• Depression
• Bipolar
• Anxiety
• Schizophrenia

For a more comprehensive list of mental illnesses including their signs and symptoms, please visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression

• Change in sleeping pattern
• Change in appetite
• Restlessness or slowed body movement
• Depressed or irritable mood
• Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Diminished ability to concentrate or make decisions
• Fatigue
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and helplessness

Quick Facts About Depression

• Depression is a biological, chemical, treatable illness -- not a weakness.
• Depression frequently co-occurs with a variety of other physical illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, and also can increase the risk for subsequent physical illness, disability, and premature death.3
• Nearly twice as many women (12 percent) as men (7 percent) are affected by a depressive illness each year.3
• Men are more likely to attach a social stigma to depression. Women are more likely to seek treatment for depression.1
• There are approximately 128,157 men in Maricopa County who will suffer from depression during their lifetime.2
• There are approximately 317,548 women in Maricopa County who will suffer from depression during their lifetime.2
• More than 80 percent of those who have depression can be effectively treated.3

Nearly two-thirds of those with depression will not seek treatment, usually for any of three reasons: (1) Lack of education (unaware of depression, or unaware of where to go to get help); (2) lack of mental health insurance coverage (many insurance companies set arbitrary limits on treatment of mental illnesses); (3) stigma and shame.

References:
(1) Hart Survey of Americans on Mental Health and Depression
(2) Special Census of Maricopa County, Table 2. 10/27/95 (most current figures available)
(3) National Institute of Mental Health, D'ART Campaign
(4) Parade Magazine, The Arizona Republic, Sunday September 7, 1997. (Survey of Americans on Health)
(5) World Health Organization, 1993 Global Disease Burden

Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

• Shifts in mood from intense highs (mania) to intense lows (depression)1
• Some signs of mania may include the following: extreme irritability and distractibility; excessively euphoric feelings; increased energy or decreased need for sleep; uncharacteristically poor judgment; substance abuse; and aggressive or intrusive behavior.1,2
• Some of the signs of depression may include the following: persistent sad, anxious, or empty moods; feeling guilty or worthless; loss of pleasure or interest in ordinary activities including sex; difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions; and suicidal attempts.1,2

Quick Facts About Bipolar Disorder

• At least 2 million Americans suffer from bipolar disorder.
• The illness typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life.1,2
• Bipolar disorder tends to run in families and, in many cases, may be inherited.1,2
• In its early stages, bipolar disorder may masquerade as alcohol or drug abuse or poor school or work performance. Left untreated, it will worsen, and the individual will experience episodes of full-fledged mania and clinical depression.1,2
• Treatment for bipolar disorder has a high rate of treatment success, making it cost-effective at approximately $30.3 billion per year to treat. In contrast, illnesses with a relatively low rate of treatment success, such as coronary heart disease, cost approximately $43 billion per year to treat.3

References:
(1) National Institute of Mental Health
(2) Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
(3) American Psychiatric Association

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

• Excessive worrying
• Persistent, frightening thoughts
• Uncontrollable, repetitive thoughts and actions
• Feeling keyed-up or restless
• Phobias
• Anxiety attacks
• Unexplained heart palpitations
• Problems with concentration
• Discomfort in social situations
• Sleeplessness (1,3)

Quick Facts About Anxiety Disorders

• Anxiety disorders are mental illnesses, often related to biological make-up and life experiences of the individual, and they frequently run in families. 1,3
• Many people have a single anxiety disorder and nothing else, but it isn't unusual for an anxiety disorder to be accompanied by another illness, such as depression, an eating disorder, alcoholism, drug abuse, or another anxiety disorder.1
• Behavior therapy, sometimes in combination with medication, can successfully treat anxiety disorders 70 to 90 percent of the time, compared to treatment for cancer, which is 60 percent successful.1
• Treating anxiety disorders is cost-effective. The costs for treating anxiety disorders is $46.6 billion per year, compared to cancer, which costs $104 billion per year.4

References:
(1) National Institute of Mental Health
(2) Dr. Steven Hyman, M.D., Director of NIMH
(3) American Psychiatric Association
(4) National Mental Health Association

Signs and Symptoms of Schizophrenia
The appearance of schizophrenia varies from person to person. Symptoms may develop slowly over months or years or may appear very abruptly. Schizophrenia may appear in cycles known as relapse or remission.
Initial symptoms, which usually appear gradually, include:

• Mild feelings of tension
• Inability to sleep or concentrate
• Loss of interest in school, work and friends

As the disease becomes worse, the individual may experience more disabling and bizarre symptoms such as:

• Delusions or false ideas
• Hallucinations or imaginary voices which give commands or comments to the individual
• Disordered speech and thoughts or moving from one topic to another, but making no sense. Individuals may make up their own words or sounds.

Quick Facts About Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia is a biological brain disease that seriously impairs a person's ability to think clearly and relate to others.1
• Schizophrenia is not split personality or multiple personality. The vast majority of its sufferers are not violent and do not pose a danger to others.1
• Schizophrenia often surfaces as a traumatic interruption of an important stage of life, when people finish high school, start college, or begin their careers2
• Most people develop schizophrenia between the ages of 13 and 25, when the body is undergoing many hormonal and physical changes of adolescence and young adulthood.1
• Medication can help treat the symptoms of schizophrenia for 60 percent of the affected individuals, saving $15,000 to $17,000 annually. Medication allows these individuals to lead productive and fulfilling lives.1

References:
(1) National Mental Health Association
(2) S. Charles Schulz, M.D.

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