Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

Some of the more common disorders are depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders. Symptoms may include changes in mood, personality, personal habits and/or social withdrawal. When these occur in children under 18, they are referred to as serious emotional disturbances (SEDs). Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income.

Here are some important facts about mental illness and recovery:

* Mental illnesses are biologically based brain disorders. They cannot be overcome through “will power” and are not related to a person’s “character” or intelligence.
* Mental disorders fall along a continuum of severity. Even though mental disorders are widespread in the population, the main burden of illness is concentrated in a much smaller proportion — about 6 percent, or 1 in 17 Americans — who suffer from a serious mental illness. It is estimated that mental illness affects 1 in 5 families in America.
* Mental illnesses usually strike individuals in the prime of their lives, often during adolescence and young adulthood. All ages are susceptible, but the young and the old are especially vulnerable.
* The best treatments for serious mental illnesses today are highly effective; between 70 and 90 percent of individuals have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life with a combination of pharmacological and psychosocial treatments and supports.
* With appropriate effective medication and a wide range of services tailored to their needs, most people who live with serious mental illnesses can significantly reduce the impact of their illness and find a satisfying measure of achievement and independence. A key concept is to develop expertise in developing strategies to manage the illness process.
* Early identification and treatment is of vital importance. By ensuring access to the treatment and recovery supports that are proven effective, recovery is accelerated and the further harm related to the course of illness is minimized.

Changes in approaches
There are constant advancements in approaches to mental health. Some are obvious, and others are subtle. Social changes and how we treat mental illnesses in respect to those changes are not as quick as the advancements in technology but both of these create profound changes in how professionals in the field practice medicine. Between new medicines and new diagnostic tests, to changes in government policy on patients and citizens with problems there is always something new to learn. Because of these changes, mental health continuing education is vital.

For advancement in your career
If you have any desire to advance in your career, this is also another reason to take mental health continuing education seriously. Even in you have a master’s degree, showing a potential employer your credentials includes showing how dedicated you are to the field. If they see that you have been continuing your education through formal courses they may consider you for a higher position with a higher salary. They may advance you from within. Either way, it is very important to know that in order to grown in your career you have to take education seriously.

A strong desire to learn more
Chances are you already take education seriously. You may subscribe to periodicals that keep you abreast of the changes happening in your field – either the broad spectrum of mental health or specifically as it may relate to your position. You may follow websites or blogs on-line that keep you informed about the latest advancements. These are all a part of being a great mental health practitioner. Mental health continuing education is also a more formal way of staying in touch with the changes in the field of medicine.

Mental health continuing education options
There are several ways to earn the continuing education requirements you need. There are many on-line courses that offer independence and flexible scheduling. This is a great option for people with a full schedule or families to take care of in addition to patients. There are also classroom courses available, many scheduled after hours to suit your work schedule. You can also choose to take an intensive course study and shorten your time commitment by take a course over a week. Some intensive courses may last longer. You can also consider taking full time coursework at a higher education institution to jumpstart your new career.