Lesson 3: Treatment
Is mental illness life threatening?
Mental illness itself is not life-threatening. However, more than 90% of people who take their lives (suicide) have a diagnosable mental disorder, commonly a depressive disorder or substance abuse disorder.
The information in Table 18.1 summarizes some of the more common signs of mental illness. The information is adapted from Zuckerman, D., Debenham, K., & Moore, K. (1993) The ADA and People with Mental Illness: A Resource Manual for Employers. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, sometimes these signs are the result of subtle changes in an individual - such changes often happen gradually over time. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and these signs could be indicative of things other than mental illness.
Table 18.1: Common signs of mental illness
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Common Signs of Mental Illness
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| - marked changes in personality - confused thinking - inability to cope with problems and daily activities - strange ideas or delusions - excessive fears, worries, or anxiety - prolonged feelings of irritability or sadness - significant changes in eating or sleeping patterns - thinking or talking about suicide - extreme highs and lows in mood - abuse of alcohol or drugs - excessive anger, hostility - paranoid behaviour - social withdrawal - irrational fears |
In reality, the symptoms in Table 18.1 are not always readily observable in individuals. Sometimes significant changes may be noticed in other areas, however. With respect to school-aged individuals, often changes in work habits, behaviours, performance, and attendance provide good indicators of possible illness. Examples of these changes include the following:
| - consistent late arrivals or frequent absences - low morale - disorganization in completing school work or in study habits - lack of cooperation or a general inability to communicate with others - increased accidents - frequent complaints or evidence of fatigue or unexplained pains - problems concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things - missed deadlines, delays in completing assignments, poor exam grades - making excuses for missed deadlines or poor quality work - decreased interest or involvement in class topics or academics in general |
Please note that individuals who experience problems, such as those previously mentioned, may simply be having a “bad day” or even a “bad week.” They may also be working through difficult times in their lives. A pattern that continues for a long period or is repetitive, however, may indicate an underlying mental health problem or mental illness (Canadian Mental Health Association).