Depression

A mood disorder characterized by persistent sad, empty, or hopeless feelings, and loss of interest or pleasure in activities. It interferes with daily functioning.

Key symptoms: Continuous low mood, fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, thoughts of death or suicide.

Causes & risk factors: A combination of genetic, biological (brain chemistry), environmental (stress, trauma) and psychological factors.

Importance: Because depression is common and can be disabling if untreated, it’s important to raise awareness and encourage early help.

Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – persistent, excessive worry about many things. Panic Disorder – recurrent unexpected panic attacks. Social Anxiety Disorder – intense fear/shame in social situations.

Key symptoms: Feeling nervous, restless, or tense; being unable to stop worrying; restlessness; difficulty concentrating; sleep problems; physical symptoms (e.g., muscle tension, heart racing).

Causes & risk factors: Genetic predisposition, brain chemistry, personality traits, life experiences (trauma, stress).

Note: While occasional anxiety is normal, when it is excessive and persists in a way that disrupts daily life, it may be an anxiety disorder.

Bipolar Disorder

What it is: A mood disorder characterized by cycles of depression and mania or hypomania (elevated mood, increased energy, decreased need for sleep).

Key symptoms: During a manic phase: high energy, euphoria or irritability, risky behaviour, fast thoughts. During depressive phase: low mood, fatigue, loss of interest.

Causes & risk factors: Genetic factors play a strong role; life stressors or sleep disruption can trigger episodes.

Importance: Because mood swings in bipolar disorder are significant and can affect relationships, work, safety, requires medical and psychological treatment.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

What it is: A trauma- and stressor-related disorder which can develop after exposure to a traumatic event.

Key symptoms: Intrusive memories/flashbacks of the event, avoidance of reminders, persistent arousal (e.g., being easily startled, hypervigilance), negative changes in mood or thinking.

Causes & risk factors: Direct or indirect exposure to traumatic events (e.g., accidents, war, abuse); prior vulnerabilities.

Importance: If untreated, PTSD can persist and severely impair daily functioning, but there are effective treatments (therapy, support) available.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

What it is: A disorder with persistent, unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviours or mental acts (compulsions) that the person feels driven to perform.

Key symptoms: Obsessions may be fears of contamination, fears of harming others, unwanted taboo thoughts. Compulsions could be washing, checking, repeating. These behaviours often aim to reduce anxiety but create significant distress or impairment.

Causes & risk factors: Possible genetic/biological factors, brain circuitry differences, life stressors may trigger onset.

Importance: OCD is often misunderstood (e.g., “just being neat”); but compulsions and obsessions in OCD take time, cause distress, and interfere with life, so awareness is essential.

Eating Disorders

What they are: Mental disorders defined by abnormal eating habits and severe distress or concern about body weight or shape. Examples include Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, binge-eating disorder.

Key symptoms: Anorexia: extreme restriction of food, intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image. Bulimia: cycles of bingeing and compensatory behaviours (vomiting, laxatives). Binge-eating: recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food, sense of loss of control.

Causes & risk factors: Genetic and biological factors, societal/psychological pressures about body image, trauma, perfectionism.

Importance: Eating disorders can have serious physical health consequences (including malnutrition, organ damage), and high risk of co-occurring mental health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety).

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

What it is: A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with functioning or development.

Key symptoms: Inattention: trouble paying attention, making careless mistakes, difficulty organizing tasks, forgetfulness. Hyperactivity/Impulsivity: fidgeting, difficulty staying seated, interrupting others, acting without thinking.

Causes & risk factors: Strong genetic component; brain structure/function differences; prenatal exposures (e.g., alcohol use), early adversity.

Importance: Although commonly diagnosed in children, ADHD may persist into adulthood and affect academic performance, relationships, work life; awareness and proper management help.

Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

What they are: Group of serious mental disorders where there is a loss of contact with reality (psychosis).

Key symptoms: Hallucinations (seeing/hearing things that aren’t there), delusions (false beliefs), disorganized thinking/speech/behaviour, negative symptoms (reduced emotional expression, social withdrawal).

Causes & risk factors: Complex interaction of genetic predisposition, brain chemical imbalances, environmental triggers (infections, stress); onset often in late adolescence/early adulthood.

Importance: Although less common than anxiety or depression, psychotic disorders are serious, can be life-altering, need early treatment and support.

Substance Use Disorders

What they are: Conditions in which the use of one or more substances leads to clinically significant impairment or distress. While sometimes thought of separately, substance use disorders often co-occur with other mental health conditions.

Key symptoms: Use of a substance in larger amounts or over longer period than intended; unsuccessful efforts to cut down; continued use despite problems; withdrawal; tolerance.

Causes & risk factors: Genetic vulnerability, early exposure, trauma, mental health issues (self-medication), social environment.

Importance: Because substance use disorders affect physical health, mental health, relationships, work, they represent a major public health concern and often occur together with other mental disorders.

Personality Disorders (briefly)

What they are: Enduring patterns of inner experience and behaviour that deviate markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture, are pervasive and inflexible, and lead to distress or impairment.

Examples: Borderline Personality Disorder (instability of relationships, self-image, mood), Antisocial Personality Disorder (disregard for others, rule-breaking), etc.

Causes & risk factors: Likely a mix of genetic/biological vulnerability and early life experiences (trauma, neglect).

Importance: Personality disorders can be less well-understood by the public; people with these conditions may struggle with relationships, work, emotional regulation; effective therapies exist.