Mental Health Disorders

Explore the most common mental health disorders ...

mental disorders

Because the term “mental illness” was stigmatized for so many years, meaning that those seeking treatment for mental disorders were viewed as crazy, dangerous, or strange, people struggling with these conditions refused to acknowledge them, or worse yet, refused to receive help from mental health professionals.

But the tireless work of many professionals working in the field along with organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the barriers surrounding the issue of mental illness have started to fall down.

More individuals, families, and couples are recognizing the warning signs of mental illness symptoms, and are proactively seeking help from qualified mental health professionals. Additionally, the pervasiveness of many of these disorders such as depression (see Depression) and anxiety (see Anxiety) in today’s society has had at least one benefit: it shows those affected by a disorder are not alone or unusual.

The NIMH reports that an estimated 57.7 million U.S. residents suffer from a mental health disorder. (The organization used 2004 Census residential population information for ages 18 and over for this statistical estimate.) However, the NIMH states that only about 6% or 1 in 17 of those 18 and over suffer from more the more serious forms of many mental disorders.

Trying to finally dispel the negative connotation of mental illness, professionals working in the mental health field now prefer the term mental disorder rather than mental illness.

What are mental health disorders?

Mental disorders affect individuals’ thinking, feelings, relationships, moods, and overall daily functioning. Similar to other illnesses, the severity of the illness differs among individuals and ranges across a continuum.

Additionally, statistics show that a high number of those suffering with non-communicable chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and lung diseases, also have a mental health disorder.

Kathryn Powers, director of the Center for Mental Health Service, U.S. Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, said in October 2010 on World Mental Health Day: “We know that many individuals with chronic medical conditions have untreated, co-morbid mental illnesses or substance use disorders, and this can complicate the recovery from both conditions.”

Further complicating the co-occurrence of mental illnesses with chronic diseases is the fact that many people suffer with more than one mental health disorder. The NIMH states that about 45% of those diagnosed with one mental disorder meet the criteria for two or more disorders at any one time.

Categories of mental health disorders

Mental health counselors and other professionals use one of two established sets of procedural guidelines for diagnosing mental health disorders: those listed in the World Health Organization’s manual “International Classification of Diseases;” or those listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) manual called the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).”

Both manuals provide standardized criteria, and in some cases, many codes from both manuals have converged over the years to make diagnosis more consistent across the world. However, differences still remain, and most U.S. practitioners consult the APA’s DSM-IV.

The DSM-IV categorizes mental health disorders accordingly:

Only qualified mental health professionals can diagnose mental health disorders. Those desiring to work in the field of mental health, wanting to help others by diagnosing and treating individuals with mental health disorders, often find meaningful careers as mental health counselors.

Almost all states require a master’s degree to practice as a mental health counselor, including supervised experience in a clinical setting. Most states also require licensing, and the taking of a state licensure examination.

If you want to work in a field that makes positive, significant changes in individuals’ lives, request information from the schools offering degree programs in mental health counseling or related counseling degree programs.