The #4N;cky Foundation
Mental Health Education
Here’s a comprehensive overview of some common mental health conditions and information about each one that can be included on your mental health awareness website:
Depression
Description:
Depression is a mood disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities. It can affect how a person thinks, feels, and handles daily activities.
Symptoms:
Persistent sadness or low mood
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Fatigue or lack of energy
Changes in appetite or weight
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
​Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Sleep disturbances (insomnia or excessive sleeping)
Thoughts of death or suicide
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Treatment:
Depression can be treated with a combination of therapy (such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), medication (such as antidepressants), lifestyle changes (exercise, nutrition), and support groups.
Anxiety Disorders
Description:
Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive fear, worry, or nervousness that interferes with daily activities. Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.
Symptoms:
Constant worry or feeling on edge
Restlessness or feeling easily fatigued
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Sleep disturbances
Physical symptoms like rapid heart rate, sweating, dizziness, or shortness of breath
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Treatment:
Anxiety disorders are often treated with a combination of therapy (such as exposure therapy or CBT), medication (anti-anxiety medications or antidepressants), and relaxation techniques (meditation, breathing exercises).
Bipolar Disorder
Description:
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition marked by extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).
Symptoms:
Manic phase: High energy, reduced need for sleep, impulsive behaviour, rapid speech, racing thoughts, feelings of euphoria or irritability
Depressive phase: Sadness, hopelessness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite, thoughts of death or suicide
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Treatment:
Treatment includes mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications, psychotherapy (such as interpersonal and social rhythm therapy), and lifestyle adjustments to manage mood swings
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD
Description:
Description: PTSD develops after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is characterized by intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to the event, even long after it has passed.
Symptoms:
Intrusive memories or flashbacks of the event
Nightmares or severe anxiety related to the trauma
Avoidance of places, people, or activities that are reminders of the event
Hypervigilance or being easily startled
Negative changes in mood and thinking (feeling detached, hopeless, or numb)
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Treatment:
​PTSD is treated with therapy (such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR), medication (antidepressants), and support groups. Learning coping strategies for managing flashbacks and anxiety is also essential.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Description:
OCD is a condition where a person experiences persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and engages in repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) in an attempt to reduce anxiety caused by those thoughts.
Symptoms:
Obsessions: Repeated, intrusive thoughts about contamination, harm, or perfectionism
Compulsions: Repetitive behaviours like hand-washing, checking, counting, or organizing things in a specific way
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Treatment:
OCD is often treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (specifically, Exposure and Response Prevention therapy) and medication (such as SSRIs).
Eating Disorders
Description:
Eating disorders are serious conditions related to persistent eating behaviours that negatively impact health, emotions, and the ability to function in daily life. Types of eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
Symptoms:
Anorexia nervosa: Extreme restriction of food, intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image
Bulimia nervosa: Binge eating followed by behaviours to prevent weight gain, such as purging, fasting, or excessive exercise
Binge-eating disorder: Recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food (often quickly and to the point of discomfort)
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Treatment:
Treatment often includes psychotherapy, nutritional counselling, and medications. Addressing body image issues and building healthy eating patterns are key components of recovery.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Description:
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children and adults. It is characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Symptoms:
Difficulty paying attention or staying focused on tasks
Frequent fidgeting or restlessness
Impulsiveness (interrupting others, acting without thinking)
Difficulty organizing tasks or following through with responsibilities
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Treatment:
Treatment for ADHD includes behavioural therapy, medications (such as stimulants), and strategies for improving focus and time management.
Schizophrenia
Description:
Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, which can cause distress in daily life.
Symptoms:
Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren’t there)
Delusions (false beliefs, such as believing someone is out to harm them)
Disorganized thinking or speech
Withdrawal from social interactions
Lack of motivation or emotional expression
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Treatment:
Schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotic medications, therapy (such as cognitive-behavioural therapy), and support services to assist with everyday functioning.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Description:
BPD is a personality disorder characterized by intense and unstable emotions, relationships, and self-image. People with BPD often struggle with a fear of abandonment and engage in impulsive behaviours.
Symptoms:
Extreme emotional reactions
Unstable relationships, alternating between idealization and devaluation
Impulsive behaviours (substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating)
Intense fear of abandonment
Self-harm or suicidal behaviour
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Treatment:
Treatment often involves Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and medications to manage mood swings or co-occurring disorders.
