Mental Disorders (WHO Fact Sheet – Easy Read Guide)

 

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📌 What Are Mental Disorders?

A mental disorder is when a person has serious difficulties with:

• Thinking (cognition)
• Feelings (emotions)
• Behaviour (actions)

These difficulties:

• Cause distress (feeling upset or overwhelmed)
• Affect daily life (school, work, relationships)

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🌍 How Common Are Mental Disorders?

• Around 1 in 7 people worldwide live with a mental disorder
• About 1.1 billion people globally are affected
• The most common are:
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Depression

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⚠️ Key Impact on Life

Mental disorders can:

• Affect relationships (family, friends)
• Make school or work harder
• Reduce quality of life
• Increase risk of self-harm or suicide

They are a leading cause of disability worldwide

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🧩 Types of Mental Disorders (WHO Categories)

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🟡 Anxiety Disorders

Symptoms:

• Excessive fear or worry
• Panic attacks
• Avoiding situations
• Feeling constantly tense

👉 Includes:

• Generalised anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety
• Panic disorder

✔️ Treatment: Therapy and sometimes medication

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🔵 Depression

Symptoms:

• Persistent sadness or low mood
• Loss of interest or enjoyment
• Low energy
• Sleep or appetite changes
• Feelings of guilt or hopelessness
• Thoughts of death or suicide

✔️ Lasts at least 2 weeks or more

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🟣 Bipolar Disorder

Symptoms:

• Depressive episodes (low mood)
• Manic episodes:
  • Very high energy
  • Talking fast
  • Risky behaviour
  • Little need for sleep

✔️ Mood swings between highs and lows

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🔴 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Caused by:

• Traumatic or frightening events

Symptoms:

• Flashbacks or nightmares
• Avoiding reminders
• Feeling constantly on edge

✔️ Symptoms last weeks or longer

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⚫ Schizophrenia

Symptoms:

• Hallucinations (seeing/hearing things)
• Delusions (strong false beliefs)
• Disorganised thinking
• Changes in behaviour

✔️ Can affect perception of reality

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🟠 Eating Disorders

Examples:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa

Symptoms:

• Unhealthy eating patterns
• Fear of weight gain
• Obsession with body image

✔️ Can cause serious physical health risks

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🟢 Disruptive Behaviour Disorders

Symptoms:

• Persistent rule-breaking
• Aggression or defiance
• Difficulty following rules

✔️ Often begins in childhood

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🔷 Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Includes:

• ADHD
• Autism
• Intellectual disabilities

Symptoms:

• Difficulties with learning
• Social communication challenges
• Attention and behaviour differences

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⚠️ Risk Factors

Mental disorders can be influenced by:

• Genetics (family history)
• Brain development
• Trauma or abuse
• Poverty or inequality
• Disability or illness

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🏥 Treatment and Support

✔️ Treatments exist and can help:

• Talking therapies (counselling, CBT)
• Medication
• Social support (family, school, work help)

❗ However:

• Many people do not get treatment
• Mental health services are often underfunded

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🚫 Stigma and Barriers

People with mental disorders may face:

• Stigma (negative attitudes)
• Discrimination
• Lack of access to care
• Human rights issues

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📌 Key Message (Simple)

👉 Mental disorders are:

• Common
• Serious but treatable
• Often misunderstood

👉 People need:

• Support
• Understanding
• Access to care