Mental Health Handbook
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2 Mental Health Handbook 3 MENTAL HEALTH HANDBOOK Foreword Most Malaysians today are still not well- Most of these disorders can be informed about mental health and successfully treated if the signs and mental disorders.1 Misconception, stigma symptoms associated with each and discrimination remain pervasive. disease are detected early. The most According to The National Health common mental disorders include Morbidity Survey (2015), the prevalence depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and of mental health problems among adults schizophrenia, but there are many others. and children were 29.2% and 12.1%, ‘Mental Health Handbook’ is written for 2 respectively. The Malaysian Psychiatric easy-reading supplemented with rich Association believes the statistics could info-graphics and illustrations that make just be the tip of the iceberg as most cases the subject matter less ‘clinical’. It also includes a directory listing of mental individuals do not receive any attention or healthcare specialists and facilities which treatment. will greatly help those who need to seek It is important to know that mental illness expert advice and treatment. is treatable. One of the key highlights of he Malaysian Psychiatric the handbook is how to recognize signs Association would like to acknowledge or symptoms of mental illness and when the contribution from sponsors and to seek professional help. Mental disorders encompasses a broad range of problems, in researching and collating information to deliver a handbook that will help every are generally characterized by some Malaysian gain a better understanding combination of abnormal thoughts, about their mental health. emotions, behaviours and relationships with others. Dr Hazli Bin Zakaria MALAYSIAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION References 1. Yeap R and Low WY. Mental health knowledge, attitude and help-seeking tendency: a Malaysian context. Singapore Med J. 2009;50(12):1169-1176. 2. Institute for Public Health (IPH) 2015. National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 (NHMS 2015). Vol II: Non-Communicable Diseases, Risk Factors & Other Health Problems; 2015. 4 MENTAL HEALTH HANDBOOK Foreword By 2020, mental illness is expected to be the those within government to change the way we think about it. 1 Malaysians after heart disease. According Individuals experiencing episodes of to The National Health Morbidity Survey mental illness and the people who care (2015), every 1 in 3 adults aged 16 years for them need quick access to reliable health information. If you or your loved form of mental health issues.2 Mental illness does not discriminate. information or what to do next. gender, race, social status or income. ‘Mental Health Handbook’ aims to provide a credible reference resource are usually perceived to be restless, guide to enable Malaysians to acquire violent and unpredictable. Such stigma some basic knowledge about mental and discrimination will only prevent such health and recognize the early warning individuals from seeking professional help signs and symptoms of the various and treatment early. mental disorders. Learning to cope with mental health Malaysians towards mental disorders will it can be done. We hope this handbook improve. Education is the most important step to understanding mental health individuals with mental illness through problems. Like physical illness, mental better understanding, acceptance and illness is nothing to be ashamed of. For respect. that reason, it is important to educate our communities, employers, schools and Associate Professor Dr Ng Chong Guan MALAYSIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION References 1. Hassan MF, et al. Issues and challenges of mental health in Malaysia. IJ-ARBSS. 2018;8(12):1685-1696. 2. Institute for Public Health (IPH) 2015. National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 (NHMS 2015). Vol II: Non-Communicable Diseases, Risk Factors & Other Health Problems; 2015. 5 CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 4: Overview: What is Mental Taking Active Steps to Illness? Manage Your Mental Health • How do I know if I need to CHAPTER 2: seek professional help? Understanding Common • Psychologist or psychiatrist? Mental Disorders • • Depression • Treatment for mental illness • Anxiety • 10 tips to stay mentally well • Bipolar disorder Appendix: • Schizophrenia • Standard self-assessment forms CHAPTER 3: • Directory of mental health Family & Social Support: services • Reach out to someone with mental health issues • How to start a conversation about mental health? • Patients’ quotes of encouragement MENTAL HEALTH HANDBOOK Bipolar Disorder7 What Causes Mental Illness?1 Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness is a psychiatric disorder that can -Early adverse life experiences, cause unusual shifts in