I Want To Die

If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK

What is Mental Illness?

Mental Health and Mental Illness

Mental health is how we think, feel and act on our emotions as we progress through life. Just as we are concerned about our physical health, we need to be concerned about our mental health. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life. Whereby physical health affects our core body, mental health is the affects derived from our brain.

Everyone worries, feels anxious, sad or stressed. But with a mental illness, these feelings do not go away and are severe enough to interfere with your daily life. Just as poor physical health can interfere with completing physical chores, activities and tasks that require the physical movement of our body, poor mental health can make it difficult for us to communicate or become social, recognize or focus on a task and/or enjoy our lives.

Mental illnesses is common. It affects about one in five families in the United States. Most often, people who are or become mentally ill are no more to blame for their illness than a person who contracts a physical illness, such as the common cold. These disorders, which are in the family of mental illnesses include depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and many others are real diseases that you cannot will or wish away. Most often, mental illnesses are treatable. Medicines and therapy can improve the life of most people with mental illnesses.

Depression In Children: Syptoms and Causes

Childhood Depression

The causes of depression in children are numerous. Child psychologist will agree that depression is a complex disease that can occur as a result of a variety of childhood situations. For some, depression occurs due to a loss of a loved one, a change or move, or after being placed in a situation that causes severe fear or abuse. Like adults, depression can occur in children due to family history.

Common factor involved in causing depression in children may include:

• Personal and ongoing disputes within a family
• Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
• Major events that occur in everyone's lives, such as moving, starting school, divorce parents, death of a pet, not being accepted
• Serious illness- depressed feelings are a common reaction to many medical illnesses
• Certain medications
• A history of depression in the family: It is believed that depression is passed genetically from generation to generation, although the exact way this occurs is not known.

• Grief from the death or loss of a loved one

Other personal problems: These may come in the forms of social isolation due to other mental illnesses, or feeling accepted by family, relatives or friends.

Common Symptoms of Childhood Depression

1. Persistent or ongoing sadness
2. Isolation or desire to be alone
3. Acting-out behavior, anger, aggression
4. Change in social behavior
5. Change in habits or unusual daily functions that includes eating, sleeping and desire to be or not be with others.
6. Anxiety
7. Feeling of worthlessness
8. Guilt
9. Low energy

Not all children have all of these symptoms. Most will display different symptoms at different times and in different settings. Although some children may continue to function reasonably well in structured environments, some children with significant depression will suffer a noticeable change in social activities, loss of interest in school and poor academic performance, or a change in appearance. Children may also begin using drugs or alcohol, especially if they are over the age of 12.

Suicide attempts in depressed children under the age of 12 are a rare occurrence. Girls are more likely to attempt suicide, but boys are more likely succeed in committing this action. Children with a family history of violence, alcohol abuse, or physical or sexual abuse are at greater risk for suicide, as are those with depressive symptoms.

What Parents Can Do?

If the symptoms of depression continue to last for at least two weeks, you should schedule an appointment with a medical doctor. A medical diagnosis is important to ensure there are no physical reasons for the symptoms. If a positive medical diagnosis is made it’s important for the parent and child to continue to meet with a trained medical doctor and other personnel to discuss an appropriate treatment plan. A mental health evaluation often includes interviews with the parent and child. It may also include psychological testing.

As a parent, it’s important to remember that depression is a treatable illness. Just like it’s important to meet with an eye specialist if your child is having vision problems, it’s important to meet with a medical doctor if your child has symptoms of depression.

Need counseling advice? Go to: Ask a Counselor

Bipolar Disorder: What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Depression& Bipolar

According to Cleveland Department of Psychology, “Bipolar disorder used to be known as manic depressive disorder. It's a serious illness, one that can lead to risky behavior, damaged relationships and careers, even suicidal tendencies -- if it's not treated.”

Bipolar disorder involves extreme changes in moods; also known as poles. These mood changes or swing range from mania behavior (highs) to depression (lows). In between these mood swings, an individual with Bipolar disorder may experience a normal mood.
The Cleveland Clinic of Psychiatry describes manic behavior as “an increasingly restless, energetic, talkative, reckless, powerful, euphoric period. Lavish spending sprees or impulsive risky sex can occur. Then, at some point, this high-flying mood can spiral into something darker -- irritation, confusion, anger, feeling trapped.”
"Depression" is an opposite mood or behavior that is characterized by feelings of sadness, crying, sense of worthlessness, loss of energy, loss of pleasure and sleep problems.

Pattern of highs and lows vary from person to person. This is why Bipolar disorder is often a complex disease to diagnose. For some, mania or depression can last for weeks or months or even years. For others, bipolar disorder occurs frequently and with dramatic mood changes.

IF YOUR ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, A DESIRE TO HURT YOURSELF, CALL 911 OR SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.

Depression In Children

The causes of depression in children are numerous. Depression is a complex disease that can occur as a result of a variety of childhood situations. For some, depression occurs due to a loss of a loved one, a change or move, or after being placed in a situation that causes severe fear or abuse. Like adults, depression can occur in children due to family history.

Common factors involved in causing depression in children may include:

Personal and ongoing disputes within a family.

Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

Major events that occur in everyone's lives, such as moving, starting school, divorce parents, death of a pet, not being accepted.

Serious illness: depressed feelings are a common reaction to many medical illnesses.

Certain medications

A history of depression in the family: It is believed that depression is passed genetically from generation to generation, although the exact way this occurs is not known.

Grief from the death or loss of a loved one.

Other personal problems: these may come in the forms of social isolation due to other mental illnesses, or being cast out of a family or social circle.

Common Symptoms of Childhood Depression

Persistent or ongoing sadness

Isolation or desire to be alone

Acting-out behavior, anger, aggression

Change in social behavior

Change in habits or unusual daily functions that includes eating, sleeping and desire to be or not be with others.

Anxiety

Feeling of worthlessness

Guilt

Low energy

Not all children have all of these symptoms. Most will display different symptoms at different times and in different settings. Although some children may continue to function reasonably well in structured environments, some children with significant depression will suffer a noticeable change in social activities, loss of interest in school and poor academic performance, or a change in appearance. Children may also begin using drugs or alcohol, especially if they are over the age of 12.

Suicide attempts in depressed children under the age of 12 are a rare occurrence. Girls are more likely to attempt suicide, but boys are more likely succeed in committing this action. Children with a family history of violence, alcohol abuse, or physical or sexual abuse are at greater risk for suicide, as are those with depressive symptoms.

What Parents Can Do?

If the symptoms of depression continue to last for at least two weeks, you should schedule an appointment with a medical doctor. A medical diagnosis is important to ensure there are no physical reasons for the symptoms. If a positive medical diagnosis is made it’s important for the parent and child to continue to meet with a trained medical doctor and other personnel to discuss an appropriate treatment plan. A mental health evaluation often includes interviews with the parent and child. It may also include psychological testing.

As a parent, it’s important to remember that depression is a treatable illness. Just like it’s important to meet with an eye specialist if your child is having vision problems, it’s important to allow your child to meet with a medical doctor if your child has symptoms of depression.