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Definitions

Mental Illness (1) - Mental Illness includes a broad range of psychological or behavioural symptoms that reduce an individual’s capacity to cope with daily life. A person affected by mental illness my lose touch with reality or have uncontrollable emotion. Some may exhibit behaviour that is not considered appropriate. Others lose the ability to communicate effectively with people. Social, psychological, genetic, physical, chemical or biological disturbances or a combination of these factors can cause mental illness. 

Mental Health (2) – is a state of being. It refers to how one is able to cope with the demands and stress of day-to-day living. Everyone has times when they feel depressed, get unreasonably angry or over excited. Some may feel that everything and everybody is out to get them or that they just can’t cope. These are considered normal reactions to certain situations. When a person has good mental health, they are able to identify their issue or problem, choose a way to change it and move on. 

Enabling (3) – to intrude upon someone else’s ability to experience the consequences of their actions 

Support (4) – we do it with the other 

Rescue (5) – we do it for the other 

Bipolar (6) – people with this disorder experience great highs (manic stage) and great lows (depressive stage) 

Depression  (7) – is an illness that affects the mind and body. It is generally described as feeling worthless, hopeless and helpless over an extended period.

• When a depressed mood persists for more than two weeks and interferes with everyday living, it may require medical treatment.

Self Care – taking care of your needs in order to keep healthy and well 

Boundaries  - limits between “you” and “me”  

Recovery  (8) ("is a process, not a goal")

• A deeply personal, unique process of changing one’s attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills and/or roles.

• It is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life even with limitations caused by the illness.

• Recovery involves the development of new meaning and purpose in one’s life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of mental illness.

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Footnotes:

1,2,3,6,7  CMHA Family Support Group Program Manual ( a 6- week program designed for families who care for the mentally ill family member). 

4 & 5  Retire from Rescuing (Part 1 of 3) www.hypnocenter.com/article.php?article_id=3

 8 - Googling for a definition, I found an article stating William Anthony, Director of the Boston Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation seems to have developed the cornerstone definition of mental health recovery.  (Recovery: Definition & Components) – www.mhrecovery.com/definition.htm.)