Has a friend or family member started behaving strangely? Do you get confused by your own thoughts? Are other people not understanding what you're saying or doing? There could be an underlying condition that needs to be addressed. Our fact sheets can tell you more about some disabling and often-misunderstood mental disorders and addictions. They might even help you figure out if it's worth seeking help.
On this page:
Schizophrenia | fact sheet
Although it affects around 40,000 people in British Columbia (about 1 in 100 Canadians), schizophrenia is one of the most widely misunderstood of all mental illnesses. Most people in BC do not recognize the signs of schizophrenia, nor do they understand that it is a serious mental illness caused by a chemical disturbance of the brain's functioning... [more]
Bipolar Disorder | fact sheet
Although some fluctuation in mood is normal, when it becomes so extreme that the person feels like their mood state shifts through low and high periods, this can indicate the presence of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, is a form of clinical depression that affects 1 to 2% of the population in a lifetime or about one in every five people with mood disorders... [more]
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder | fact sheet
Obsessions are persistent, intrusive, and cause the person much distress and discomfort; compulsions, therefore, are carried out in a bid to reduce these anxious, guilty or shameful feelings. Compulsive actions usually do result in a sense of temporary relief - until the ritual is concluded, of course, and the obsessive thoughts begin again in another vicious cycle of anxiety... [more]
Panic Disorder | fact sheet
Panic disorder affects about 2.5% of Canadians - almost three times as many Canadians as have schizophrenia. A person with panic disorder does not simply experience panic attacks in a stressful or anxiety-provoking situation. He or she may experience panic at any time, often when there is no real danger... [more]
Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia | fact sheet
Most approaching retirement look forward to exploring new pursuits and basking in memories of their long, eventful lives. But for thousands of Canadians, Alzheimer's disease replaces the richness of the golden years with a sense of loss and confusion as memories of the past and present gradually fade... [more]
Personality Disorders | fact sheet
Personality disorders involve patterns of behaviour, mood, social interaction, and impulsiveness that cause distress to one experiencing them, as well as to other people in their lives. There are indications that personality disorders may also be associated with past trauma and low self-esteem. Of all the diagnoses that describe psychiatric problems, personality disorders are among the most recently identified, and the most debated in professional circles...[more]
What are Mental Disorders? | fact sheet
Like it or not, mental illness can affect anyone. In BC, at least one in five people will experience some form of mental illness in his or her lifetime, according to research by Health Canada and the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health... [more]
Children, Youth and Mental Disorders | fact sheet
Kids and teens are constantly changing. As we grow, it’s normal to change as we learn new things and our bodies and minds mature into our adult selves. So with all these changes going on, how can we tell which changes are normal? At what point should we start worrying ... [more]
Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs | fact sheet
Drugs are chemical compounds, found in plants or made in a lab, that affect activity in the brain or the body. Tobacco, alcohol and caffeine are the most commonly used. For thousands of years, people around the world have been using certain drugs to help them in their daily lives. Most people can and do use a wide range of drugs in their daily lives without experiencing serious problems. But problems can happen when a person misuses a drug, or when the effects of a drug lead to behaviour that causes harm to the user or to others... [more]
Mental Disorders Toolkit | workbook
This interactive toolkit will help people who already know that they have a mental disorders develop skills to manage their illness on their own. It has been designed to be helpful for an individual with any diagnosis, and to complement specific toolkits that have been developed for depression and anxiety disorders. This workbook is here for you to help make sense of the information available about your disorder and about the various treatments and strategies for managing it; working with your doctor or other mental health professional to find a treatment that is as effective as possible; and learning your "early warning signs" and developing an "action plan" to avoid a relapse - that is, a return or worsening of symptoms leading to a repeat episode of the disorder... [more]
Family Toolkit | workbook
When a family member suffers from a mental illness, one of the most important things to do is to take the time to learn about the disorder. By educating yourself as much as you can about the mental or substance use disorder, you can take an active role in your family member’s recovery. The Family Toolkit was designed to assist families in caring for a family member with a mental illness by providing information and practical resources...[more]
