Mental Health Disorders

Some seniors living in their own homes may be afflicted with a mental disorder.  Mental disorders are conditions involving emotions, behavior, or thought which produce significant problems for the person experiencing them or which interfere with the person's ability to function in their home with their caregivers, family members, or in their relationships with others.  It is believed that many mental disorders have a organic origin.  A person's character has nothing to do with the development of a mental disorder.  Mental illness strikes persons of all backgrounds and with all kinds of temperaments, beliefs, and morals.  Many of our great works of art, music, and literature were produced by persons with mental illness.  A surprising number of high level jobs are filled by persons who have experienced a mental disorder.  While only 40-50% of persons with heart disease will recover, 80% of persons afflicted with depression will recover, and 60% of persons afflicted with schizophrenia will recover given proper treatment.  Furthermore, violence among persons with mental disorders is not common.  In fact, persons with mental disorders are more often victims of violence than perpetrators of it.  In the cases where violence does occur, the occurrence typically results from the same reasons as with everyone else.  These reasons may be feeling threatened, or excessive use of alcohol and/or drugs.  Because there are so many caregivers who may be working with a person who has a mental health disorder, we are going to examine the different aspects of mental disorders beginning with schizophrenia and ending with how to handle a crisis if confronted by a friend or family member who is experiencing his or her own crisis.  Stay tuned.