Mental Health Information
Mental vs. Medical Classifications:
There is always a question of whether a given disorder or issue would be better
classified as a "mental" or a "medical-biological" disorder.
To some degree or another, there is no really firm distinction between mental
and medical disorders. Many so called 'mental' disorders like schizophrenia and
bipolar disorder are now known to be primarily biologically based, while other
'medical' disorders have been shown to have a large 'psychological' component.
In making classification decisions, we have followed the lead set out by the authors
of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the standard
reference used by psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers in classifying
and describing mental disorders.
Mental Health Tips & Questions
What are mental health problems?
Mental health problems range from the worries and grief we all experience as part
of everyday life, to the most bleak, suicidal depression or complete loss of touch
with every day reality.
On average one in four of us will experience a mental health problem in the course
of a year. These problems can cause real and lasting damage, both to the individual
and to the community. Fortunately the majority of people who experience mental
health problems can get over them or learn to live with them especially if they
get help early on.
Unfortunately
many people experiencing a mental health problem don't receive the right kind
of help and some don't receive any help at all. In fact many people with mental
health problems are shunned or discriminated against by their families, friends
and the professionals who are supposed to be caring for them.