mental illness

The Signs of Depression in Children – Video Interview

The behavior of depressed children and teenagers often differs from the behavior of depressed adults. Signs of depression in children and adolescents include: Increased irritability, anger or hostility Acting out or sudden behavioral issues Decreased interest in activities or inability to enjoy previously favorite activities Frequent sadness, tearfulness, crying Hopelessness Persistent boredom; low energy Social [...]

Women of All Ages More Likely to Have Serious Mental Health Problems than Men

Women in every age group in the United States were more likely than men to have serious mental health problems, according to federal health statistics released Thursday. The report from the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also found that more than one-fourth of people age 65 [...]

All Children Should Receive Weekly ‘Happiness’ Lessons from the Age of Five

Children of all ages should be given an hour’s “happiness lessons” every week to nurture their development and stop schools behaving as “exams factories,” a major report will warn this week. It comes as separate figures show the numbers of children receiving counselling sessions because of exam stress has tripled in just one year. Former ministers and Government [...]

Depression in Pregnant Mothers may Alter the Pattern of Brain Development in their Babies

Depression is a serious mental illness that has many negative consequences for sufferers. But depression among pregnant women may also have an impact on their developing babies. Children of depressed parents are at an increased risk of developing depression themselves, a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. These children also display alterations in the [...]

Good Mental Health Care in Prisons Must Begin and End in the Community

Entry to prison presents an opportunity to identify mental illnesses and provide treatment that will continue after release. Photo: nando viciano/Shutterstock, used by The Conversation People with mental illnesses are greatly overrepresented in our prisons. Prisoners are two to three times as likely as those in the community to have a mental illness [...]

‘Horror Stories’: Think Twice before Telling Your Boss You Have Mental Health Issues

  Photo: Sydney Morning Herald Workers who tell bosses about their mental health issues are risking their careers, the head of national charity BeyondBlue has warned. BeyondBlue chief executive Georgie Harman said that openness about mental health issues could potentially help managers create the best environment to aid recovery. But workers should speak openly only [...]

Bipolar Disorder: What You Need to Know

Like major depression, bipolar disorder is characterized by sadness, fatigue, a loss of enjoyment in everyday activities and disruptions in appetite and sleep patterns. But individuals with bipolar disorder differ from patients with major depressive disorder in that they experience what’s called mania or hypomania – emotional highs, bursts of extreme energy and severe irritability [...]

Supporting Friends With Depression: Tips To Help Your Kids Help Their Friends

When you know someone going through depression, it can be a difficult time of uncertainty and worry. Young people will often speak with their peers before they consult an adult or professional, so it’s important to arm them with skills to support their friends. While everyone goes through a different experience, it can be difficult [...]

Why Should Teachers Talk About Mental Health With Students And Colleagues?

Clare can now talk with calm reflection about the moment she decided to end her life. She remembers feeling as if she were living in a sort of twilight zone where nothing made sense: she was being shunned by colleagues and faced losing her job as a teacher. Things had spiralled out of control after [...]

A Depression-Fighting Strategy That Could Go Viral

When Ebola ends, the people who have suffered, who have lost loved ones, will need many things. They will need ways to rebuild their livelihoods. They will need a functioning health system, which can ensure that future outbreaks do not become catastrophes. And they will need mental health care. Depression is the most important thief of productive [...]

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