Nearly one in 10 people in the world have a mental health disorder, according to the WHO.Study Medicine Europe World Mental Health Day was on Oct. 10, and this year the World Health Organization (WHO) listed the theme as “Dignity in mental health.” Part of breaking down stigma and illuminating dignity among mental illness sufferers involves understanding these conditions, and being aware that they’re not something patients can control. Mental illness is a broad term that can be applied to a lot of different conditions. There are anxiety disorders — which can include anything from arachnophobia (fear of spiders) to social anxiety disorder, where people fear social situations. Panic attacks and generalized anxiety disorder can leave people mentally and emotionally exhausted, and sometimes even scared to leave their homes in severe cases. Bipolar disorder and depression are both considered mood disorders, and schizophrenia falls under psychotic disorders. Then there’s eating disorders — such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Don’t forget about obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You have probably met someone who has struggled with one of these conditions — or perhaps you do yourself. In fact, almost one in 10 people have a mental health disorder; and between one and two in every 100 people experiences a severe mental illness (such as schizophrenia). The infographic below, created by Study Medicine Europe, depicts the main categories of mental illness and provides some useful statistics — as well as helpful steps to combat your own depression or anxiety. source
