Just What is a Mental Illness?

Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior (or a combination of these). 

Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.


Mental illness is very common. In a given year:

• nearly one in five (19 percent) U.S. adults experience some form of mental illness
• one in 24 (4.1 percent) has a serious mental illness
• one in 12 (8.5 percent) has a substance use disorder*

Mental illnesses are treatable. Most people who have a mental illness are able continue to function in their daily lives.

Mental Illness...

refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders/ health conditions that involve:

• Significant changes in thinking, emotion and/or behavior
• Distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities

Many people who have a mental illness do not want to talk about it. 

However, mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of! 

It is a medical condition, just like heart disease or diabetes.

And...... mental health conditions are treatable. 

We are continually expanding our understanding of how the human brain works, and treatments are available to help people successfully manage mental health conditions.

Further, mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone regardless of your age, gender, income, social status, race/ethnicity, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, background or other aspect of cultural identity. 

While mental illness can occur at any age, about three-fourths of all mental illness begins by age 24.

Mental illnesses can take many forms. Some are fairly mild and only interfere in limited ways with daily life, such as certain phobias (abnormal fears). 

Other mental health conditions are severe and requires hospitalization.

Reference: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMSHA). Serious mental illness is a mental, behavioral or emotional disorder (excluding developmental and substance use disorders) resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. Examples of serious mental illness include major depressive disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Physician Review By:

Ranna Parekh, M.D., M.P.H.
November 2015

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   Diane Davidson 
                               Gammon M.S.
         Clinical Mental Health Counselor

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Email- Diane@LivingWithHopeCounseling.com

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Disclaimer- I am not a doctor and I am not giving out medical advice. My blogs are for information and inspirational purposes. Please consult your doctor before starting a new health regimen.

Diane Davidson Gammon MS is clinically supervised by Michael Loftis LCSW as she pursues  LPC-MHSP licensure