions --- persistent false beliefs about something; e.g., others are controlling their thoughts

· deterioration of appearance and personal hygiene

· loss of motivation and poor concentration

· tendencies to withdraw from others

Unfortunately there are many myths about schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia do not have a “split personality” and are not any more prone to violence than the general population when they are receiving treatment. Their illness is not caused by bad parenting or weakness of character. Their disorder is due to a biochemical disturbance of the brain.

Depressive Illnesses

Depressive illnesses are the most common of psychiatric disorders. They are generally less persistently disabling than schizophrenia. The primary disturbance in these disorders is that of affect or mood. These mood disorders may be bipolar disorder, in which the person swings between extreme high and low moods; or they may be unipolar, in which the person suffers from persistent severe depression. About six percent of the population suffers from an affective disorder --- a major cause of suicide.

Persons diagnosed as having bipolar illness usually have several of the following characteristics during a period of mania:

· boundless energy, enthusiasm, and need for activity

· decreased need for sleep

· grandiose ideas and poor judgment

· rapid, loud disorganized speech

· short temper and argumentativeness

· impulsive and erratic behavior

· possible delusional thinking

· rapid switch to severe depression

Persons with severe depression (or the depressive phase of a bipolar disorder) may have four or five of the following characteristics during a period of depression:

· difficulty sleeping

· loss of interest in daily activities

· loss of appetite

· feelings or worthlessness, guilt, and hopelessness

· feelings of despondency or sadness

· inability to concentrate

· psychotic symptoms

· suicidal thoughts and even actions

Other disabling brain disorders include severe anxiety and panic disorders, personality disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Causes of Brain Disorders

The causes of biologically based brain disorders are not well understood, although it is believed that the functioning of the brain’s neurotransmitters is involved. Many factors may contribute to this disturbed functioning. Heredity may be a factor in brain disorders as it is in diabetes and cancer. Stress may contribute to the onset of mental illness in a vulnerable person. Recreational drugs may also contribute to onset but are unlikely to be the single cause. Family interaction and early childhood experiences were once thought to cause mental illness; however, research does not support that theory any longer.

Can Brain Disorders be Prevented? Cured?

Since the causes of long-term mental illnesses are not known, there is no effective prevention at this time. More research is needed to determine causes and strategies of prevention. Likewise, there are no cures for these brain disorders. However, treatments can substantially improve the functioning of persons with these illnesses.

What Are the Treatments for These Brain Disorders?

An expanding range of medications markedly reduces symptoms for many people. Supportive counseling, self-help support groups, and community rehabilitation programs promote recovery and build self-confidence. Housing and employment services enable some people to develop independent living skills, hold a job, and achieve a fulfilling life.

Others may need support for most or all of their lives. Helping them achieve a sense of dignity with the highest degree of independence, productivity, and satisfaction with life is the goal.

Needed: A System of Community Care

· Supportive Housing - A range of housing is needed with various levels of support to meet the diverse needs of persons with mental illnesses.

· Day Programs - Ranging from day treatment (outpatient) to psychosocial and vocational rehabilitation, these programs help persons recover lost skills and become as independent as possible.

· Self-help Support Groups - These groups help people overcome loneliness and isolation, make friends, and participate in social activities.

· Client Management - Trained persons are needed to help persons with brain disorders access community services.

· The Basic Necessities of Life - Like everyone, these people need money, food, recreation, friends, housing, and jobs.

How Can the Community Help?

There are so many ways that caring people can help that we can only list a few. Contact your local NAMI affiliate and see what you, your church, your club, or your neighborhood can do. Some suggestions:

· Help combat stigma by objecting to negative stereotyping of persons with brain disorders. Tactfully correct misunderstandings about mental illness held by friends and relatives.

· If you are an employer, hire these persons. For private employers, there can be tax advantages.

· As a taxpayer, support funds for a good community-based support system and research to further understanding of causes and treatments.

· If you are a homeowner, welcome a group home in your neighborhood. People with brain disorders can be good neighbors.

· Groups can help finance a house or apartment for persons with brain disorders or help furnish existing ones. Employment projects and social clubs are also needed.

· If you are a family with an ill member, join your local NAMI affiliate. If you know of families with this problem, tell them about NAMI. Even if you don’t have a relative with mental illness, you are invited to become a member of NAMI and/or to make donations to our work.

NAMI of Greater Chicago

NAMI-GC is the Chicago area chapter providing education, information, support and advocacy for Chicago area persons dealing with mental illnesses. NAMI-GC receives more than 5,000 calls annually from persons seeking assistance in dealing with mental illness. We provide support groups, the 12 week Family to Family Education Classes, public and media education, and have many programs serving consumers of mental health services. An up-to-date lending library is available to members. Volunteers are needed to help with many ongoing projects. To volunteer or for information/support in Chicago:

The National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI of Greater Chicago

1536 West Chicago Avenue

Chicago, IL 60622

312-563-0445

www.namigc.org

Chicago’s Voice on Mental Illness