According to APA (American Psychiatric Association), mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior, or a combination of the two. They are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work, or family activities.
It is hard to determine whether a behavior is normal or abnormal, as stated in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition), a manual that provides diagnostic criteria for various mental health disorders, “no definition can capture all aspects of all disorders in the range contained in the DSM-5”.
The following aspects are required to be identified as abnormal behaviors:
Dysfunction. Dysfunction refers to a state where a person’s life area is significantly impaired, requiring outside help.
Distress. When a behavior causes negative feelings such as worry and anxiety, it can be referred to as distress.
Deviance. There are two types of deviance, statistical and social. Statistical deviance refers to the behaviors that seem unusual in society, while social deviance represents the behaviors that are seen as odd for most people in the community.
In addition to dysfunction, distress, and deviance, some professionals also recognize danger as an important diagnostic aspect for abnormal behavior, which refers to the behaviors that bring threat to the safety of the person or other people. Nonetheless, it is important to note that having mental health disorder does not automatically mean that the person is dangerous; in fact, these people are the ones that need more care and love, not exclusion. As the APA stated, “mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a medical problem, just like heart disease or diabetes”. By working collaboratively and taking care of those who struggle with mental illnesses, mental health awareness may be raised.
Source:
“What Is Mental Illness?” Web Starter Kit, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness. Accessed 5 Dec. 2021.
Comments