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Mental Health

Mental illness

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A disorder that can cause psychological and behavioral disturbances with varying severities.

Symptoms: Symptoms include confusion, depression, social withdrawal, extreme feelings of pleasure, anger, excitement, fear, or grief.

Causes: Causes include long-term substance abuse, prenatal damage to the brain, injury to the brain, exposure to toxins, infection, etc.

Treatment: Treatments include combinations of medication, psychotherapy, peer support and sometimes, hospitalization in severe cases.

What does it mean to have good mental health?

  • the ability to learn

  • the ability to feel, express and manage a range of positive and negative emotions

  • the ability to form and maintain good relationships with others

  • the ability to cope with and manage change and uncertainty.

Depression symptoms in older adults

Depression is not a normal part of growing older, and it should never be taken lightly. Unfortunately, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated in older adults, and they may feel reluctant to seek help. Symptoms of depression may be different or less obvious in older adults, such as:

  • Memory difficulties or personality changes

  • Physical aches or pain

  • Fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems or loss of interest in sex — not caused by a medical condition or medication

  • Often wanting to stay at home, rather than going out to socialize or doing new things

  • Suicidal thinking or feelings, especially in older men

What are the risk factors for major depressive disorder?

Major depressive disorder is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, [1] with about 40% of the risk being genetic. [5] Risk factors include a family history of the condition, major life changes, certain medications, chronic health problems, and substance use disorders.

If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number immediately.

Also consider these options if you're having suicidal thoughts:

  • Call your doctor or mental health professional.

  • Contact a suicide hotline.

    • In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat. Services are free and confidential.

    • U.S. veterans or service members who are in crisis can call 988 and then press “1” for the Veterans Crisis Line. Or text 838255. Or chat online.

    • The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. has a Spanish language phone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).

Mental Health in Youth

Depression symptoms in children and teens

Common signs and symptoms of depression in children and teenagers are similar to those of adults, but there can be some differences.

  • In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refusing to go to school, or being underweight.

  • In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using recreational drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping too much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities, and avoidance of social interaction.

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