Mental Illness - Disability or Inability?

I have written an article about “Professional Suicide ” almost 9 years back. Since then, I have been observing people and their behaviors and what cause in change in their behavioral pattern. It took me years to understand that Professional Suicide is linked with “Mental Disability” referred as “Mental Illness”, because no one will ever kill their own career in their conscious mind but it’s the mental illness which drive this.

This article is all about “Mental Disability” or referred as “Mental Illness”.

Mental illness is a leading cause of disability. Untreated mental illness can cause severe emotional, behavioral and physical health problems.

Let me share my thought process through this article, but first of all let’s understand the difference between disability and inability and how to identify this and what we can do when we came across someone with these certain behavior.

What is the difference between disability and inability? ‘Inability’ means you cannot do something because you do not have the skills or knowledge to do something, while ‘disability’ means you are not able to do something because of a physical or mental problem.

Disability refers to when a person has a physical or mental limitation that makes it difficult or impossible for them to do something. If someone cannot walk and must be in a wheelchair, they have a disability.

Inability refers to when someone cannot do something. This can also include people with disabilities but is not limited to them. If someone is deaf, they have an inability to hear. But also, I have an inability to fly.

Disability does not mean inability. Many people think that if you have a disability, you are unable to do the things that able-bodied people do. That is not true. Many people with disabilities show great determination and dependability.

Complications sometimes linked to mental illness include:

·????????Unhappiness and decreased enjoyment of life

·????????Family conflicts

·????????Relationship difficulties

·????????Social isolation

·????????Problems with tobacco, alcohol and other drugs

·????????Missed work or school, or other problems related to work or school

·????????Legal and financial problems

·????????Poverty and homelessness

·????????Self-harm and harm to others, including suicide or homicide

·????????Weakened immune system, so your body has a hard time resisting infections

·????????Heart disease and other medical conditions

If we look at above factors and consider Mental Illness as disability, then I am afraid to say that all of us are/and experiencing/experienced disability in our life at one point.

Disability is part of being human. Everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life.?As per WHO article, an estimated 1.3 billion people – about 16% of the global population – currently experience significant disability. This number is increasing due in part to population ageing and an increase in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases.

Disability results from the interaction between individuals with a health condition, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and depression, with personal and environmental factors including negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation and public buildings, and limited social support.

A person’s environment has a huge effect on the experience and extent of disability. Inaccessible environments create barriers that often hinder the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society on an equal basis with others.

Signs and symptoms of mental illness can vary, depending on the disorder, circumstances and other factors. Mental illness symptoms can affect emotions, thoughts and behaviours.

Examples of signs and symptoms include:

·????????Feeling sad or down

·????????Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate.

·????????Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt

·????????Extreme mood changes of highs and lows

·????????Withdrawal from friends and activities

·????????Significant tiredness, low energy or sleep disorder.

·????????Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations

·????????Inability to cope with daily problems or stress.

·????????Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people.

·????????Problems with alcohol or drug use

·????????Major changes in eating habits

·????????Excessive anger, hostility, or violence

·????????Suicidal thinking

If your loved one shows signs of mental illness, have an open and honest discussion with him or her about your concerns. You may not be able to force someone to get professional care, but you can offer encouragement and support. You can also help your loved one find a qualified mental health professional and make an appointment. You may even be able to go along to the appointment.

Please be kind to people, you meet or come across. Everyone is dealing their own challenges which you may not be aware about.?

Be Mindful, Be Aware :)