10 facts on Mental Health (Infographic)
Approximately 20% of the world’s children and adolescents are affected by mental disorders. Mental illnesses and substance abuse are the leading causes of disability worldwide.
Approximately 20% of the world’s children and adolescents are affected by mental disorders. Mental illnesses and substance abuse are the leading causes of disability worldwide.
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. [1]
People suffering from bipolar disorder will have periods or episodes of depression – where they feel very low and lethargic mania – where they feel high and overactive. [2]
Unlike simple mood swings, each episode of bipolar disorder can last for several weeks and some people may not experience a “normal” mood very often. [2]
Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step in bipolar disorder treatment. However, this isn’t always easy. The mood swings of bipolar disorder can be difficult to distinguish from other problems such as major depression, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder. For many people suffering from bipolar disorder, it takes years and numerous doctor visits before the problem is correctly identified and treated. [3]
Indicators of bipolar disorder:
If a person is not treated, episodes of bipolar-related mania can last for between three to six months. Episodes of depression tend to last longer, for between six and twelve months. However, with effective treatment, episodes usually improve within about three months. [2]
Most people with bipolar disorder can be treated using a combination of different treatments that can include:
Mobile health technology
The Monsenso mHealth platform is based on The MONARCA Research Project, aimed at developing and validating a solution for multi-parametric, long-term monitoring of behavioral and physiological information relevant to bipolar disorder.
The Monsenso solution can help predict and prevent episodes by training patients to recognize their early warning signs, which are symptoms that indicate an oncoming episode [4].
In particular, during the research project, it was discovered that these three parameters are crucial in keeping a bipolar patient stable:
Therefore, the Monsenso solution includes five core features that support a patient’s self-management:
Resources:
[1] What is bipolar disorder? National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
[2] Bipolar disorder. National Health Service (NHS) UK. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Bipolar-disorder/Pages/Introduction.aspx
[3] Bipolar disorder treatment. HelpGuide.org http://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder-treatment.htm
Borderline disorder is a behavioural illness marked by unstable moods, behaviour and relationships.
The disorder usually begins during late adolescence, not before the age of 18 years. However, early symptoms may occur during childhood.