Mental Illness

Mental illness can be difficult to understand and live with. One’s senses, feelings or ability to reason can be distorted, influencing how we interact with ourselves, other people, and our surroundings. Loss of hope and motivation can lead to isolation and inactivity. Being stuck in a pattern of suffering with mental illness is confusing and scary for both individuals and loved ones. While diagnoses help us organize the illnesses people experience, symptoms and treatment varies by individual.

More than 50% of Canadians experience mental illness in their lifetime. Some of the more frequent concerns include mood or anxiety disorders, as well as trauma, addiction, and psychosis. The causes and effects of mental illness vary between people, even within the same type of disorders. Historically viewed as untreatable, many people were subject to ignorance, misguidance and suffering. Clinical understanding and ability to help has come a long way. There is no easy fix, but with patience and effort there are good treatment options. Clinical research largely agrees that medication and therapy combined is most effective to treat mental illness.