Mental health problems
Understanding mental health problems This booklet is an introduction to the most common mental health problems, explaining what they are, their possible causes, and what help is available. It is written for people who have a mental health problem, but will also be useful for their friends and family
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Contents
What are mental health problems? ...........................................4
What are the most common mental health problems? ..............5
What causes mental health problems? ......................................8
How are they diagnosed? .........................................................9
What treatments are available? ...............................................10
How can the mental health system help? ................................ 12
How can I help myself? ...........................................................14
Will I recover? .........................................................................16
What can friends and family do to help? .................................16
Useful contacts .......................................................................18
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Understanding mental health problems
What are mental health problems?
Some mental health problems are described using words that are in everyday use; for example, ‘depression’ or ‘anxiety’. This can make them seem easier to understand, but can also mean people underestimate how serious they can be.
Mental ill health feels just as bad, or worse, than any other illness – only you cannot see it.
Although mental health problems are very common – affecting around one in four people in Britain – stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health problems is still very common and there are a lot of myths about what different diagnoses mean.
There is also a lot of controversy about the way mental health problems are diagnosed, what causes them, and which treatments are most effective.
However, despite these challenges,...