What is Behavioral Health?
Behavioral health services focus on daily habits, behaviors, and actions that can be impacting a patient’s mental or physical health. Behavioral health is a person’s state of being and how their behaviors and choices affect their life. Behavioral health disorders are illnesses precipitated or perpetuated by your conscious decisions and which you cannot resist the urge to repeat, despite harmful consequences. Changing these compulsive behaviors directly influences your life.
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Behavioral health and mental health are often mixed up and tend to overlap, and many organizations substitute one term for the other but noticeable differences do exist between the two. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines mental health as psychological, emotional, and social well-being. Behavior can impact some mental health issues but not all. Many mental health disorders have neurological or biological causes, which means that changing a person’s behavior may not cure their illness.
Some examples of mental health disorders include:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Co-occurring substance use disorder & addiction.
- Depression
Mental and behavioral disorders are common worldwide. The treatment of these disorders is expensive, yet treatment options for sufferers are limited. Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions worldwide. Around 1 out of 7 people globally (11-18 percent) have one or more mental disorders.
Even the most severe mental health conditions can be treated, allowing people to better contribute to their families and communities. Behavioral health can be treated through counseling. Counseling is a therapeutic modality that helps individuals manage the behaviors associated with mental illness or general problems with their well-being.
It is focused on therapies that help individuals change their behaviors, reinforcing positive behaviors and finding ways to overcome negative behaviors. Professionals who may provide behavioral health counseling include psychologists and counselors. Other concurrent treatment options may include medications and psychotherapy.
Mental health is a state of successful performance of a mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, adapting to change, and coping with challenges. Mental health is essential to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and the ability to contribute to a community or society.
Mental disorders are health conditions characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, and behavior associated with distress and impaired functioning. Mental disorders are responsible for many problems that include disability, pain, or death. With mental illness being so prevalent worldwide, it is essential to recognize the early warning signs like abnormal eating or sleeping patterns, withdrawal from people and typical activities, feelings of hopelessness, an inability to do daily tasks, a decrease in energy, or thoughts of self-harm.
Nearly 800,000 people commit suicide every year, which is an average of 1 person every 40 seconds taking their n life. With the proper treatment to address mental health conditions, we can reduce suicide rates, legal issues, family conflict, employment issues, substance abuse, and physical health problems.
But, to improve the mental health care foundation, we’ll first have to understand the barriers that stop people from getting the care they need. Financial problems are among the top challenges in mental health services that hold people back from receiving the care they need. Everyone should play their part in helping people who experience any distress or trouble.
Find your questions here
What are the current issues in mental health?
There are many types of mental health challenges, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Anxiety (Panic Disorder), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bi-Polar Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
What are behavioral symptoms?
Behavioral symptoms are persistent or repetitive behaviors that are unusual, disruptive, inappropriate, or cause problems. Aggression, criminal behavior, defiance, drug use, hostility, inappropriate sexual behavior, inattention, secrecy, and self-harm are behavioral symptoms.
What are the 5 signs of mental illness?
The five main warning signs of mental illness are as follows:
- Excessive paranoia, worry, or anxiety.
- Long-lasting sadness or irritability.
- Extreme changes in moods.
- Social withdrawal.
- Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping patterns.
Can mental disorders be cured?
Treatment can involve medications and psychotherapy, depending on the disease and its severity. At this time, most mental illnesses cannot be cured. Still, they can usually be treated effectively to minimize the symptoms and allow the individual to function in work, school, or social environments.
How do mental illnesses affect the brain?
When someone has a mental illness, it affects the brain’s chemistry and function. It disrupts the communication between the neurons. And these changes also affect the flow of neurotransmission. Mental disorders are linked to changes in levels of the chemicals in the brain.