Mental health is a prominent topic of discussion globally, but how well do we understand it? Thanks to initiatives like World Mental Health Day on 10 October, there is greater awareness of mental wellbeing, but negative stigmas persist.
However, while we might have greater awareness about mental health issues, we might not always know how to manage them or who to turn to for support.
In this post, we’ll define common terms to help demystify them. We’ll also share ways to learn more about mental health and equip yourself with practical knowledge. This knowledge can help you manage mental wellbeing challenges constructively and compassionately.
Common mental health terms and definitions
You would need to read a diagnostic manual to get a detailed understanding of all of the mental health terms out there. For example, the many different types of psychiatric illnesses are complex and tricky to diagnose and require expert consultation.
However, based on a glossary that Mental Health Literacy put together, here are some common terms you might hear.
Although some might seem straightforward, many are nuanced, so it can sometimes help to read a solid definition, even if you’re not unfamiliar with the term.
Mental health
Mental health refers to your emotional, behavioural and social wellbeing. It doesn’t mean that you don’t experience distress or challenges.
Notably, mental health is less of a destination than an ongoing process of finding balance and ways to nurture ourselves and build resilience through difficult times.
Depression
Depression is one of the more trickier terms, as it is possible to feel depressed and not be diagnosed with depression. Feeling sad is a common and healthy reaction to tough challenges in life. Depression is different to a period of feeling sad – it is a mood disorder that affects how someone feels, thinks and behaves.
Depression usually refers to a state of low mood, but it can also be considered a mood disorder. When you feel sad for more than two weeks without any identifiable cause, and it is interfering with your everyday functioning, you may be depressed.
The most common type of depressive disorder is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This type of depression involves feeling sad and hopeless, as well as feelings of worthlessness and irritability. You might also experience a lack of interest in previous activities, fatigue, sleep problems and a loss of appetite.
It’s also possible to have a brief depressive episode. There are also many different types of depression, which makes understanding this mood disorder even more complex.
Anxiety
In essence, anxiety is an intense feeling of worry or fear, which can be debilitating. However, it is possible to learn how to manage it with the right tools and strategies.
We all experience anxiety at some point in our lives, but chronic anxiety is problematic. Anxiety disorders can involve general feelings of anxiety or around specific experiences. Some common anxiety disorders include Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorders and Separation Anxiety Disorder. There is also a link between trauma and anxiety, which requires evidence-based treatment and management strategies.
Grief
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something we love. This emotional suffering can feel intense and debilitating. However, it is not a mental disorder or a depressive disorder. Nevertheless, grief can negatively affect our mental health, which makes it essential to learn how it can manifest and ways to help ourselves and others heal.
Trauma
Trauma is an injury or event adversely affecting a person’s physical or mental health. Traumatic experiences can also be relative. What may have been merely challenging for one person could be highly traumatic for someone else.
For example, surviving a car accident could make one survivor incredibly fearful of driving in a vehicle but not another. Everyone is different, which means it’s important to understand trauma and learn about trauma-informed emotional management if you or others are struggling to deal with a traumatic experience.
PTSD
If not treated, psychological trauma can have long-lasting effects and lead to a Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. Early studies about PTSD took place as a result of studying the emotional turmoil that veterans were experiencing after returning from the Vietnam War, as discussed by Bessel van der Kolk in his book, The Body Keeps the Score.
Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks and nightmares, as well as avoiding things that remind them of the event. Essentially, PTSD comes as a result of experiencing a horrifying event where there was a threat of severe injury or death or where they felt scared and helpless. Thankfully, psychological interventions and medication can help.
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders involve brain development that differs from “typical” according to diagnostic criteria. However, the label “disorder” can be disempowering, which is why it’s more helpful to view behaviour along a continuum, from typical to neurodivergent or atypical.
The most common neurodevelopmental disorders include autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia. There is nothing “wrong” with people who are diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, but early diagnosis and intervention can help them thrive.
Autism spectrum disorder involves struggles with social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication, which can range from mild to severe. People diagnosed with ADHD have difficulty paying attention, being impulsive, and being overactive. Dyslexia means problems with manipulating sounds, spelling, and visual or verbal responses.
Addiction
Addiction involves the abuse of a chemical or behaviour. Drug addiction might be one of the more commonly known forms, but shopping, gambling, food and even sex can become addictive.
As it can wreak havoc on a person’s life and relationships, it’s essential to be empowered to know how to help someone who is struggling. Addiction is complex, so effective treatment can involve various approaches to managing a daily preoccupation with a substance or behaviour.
Learn more about mental health with SACAP Global
Empowering yourself with knowledge about mental health terms can help you improve your wellbeing and support others with compassion.
In this post, we’ve covered some common terms and ways to learn more about them. However, learning about mental health is a constant work in progress. Our understanding of these terms will evolve as more scientific research and treatment methods become available.
To help you expand your knowledge, here are some of our popular mental health-related short courses:
- Enhancing Mental Health – Explore mental health in a personal, community, and workplace context.
- Holistic Approach to Managing Depression – Explore the intricate landscape of depression and learn how to effectively address and manage depression.
- Managing and Preventing Anxiety – Build practical tools and knowledge to effectively address and manage anxiety.
- Foundations of Addiction Counselling – Delve into the complexities of addiction. Find out how addiction develops and why some people get addicted and others do not.
- Dealing with Grief & Loss – Equip yourself with working knowledge and practical skills to deal with grief and loss in a healthy way.
- Trauma-sensitive Mindfulness for the Treatment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder – Explore the treatment of PTSD through the use of trauma-sensitive mindfulness.
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Early Diagnosis and Intervention – Gain insight into neurodevelopmental disorders, early diagnosis and intervention strategies.
For the full list of online courses and workshops, visit our website here.