Mental Health Overview: What to Look For

Reviewed by: Dr. Steven Knauf, D.C.

By Martha Michael

Most people have had the feeling they’re on an emotional roller coaster. From hopefulness and joy to anger and disappointment, our internal reactions have a wide range—and that spectrum is just a part of being human.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines mental health as your “emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.”

When our internal guide that drives our thoughts and feelings isn’t functioning properly, it can mean we’re suffering from a mental illness. Unlike a personality trait or sign of weakness, mental illness doesn’t just go away; it’s a diagnosable condition that you learn to manage.

What Are the Various Mental Health Issues That People Face?

Mental illnesses come with various symptoms and challenges. For instance, some conditions have a positive effect on your activity level, while others make it hard to get out of bed in the morning. Regardless of your background, you may be suffering from a mental health condition or know someone who’s suffering.

There are many types of mental illnesses or issues related to mental health, including:

• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Dissociative Identity Disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Sleep disorders
• Hoarding disorder
• Selective mutism
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Somatic symptom disorder
• Rumination disorder
• Histrionic personality disorder
• Conduct disorder
• Telephone anxiety
• Night terrors in children
• Insomnia
• Sleepwalking

How Common Are Mental Health Issues in the United States?

The prevalence of mental illness in the United States is widely known, and the numbers of suicides are concerning. Millions of people are struggling, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI. Each year, 20 percent of American adults experience some form of mental illness and 5 percent experience serious mental health symptoms. Young people aged 6-17 report a mental health disorder each year, and suicide is the second-most prevalent cause of death among youth aged 10-14.

Turning the lens to the impact of mental health challenges on various demographics enables experts to reach out to subgroups and attempt to counteract tragic consequences. Data shows that the ethnic groups with the highest numbers of mental illness in the United States are non-Hispanic mixed or multiracial individuals. A whopping 34 percent of them annually report suffering from a mental illness, followed by non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native peoples, with 26.6 percent reported.

The most prevalent conditions reported in America include:

• Anxiety disorder - 19.1 percent
• Major depressive episode - 8.3 percent
• Post-traumatic stress disorder - 3.6 percent
• Bipolar disorder - 2.8 percent
• Borderline personality disorder - 1.4 percent
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder - 1.2 percent
• Schizophrenia - 1 percent

What Are Common Symptoms of Mental Illness?

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it offers the public a chance to learn some of the signs and symptoms related to various conditions. While millions of people with mental illness are living with challenges that aren’t plain to see, chances are they’re struggling quietly. In some cases, the fact they’re holding their cards close to their chest is a sign there may be a problem. Each problem has its own causes and repercussions, so it’s difficult to take a broad brush to the subject.

The Mayo Clinic offers an overview of the signs and symptoms of mental illness. If you or someone you know is suffering from one of the following experiences, it may be a good idea to seek professional help.

Changes in Energy Level

Some conditions, such as depressive disorders, anxiety, or sleep disorders, can cause a drop in energy and make you feel run down. People with schizophrenia can become catatonic and remain still for hours. Other issues, including bipolar disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, can stimulate excess energy.

Changes in Relationships

One of the most common symptoms of autism spectrum disorder is a lack of connection, and it remains a challenge over a lifetime. If you previously were socially engaged but find little interest in relationships, it can be a sign you’re suffering from depression. When you feel sad or down, you may have trouble motivating yourself to stay connected to others, but it can be helpful to pay attention to these trends.

Changes in Eating Habits

There are many possible causes of overeating or a loss of appetite, including a battle with depression or a traumatic experience. There are several mental health issues specifically related to food that can cause mental and physical pain for the person with disordered eating.

Eating disorders include:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Binge-eating disorder
• Body dysmorphic disorder
• Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder
• Pica
• Rumination disorder

How Should We Respond if Someone Says They Have a Mental Health Issue?

Unless you work in the field of psychology or you’ve had a loved one with a mental illness, it may feel uncomfortable when someone confides in you about their mental health problem. Though the subject is no longer taboo, a person’s mental health diagnosis is personal, and it’s typically a significant moment when they share it privately with a friend or family member.

An article by PsychCentral has recommendations for interfacing with someone suffering from a mental illness. Some responses show signs of support, but others are best left unsaid because it increases the risk they’ll stop reaching out and limit the opportunity to develop a mental health support system.

Don’t Interrogate Them

If someone privately shares a diagnosis, they simply need your support. If they’re already seeking mental health services, you can let go of any responsibility to find resources for them. If they don’t ask for your opinion about their struggle, just listen and give them space to talk.

Don’t Assume You Know What They Need

People with mental illness don’t want you to cure them. They are best served by professional help, and, in most cases, the condition is complicated. If you haven’t battled a mental illness, it can be easy to misread the situation or think there’s a quick fix. That’s rarely the case.

Don’t Make It About You

Our first instinct when we feel uncomfortable is to lean into our own reactions. If the words that come to mind are about the way the illness will impact your own life, don’t mention it. The individual who’s suffering needs to channel their energy toward finding strength and courage to manage their emotions, so it’s far too burdensome when your feelings are added to the mix.

Do Share If You Have Relevant Experience

If you have battled a mental health issue, your shared vulnerability can have a healing effect on the other person. They may find comfort knowing they aren’t alone, and it may spawn subsequent conversations about the problem they’re facing.

Do Ask How You Can Help

Your willingness to get involved can be helpful to someone who’s facing dramatic changes or accepting a difficult diagnosis. If they don’t know what you can do to help, let them know they can reach out to you at a later date. If you can help them with small steps toward more balance, you can help them find some relief.

If you or someone you know is considering harming themselves, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is 800-273-8255 or can be reached by dialing 988.

Most would agree that life has its ups and downs. For some people, it’s a carousel, and for others, it’s a Ferris wheel. Being aware of your own struggles is an important step in addressing mental health problems before they become overwhelming. If you’re not personally on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, you can always buckle up and be there for someone who needs a partner in the process.

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