mood, energy, such as trauma or history of activity levels and the ability to carry out abuse, such as child abuse and daily tasks. People with bipolar disorder sexual assault experience dramatic episodes of high -Experiences related to other pattern. on-going chronic medical illness such as stroke, cancer or Schizophrenia8 diabetes Schizophrenia is another psychiatric -Biological factors, such as genes thinks, feels and behaves. This severe or or chemical imbalances in the chronic illness can have very disabling brain symptoms. People with schizophrenia often seem as if they have lost touch with -Use of alcohol or recreational reality. drugs -Lack of social exposure/ FACT MYTH 1 in 4 interaction Mental As many as 1 in 4 people health in the world will be problems affected by mental or are rare. neurological disorder -Have feelings of loneliness/ at some point in their lives.9 isolation -Family history of mental health MYTH FACT Mental About half of problems5-8 disorders mental disorders only affect begin before the adults. age of 14.10 Some mental disorders are linked to an abnormal functioning of nerve MYTH FACT cell circuits or pathways that connect Mental Mental disorders particular brain regions. Biological disorders increase the risk of have no effect getting ill from other factors such as a person’s individual on physical diseases such as genetic make-up, infections, brain health. cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.11 defects or injury, or even prenatal damage has been associated as 9 MENTAL HEALTH HANDBOOK causes of mental illness. Besides this, In Malaysia, females are more psychological and environmental susceptible to mental health issues factors such as neglect, stressful compared to males (30.8% vs 27.6%, events such as death or divorce and not signicant), higher percentages substance abuse can also lead to of mental disorders are also found mental illness.12,13 The amount of stress in younger adults and in adults from people experienced, and the duration low income families.4 Risk factor of that stress can impact one’s mental increases if you have a blood relative, health, even more so in situations such as parent or sibling with mental where individuals are unable to illness, or an ongoing chronic medical change their circumstances.14 These condition. Some people who had mental illnesses are caused by the traumatic life experiences were combination of all these factors. reported to be at higher risk of mental illness too.1 Who Is Most At Risk? Mental disorders should not be While Mental Illness does not shunned away or be kept in the dark discriminate, certain types of illnesses by anyone who is experiencing it. such as depression has been found One should always seek professional to aect one gender more. For help early. With proper diagnosis and example, women are nearly twice as treatment, the vast majority of people likely as men to be diagnosed with suering from these mental disorders 15 depression. can overcome them and live a normal life. References 1. CDC. Learn About Mental Health - Mental Health. https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm. Accessed on 1st October 2018. 2. World Health Organization. Mental health: strengthening our response. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheet/detail/mental-health- strengthening-our-response. Accessed on 1st October 2018. 3. American Psychiatric Association. What is mental Illness. August 2018. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness. Accessed on 22nd July 2019. 4. Institute for Public Health. National Health and Morbidity Survery 2015. 5. American Psychiatric Association. What is depression. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-depression. Accessed on 22nd July 2019. 6. Browne D. What to know about anxiety. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323454.php. Accessed on 23rd July 2019. 7. National Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar Disorder. April 2016. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index/shtml. Accessed on 23rd July 2019. 8. National Institute of Mental Health. Schizophrenia. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/publications/schizophrenia/19-mh-8082-schizophrenia_155669.pdf. Accessed 24th July 2019. 9. World Health Organization. Mental disorders aect one in four people. https://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/. Accessed on 1st October 2018. 10. World Health Organization. Child and adolescent mental health. https://www.who.int/mental_health/maternal-child/child_adolescent/en/. Accessed on 1st October 2018. 11. World Health Organization. 10 facts on mental health. https://www.who.int/mental_health/mental_health_facts/en/index4.html. Accessed on 1st October 2018. 12. WebMD. Causes of Mental Illness. May 2018. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-health-causes-mental-illness. Accessed on 1st October 2018. 13. Mayo Clinic. Mental illness.