The American Psychological Association defines mental health as “a state of mind characterized by emotional well-being, good behavioral adjustment, relative freedom from anxiety and disabling symptoms, and a capacity to establish constructive relationships and cope with the ordinary demands and stresses of life.” While this definition highlights the presence of positive feelings and functioning, it overlooks the challenges and effort required to achieve and sustain mental well-being. This perspective risks framing mental health primarily through the lens of positivity rather than acknowledging it as a dynamic process that involves struggle, adaptation, and growth. Understanding types of mental health disorders is essential in recognizing that mental health is not just about positive emotions but also about managing various psychological challenges effectively.
Mental health is not merely the absence of mental illness or the presence of positive emotions and stability. Rather, it reflects an individual’s capacity to navigate life’s complexities by utilizing their skills in alignment with both personal growth and the broader values of society.
On the other hand, mental health issues are characterised by conditions that affect a person’s emotions, thinking, perceptions, or behaviour. These issues are either short-term or can last for a longer period. Since mental health issues cause distress to an individual, they can significantly affect their personal, professional, and social functioning.
The various types of mental health issues are as follows:
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Neurodevelopmental disorders usually have their onset during the developmental period (typically childhood or adolescence) and consist of characteristics such as excess or limitations in executive functioning, learning, social skills and/or intelligence, delays in achieving milestones, etc.
Bipolar disorders
Bipolar disorders involve extreme mood shifts, with periods of high energy and excitement (mania or hypomania) followed by episodes of deep sadness and low energy (depression). These are often recurring, severe, and chronic. For many patients, a single episode of mania or depression may inculcate a lifelong illness.
Depressive Disorders
Depressive disorders are characterised by a sad, empty, or irritable mood that is accompanied by somatic and cognitive changes. There are different types of depressive disorders based on the duration and timing of the disorder.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders involve persistent fear or anxiety along with behavioural disturbances. Fear stems from a real or imagined immediate threat, whereas anxiety is usually related to the anticipation of a future threat. Anxiety disorders differ based on what triggers fear or anxiety, how people avoid it, and the thoughts linked to their anxiety.
Obsessive-compulsive disorders
The presence of obsessions and compulsions characterizes these disorders. Obsessions are repetitive and persistent thoughts, images, and urges, whereas compulsions are repetitive behaviours or mental acts that are performed in response to the obsessions. These compulsions may also be specific to preoccupations or certain parts of the body.
Trauma and stressor-related disorders
These disorders stem from exposure to an event that causes significant stress or trauma (i.e., threat of death, serious injury, sexual violence, etc.) to the individual. They are often marked by a loss of pleasure, emotional distress, outward expressions of anger or aggression, and sometimes a sense of detachment.
Dissociative Disorders
Dissociation is a breakdown in the normal connection between awareness, memory, identity, or perception of the environment, making a person feel disconnected from themselves or their surroundings. These disorders often emerge following a traumatic event, with most symptoms being closely linked to the individual’s proximity—whether physical or emotional—to the trauma.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve severe disruptions in eating habits and related behaviors, leading to harm in both mental and physical health. They often include extreme weight-control measures such as starvation, purging, binge-eating, and an intense focus on body shape or weight.
Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic disorders affect a person’s ability to tell the difference between reality and their thoughts, leading to confusion between external events and internal experiences. The key features that define these disorders are: hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, abnormal motor behavior, and negative symptoms (diminished emotional expression and anhedonia).
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders typically begin in adolescence or early adulthood and are marked by persistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that differ from cultural norms, cause distress or difficulties in daily life, and remain long-term, pervasive, and inflexible.
Mental health issues span various conditions affecting emotions, cognition, and behavior, disrupting daily life. These include mood, anxiety, trauma-related, psychotic, and personality disorders, each presenting distinct challenges that require careful understanding and intervention.
Photo Credits:
First image: freepik
Second image: freepik
References
Gautam, S., Jain, A., Chaudhary, J., Gautam, M., Gaur, M., & Grover, S. (2024). Concept of mental health and mental well-being, its determinants and coping strategies. Indian journal of psychiatry, 66(Suppl 2), S231-S244.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Sakshi
About the author
Sakshi is a clinical psychologist with a deep passion for understanding human behavior, a strong drive for research, and a keen eye for psychological intricacies. Committed to continuous learning, she seeks to explore every facet of psychology, from theory to practice, to better support and empower individuals. With a curiosity that fuels her pursuit of knowledge, she strives to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications, making psychology more accessible and impactful.
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