Mental Illness

A mental illness is a disease of the brain that affects the way a person thinks, acts and feels.  Mental illness can strike anyone at any age.  And, mental illnesses are more common than cancer, diabetes and heart disease! 

Mood Disorders: A group of illnesses that include major depression, mania and bipolar disorder. 

• Some people have depression alone.  Others are diagnosed with only mania.  
• If a person has bipolar disorder, they experience both depression and mania. 
• Know the signs of depression and report any concerns you have to your supervisor.     

Schizophrenia: People with schizophrenia experience a split between what’s happening inside their heads and what’s really happening in the outside world. May include delusions, hallucinations, confused thinking and disorganized speech.

• Never make fun of people who are having hallucinations.  
• Help the person feel safe and protected.  
• If a client speaks in a disorganized way, the best thing to do is to listen for (and respond to) the emotions behind the words.  

Anxiety Disorders: A group of illnesses that include phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD and panic disorder. Symptoms include dizziness, shakiness, shortness of breath, terror and a feeling that the whole experience is unreal.

• Be as consistent as you can.  Many mentally ill people feel “safer” when there are no surprises in their lives.  They like to have things go according to schedule.  
• So, if you tell them that you’ll help them with their lunch at 12:00, make sure you are there on time.

SUICIDE AND MENTAL ILLNESS

As many as 90 percent of suicides are committed by individuals with some kind of mental illness. KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS—and GET HELP IMMEDIATELY!

• Severe depression.
• Talking about suicide.  Writing suicide notes.
• Seeking out the means to carry out a suicide.
• Sense of worthlessness, self hatred.
• Isolation, inability to relate to family and friends.
• Feeling of loneliness, hopelessness, anxiety or panic.
• Saying goodbye to people—as if they may never see them again.
• Self destructive behaviors.
• Sudden desire to tidy up personal affairs.
• Sudden sense of calm after being extremely depressed.