Answers to questions on Worksheet 1.
1 False: They are illnesses just like heart disease, asthma
and diabetes, but they affect the mind. Intellectual disability is
usually obvious from an early age, as the child shows significant
learning difficulties.
2 False: When treated appropriately and early, many people
recover fully. Some mental illnesses require ongoing treatment
(like many physical illnesses) but can be managed so that people
can participate in everyday life.
3 True: In fact, one in five people develops a mental
illness at some stage in their lives. This might be brought on by a
particular crisis or trauma, after which they no longer feel able
to cope. The crisis or trauma could be a relationship breakdown or
parents getting divorced, an abusive relationship, unemployment,
bereavement, an accident, social isolation, examinations or other
work pressures, or a life-threatening illness.
4 True: Some mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, can
run in families. However the causes of mental illness are varied.
(See the answer to Question 3.)
5 False: Most people are sad or unhappy at some time, but
only for a short while. Clinical depression involves severe or
long-term distress that significantly affects a person's
life.
6 True: Scientists have found that depression is associated
with low levels of the chemical serotonin in certain areas of the
brain. Current research is also investigating the effect of
serotonin on another chemical in the brain - cortisol - the levels
of which are higher than normal in depressed people. In
schizophrenia, the brain's main neurotransmitter dopamine seems to
be overactive.
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