Facts about Mental Illness
By : Dr. Nirmal Lamichhane : “The mind controls the body more than the body controls the mind”
In the past, the subject of mental illness was surrounded with mystery and fear. Today, mental health researches have made tremendous progress in our understanding and, especially in our ability to offer effective treatments. However, questions about mental illness often go unanswered and stand in the way of people receiving help.
How Common Is Mental Illness and What Are the Impacts on Society?
Mental illness is common, and the milder conditions are very common. Regardless of age, gender, race or religion, mental health is a major health concern that impacts us all.One fifth of general population suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder during any given year. One fifth of school-age children are also affected by these conditions. Severe and persistent mental illness is less common, but still afflicts 1-3 percent of the population.
The vast majority of individuals with mental disorders continue to function in their daily lives, although with varying impairments. Overall medical care costs are driven up enormously by costs associated with unrecognized psychiatric syndromes.
“…..Today some 450 million people suffer from a mental or behavioural disorder, yet only a small minority of them receive even the most basic treatment (World Health Report, WHO)………”
Today most conservative data in Nepal suggest that there are about 5 million people suffering from a mental or behavioural disorder, while even the most basic treatment is far from adequate.

What Are the Causes of Mental Illness?
The exact causes of mental disorders are unknown, but an explosive growth of research has brought us closer to the answers. We can say that certain inherited dispositions interact with triggering environmental factors. Poverty and stress are well-known to be bad for your health—this is true for mental health and physical health. In fact, the
distinction between “mental” illness and “physical” illness can be misleading. Like physical illnesses, mental disorders can have a biological nature. Many physical illnesses can also have a strong emotional component. Hence, it is now well accepted that mental disorders are caused by the intrinsic interaction of biological, psychological and environmental factors.

Are Mentally Ill Persons Violent?
There is a misconception that mentally ill persons are violent, which contributes to the stigma of mental illness. The vast majority of people with mental illness are not violent, and the majority of violent acts are conducted by persons who are not mentally ill. Different studies have shown that mentally ill persons are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators, and more likely to hurt themselves than hurt other people.

Do Psychiatrists Do More than Just Write Prescriptions for their Patients?
Psychiatrist considers all aspects of human experience over the whole of life span: elation, grief, anxieties, flights of fancy, comfusion, despair, perception and misperception, and memory and its loss. Psychiatrist in fact deals with the most common human disorders which cause the greatest morbidity worldwide. The apeciality of psychiatry is (or should be) the most “human” speciality- devoted to the understanding of the whole person in health and illness. Indeed, it is the only medical speciality without a veterinary counterpart!
State of the art treatment for mental illness is very effective—as effective as treatments for high blood pressure, cancer, and arthritis. But good treatment for mental illness (like treatment for ulcers or heart disease) takes a comprehensive approach. Medication is often not the only treatment for a chronic illness, although excellent new psychiatric medications have been developed in recent years. Psychiatric treatment involves a full mental and physical health evaluation and an individualized treatment plan,
which may include psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication, or other modalities. Psychiatrists help patients understand illnesses and understand what they can do to resolve life problems that contribute to illnesses. This may involve issues on the job, in school, or within the family and community.
Psychiatrists see the necessity of working within a tailored approach for the treatment of their patients, often taking a hands-on approach to the whole fabric of the patient’s needs. Educational, medical, spiritual, and interpersonal as well as basic issues such as adequate housing and nutrition are considered. Sometimes the misuse of drugs or alcohol is present and will require treatment.Today’s model of psychiatric care recognizes the importance of families as part of the treatment team. Enlightened interventions which help families struggling with child abuse and neglect, domestic and community violence, substance abuse, or school failure increasingly integrate psychiatric consultation into their programs. Any or all of these interventions may be used in tailoring a treatment plan for patients.