Mental Health Conditions 101 Definition and factors contributing to mental health Mental Health Condition Effects of Mental Health Condition Discussing Mental Health Issues with Providers Common Myth abouth Mental Health Condition Communicating Thoughtfully about mental health conditions Be Educated. Be Informed. Be Engaged. Be Empowered. Mental Health Matters. You can save a life.

1. MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS 101

2. “MENTAL HEALTH”
Emotional, psychological, and social well-being. How we handle stress,
relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is a spectrum.
Many factors contribute to mental health, including:
• Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
• Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
• Lifestyle and life circumstances, such as diet and exercise,
social support availability, opportunities for relaxation
Source: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services,
MentalHealth.gov (2019)

3. “MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITION”
Medically referred to as “Any Mental
Illness” (AMI): Any mental,
behavioral, or emotional disorder,
ranging from mild to moderate
impact on one’s daily life
• generalized anxiety disorder
• depression
• eating disorders
• post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• obsessive-compulsive disorder
“SERIOUS MENTAL
ILLNESS”
Source: National Institutes for Mental Health, 2019

4. MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
ARE COMMON, YET OFTEN UNSEEN
In 2018, 47.6 million
adults aged 18 or older
reported experiencing
mental health conditions
at some point during the
previous year.
1 in 5 American adults
experience a mental
health condition every
year, and 1 in 25 lives
with a serious mental
illness.
=
Source: National Institutes for Mental Health, 2019

5. THE EFFECT OF MENTAL HEALTH
CONDITIONS
• For nearly 40 years, mental health
conditions have been the second-most
common cause of disability in the United
States.1
• 70% of those diagnosed with a mental health
condition also experience a co-morbid
illness,2 such as obesity and diabetes—and
in higher rates than in the general
population.3
Sources:
1. United States Social Security Administration (2013)
2. Kessler et al. (2004)
3. Firth et al. (2019)

6. Personal
• Increased risk of chronic disease
• 19% of people with mental health issues
also have substance misuse issues
Family
• At least 8.4 million Americans care for a loved one
with mental or emotional health issues
• Worldwide, 15-23% of children live with a parent with
a mental health condition
Community
• 20% of people experiencing homelessness also have a serious mental illness
• 1 in 8 U.S. emergency department visits are related to mental and
substance use disorders
World
• Depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion
each year in lost productivity
Source: NAMI, 2019

7. • Personal stigma
• Lack of mental health knowledge
and/or confidence1,2
• Unfamiliarity with cultural or
religious norms3
• Differing views of collaboration4
Sources:
1. Brunero et al., 2018
2. Reed & Fitzgerald, 2005
3. Carpenter-Song et al., 2010
4. Pals & Hempler, 2018
DISCUSSING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
WITH PROVIDERS CAN BE TOUGH

8. Myth: People with serious mental
illness are violent and unstable.
Truth: Only 3%–5% of violent
acts can be attributed to
individuals living with a serious
mental illness.1
People with serious mental
illnesses are over 10 times more
likely to be victims of violent crime
than the general population.2
Racism, hate, and domestic
disputes are far more reliable and
frequent indicators of violence
than mental health issues. 3
Sources:
1. Fazel & Grann, 2006
2. Choe et al., 2008
3. KVIA.com, Jan. 9, 2020

9. Myth: Once you’re diagnosed with a
mental health condition, you’ll never
recover.
Truth: Just like with physical
illness such as diabetes or
asthma, mental health conditions
can be successfully treated and
managed.
“Recovery,” or the process in
which people are able to live,
work, learn, and participate in
their communities, is unique for
everyone. It can include
medication, talk therapy, lifestyle
change and/or group support.
Source: MentalHealth.gov

10. Myth: People with mental health
conditions aren’t productive
employees and can’t handle the
stress of a job.
Truth: When people with mental
health conditions receive proper
treatment and symptom
management, they can be as
effective on the job as those
without diagnosed mental health
issues.

11. COMMUNICATION COUNTS
• Reduce stigma, stereotypes, and discriminatory behavior
against people experiencing mental health conditions
• Help people recognize symptoms of mental health
conditions in themselves1 and others
• Increase the rate of treatment-seeking2
• Improve the mental health care people receive when
they do seek help
Sources:
1. Hahm et al., 2019
2. Ross & Goldner, 2009; Schulze, 2007; Schulze & Angermeyer, 2003
By communicating more thoughtfully about mental
health conditions, we can:

12. BUILD AN INSTINCT TOWARD
PERSON-FIRST LANGUAGE
Avoid Saying…
• That’s crazy/ psycho/ insane.
• She’s a schizophrenic.
• He’s bipolar.
• substance abuse or addict
• suffering from mental illness
• successful suicide or committed
suicide
Instead, say…
• That’s wild/ bizarre/ odd.
• She has been diagnosed with paranoid
schizophrenia.
• He has been diagnosed with bipolar
disorder.
• substance use disorder
• living with (or experiencing) mental
health conditions
• completed suicide/ died by suicide

13. A 2019 study of 1,300 Tweets found
that mental illnesses were more
stigmatized and trivialized than
physical illnesses.
AVOID TRIVIALIZATION
Source: Robinson, Turk, Jilka & Cella, 2019
RT@***; I have so much OCD
when it comes to the
notifications on my phone
I wish anorexia was something I could
catch, I could really use it rn
RT@***: his laugh will cure depression and
cancer
193
70 72
32
40
410
30
22 25
70
346
135
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
AIDS Cancer Austism Depression OCD Schizophrenia
Number
of
Tweets
Stigmatization and Trivialization on Twitter
Stigmatization Trivialization