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HANDOUT
MENTAL ILLNESSES ARE BRAIN DISORDERS
Mental illnesses
are diseases that affect the brain. These disorders can profoundly disrupt a person’s thinking, feelings, moods, ability to relate to
others and capacity for coping with the demands of life. Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income.
Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing.
Mental illnesses are
treatable. Most people with serious mental illness need medication to
help control symptoms, they also need supportive counseling, self-help
groups, assistance with housing, vocational rehabilitation, income
assistance and other community services in order to achieve their
highest level of recovery. The following are some important facts about
mental illness and recovery:
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Mental illnesses are
biologically based brain disorders. They cannot be overcome
through will power and are not related to a person’s character or
intelligence. |
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Mental illnesses are
varied in their type and fall along a continuum of severity. They
affect millions of adults and children. |
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Mental illnesses can
strike individuals in the prime of their lives, often during
adolescence and young adulthood. All ages are susceptible, but the
young and the old are especially vulnerable. |
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Without treatment the
consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are
severe leading to unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance
abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted
lives. The economic cost of untreated mental illness is billions of
dollars each year in the United States. |
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Proper treatment for
serious mental illnesses today is highly effective. Between 70 and 90
percent of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and
improved quality of life with a combination of pharmacological and
psychosocial treatments and supports. |
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Early identification and
treatment is of vital importance. When treated early, recovery is
accelerated and the brain is protected from further harm related to
the course of illness. |
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Negative social opinions
about mental illness interfere with treatment and recovery. |
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The individual with mental
illness, with the help of family and caregivers, must learn to manage
their condition. |
"… Seeking the services
of a plumber or a surgeon is not denying the sufficiency of Christ …
physical illnesses affect all organs of the body-including the brain and
its functions. And of the brain’s functions is our emotions. Though it
is much more difficult to recognize and accept, many imbalances…can
affect our emotions. God doesn’t need a psychiatrist, but some of his
saints do." (Why Do
Christians Shoot Their Wounded? Helping Not Hurting Those with Emotional
Difficulties. Dwight L. Carlson, M.D. 1994. Page. 36)
(Adapted from National
Alliance on Mental Illness,
http://www.nami.org/)
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