General Information About Mental Health
— From the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health
Definitions:
The following definitions of mental health and mental illness are as described in the U.S. Surgeon General's 1999 Report on Mental Health.
Mental health — The successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity; from early childhood until late life, mental health is the springboard of thinking and communication skills, learning emotional growth, resilience and self-esteem.
Mental health problems — The term "mental health problems" is used for signs and symptoms of insufficient intensity or duration to meet the criteria for any mental disorder. Almost everyone has experienced mental health problems in which the distress one feels matches some of the signs and symptoms of mental disorders. Mental health problems may warrant active efforts in health promotion, prevention and treatment. Bereavement symptoms in oder adults offer a case in point. Bereavement symptoms of less than two months duration do not qualify as a mental disorder, according to professional manuals for diagnosis (DSM-IV, 1994). Nevertheless, bereavement symptoms can be debilitating if they are left unattended. They place older people at risk for depression, which, in turn, is linked to death from suicide, heart attack, or other causes. Much can be done — through formal treatment or through support group participation — to ameliorate the symptoms and to avert the consequences of bereavement. In this case, early intervention is needed to address a mental health problem before it becomes a disorder.
Mental illness — The term that refers collectively to all mental disorders. Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.
Clinical Trials:
ClinicalTrials.gov provides regularly updated information about the federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations and phone numbers for more details. The information provided on ClinicalTrials.gov should be used in conjunction with advice from health care professionals.
Clinical Trial Participation Update:
Click here to find clinical trials by state.
NIMH: Identification of Characteristics Associated with Symptom Remission in Autism
In this study, we hope to better understand why some children with autism show significant improvement while other children do not. To examine this question, we will evaluate current functioning by conducting a neuropsychological assessment, a neurological exam, an overnight EEG, and an MRI. Our goal is to better understand how children who make significant improvements may differ from children with autism who do not show similar gains. Our long-term aim is to identify characteristics associated with symptom remission that may guide development of better treatments in the future.
Three groups of children (ages eight to 17) will be included:
- Children previously diagnosed with autism who no longer meet criteria for autism
- Children currently diagnosed with autism
- Typically developing children.
To find out if you qualify or for further information, please call our study coordinator at 301-435-7205 (TTY 866-411-1010) or e-mail AutismOutcomeStudy@mail.nih.gov.
National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
For more information on research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Maryland, go to http://patientinfo.nimh.nih.gov.
Information About Drug Abuse:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
NIDA's mission is to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.
This charge has two critical components. The first is the strategic support and conduct of research across a broad range of disciplines. The second is ensuring the rapid and effective dissemination and use of the results of that research to significantly improve prevention, treatment and policy as it relates to drug abuse and addiction.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Building resilience . . . Facilitating recovery . . . A life in the community for everyone
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has established a clear vision for its work — a life in the community for everyone. To realize this vision, the Agency has sharply focused its mission on building resilience and facilitating recovery for people with or at risk for mental or substance use disorders. SAMHSA is gearing all of its resources — programs, policies and grants — toward that outcome.
What is Depression?
Depression is a serious medical illness; it's not something that you have made up in your head. It's more than just feeling "down in the dumps" or "blue" for a few days. It's feeling "down" and "low" and "hopeless" for weeks at a time. Read more about depression »