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What is Mental Illness?

Although the terms are often interchanged poor mental health is not the same as having a mental illness. Watch this video to explore what mental illness actually is and how it differs from mental health . . .

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Although the terms are often interchanged in popular media, poor mental health is not the same as having a mental illness. Remember, you can have periods of good mental health even with a mental illness. On the other hand, you can struggle or grapple with your mental wellbeing without a diagnosis.
Having periods of poor mental health is a normal part of the human experience. Conversely, mental illness, while an everyday reality for many individuals, doesn't have to be an inevitable part of life.
Generally, the distinction between poor mental health and a mental illness lies in how much someone's struggles impact their wellbeing or functioning.

The World Health Organization Eleventh Revision of the International Classification of Diseases defined mental illness as a disruption of cognition, emotional regulation, or behavioural functioning that is severe enough to cause significant distress and impairment in daily life.

Here is an example to illustrate the difference of normal fluctuations in mood and mental illness.
Someone with a low mood might feel down and lack the motivation to complete tasks. They might struggle to focus on their work or feel less productive than usual, but they can still get things done with some effort.

On the other hand, someone with severe depression may struggle to get out of bed, experience constant fatigue, and lack the motivation or energy to complete even simple tasks like showering or getting dressed. They may find it challenging to carry out work or academic responsibilities and experience difficulty engaging in social activities or caring for their basic needs.

It's essential to recognise the difference between normal fluctuations in mood and symptoms of mental illness and seek help when needed.

You can explore more about mental health by exploring the mental health section in your wellbeing toolkit.

To access this content you need to log in to your wellbeing toolkit.

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