Mental Health Disease & Conditions
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines a mental disorder as "a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour." This means that a person suffering from a mental health condition experiences symptoms that go beyond the normal mood or behavioural changes and interfere with an individual's ability to perform everyday activities. There are many different types of mental illnesses that can be short-term or cause persistent challenges. Some of the most common mental health diseases and conditions are explained below:
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorder is characterised by a deep sense of fear and worry, leading to significant distress. Unlike temporary anxiety, it is persistent and can make it difficult to get through the day. Common types of anxiety disorders include generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD).
Depression
Depression is one of the most common and serious mental health conditions that affects how you feel, think, and act. It is unlike any other short-lived mood change and can be identified by persistent sadness, a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, and certain physical changes, including increased fatigue, changes in appetite, and weight loss. Many people with depression also have difficulty thinking, concentrating, and making proper decisions. Some may also have thoughts of death and suicide.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a mental disorder that occurs in people who have lived through or experienced a traumatic event in the past. It can be triggered by intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares of the events and can lead to symptoms such as feeling tense, always on edge, difficulty falling asleep, and having self-destructive behaviour.
Mood Disorders
Mood disorders are mental health conditions that deeply affect a person's emotional state. It is characterised by strong feelings of sadness, helplessness, and persistent irritability. Common types include depression, bipolar disorder, and dysthymic disorder.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are not simply bad eating habits but a serious mental health condition characterised by a disturbed relationship with food and often rooted in deeper emotional struggles. These conditions come in various forms, with some of the most common being anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, pica, and rumination disorder.
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Examples of neurodevelopmental disorders include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, learning disabilities, and cerebral palsy, which are behavioural and cognitive disorders that occur during the developmental years.
