What are mental disorders?
Overview
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 0ne in four adults (approximately 61.5 million
Americans) experiences mental illness in a given year. One in 17 (about 13.6 million) live with a
serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression, or bipolar disorder. In this module,
we will talk about specific mental disorders, their causes, treatments, and various places to get help.
Essential Questions:
 What are the types of mental disorders?
 What are the signs and symptoms of mental health problems?
 What are the treatment options available for those with mental disorders?
 How can a person get help for mental disorders?
What are Mental Disorders?
Control Click on the link to learn the definition of mental disorders:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/basics/definition/con-20033813
ANSWER:
1. Write the definition of mental disorders
A mental disorder is a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or
pattern
2. Name an interesting fact from the web site above.They get all these symptoms will help them tell
what disorder they have
Types of mental disorders
Next use “ctrl-click”on the pictureto open a presentation about the types of mental disorders.
Once the presentation opens, click on the word “present” on the top right of the screen. You can use
the forward and backward arrows (⇨, ⇦) at the bottom to move about the presentation.
CLICK ON THE PLAY
BUTTON TO OPEN THE
LINK!
ANSWER:
1. Define organic mental disorders:is apermanent or temporary disfunction in the brain that is caused
by phisiogical problems
2. Name 6 causes of organic mental disorders.Depression,phobia, delirium, dementia, Alzheimer’s
disease, and amnesia.
3. Define functional mental disorders.It’s a result in psychological causeswitch no clear brain damage
has occurred,
4. Name 4 causes of functional mental disorders. Stress, emotional, conflict fear,poor coping skills
Extend Your Learning
There are a number of additional resources that provide information about mental disorders. The
links below will take you to some items that are beneficial as you continue to grow in your
knowledge mental disorders:
 https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-ConditionsAdditional information about
how mental disorders can affect everyday life. In addition, the website gives interesting
statistics regarding the instances of mental disorders.
ANSWER:
Write 2 interesting facts from the web site above
1. A mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, behavior or
mood.
2. 2. A stressful job or home life makes some people more susceptible, as do traumatic
life events.
 Http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/neuroimaging-and-mental-illness-a-windowinto-the-brain/index.shtml Information about brain scans and their use for diagnosing
functional mental disorders.
ANSWER:
Write 2 interesting facts from the web site above
1. For girls, the brain reaches its biggest size around 11 years old. For boys, the brain reaches
its biggest size around age 14.
2. Because the teen brain is still developing, teens may respond to stress differently than adults,
which could lead to stress-related mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Billboard Activity
Create a billboard to bring awareness to mental disorders.
 Include at least 3 facts about mental disorders
 Make the billboard factual, colorful, interesting
Billboard Mental Help by Gerald Kelly
Bibliography:
http://www.gomentor.com/articles/organic-mental-disorders.aspx
http://www.humanrelations.me.uk/mh_illness.html
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/neuroimaging-and-mental-illness-a-window-into-thebrain/index.shtml
http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/mo/g/organic_mental.htm
http://www.healthline.com/health/organic-brain-syndrome#Overview1
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/basics/definition/con-20033813
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/mental-health-causes-mental-illness?page=2
http://www.nami.org/factsheets/mentalillness_factsheet.pdf
Glossary
Mental Disorder - Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that
affect your mood, thinking and behavior. A mental illness can make you miserable and can cause
problems in your daily life, such as at work or in relationships.
Organic Disorder - Clearly caused by physical illness or injury that affects the brain.
Functional Disorder - Result of psychological causes in which no clear brain damage has occurred
Interesting facts


1There are effective strategies for preventing mental disorders such as depression.
2There are effective treatments for mental disorders and ways to alleviate the
suffering caused by them.

3Access to health care and social services capable of providing treatment and
social support is key.