1.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia affects approximately 24 million people or 1 in 300 people

worldwide (1). People with schizophrenia have a life expectancy 10-20
years below that of the general population (4).   Schizophrenia is
characterised by significant impairments in perception and changes in
behaviour.  Symptoms may include persistent delusions, hallucinations,
disorganised thinking, highly disorganised behaviour, or extreme agitation. 
People with schizophrenia may experience persistent difficulties with their
cognitive functioning.   Yet, a range of effective treatment options exist,
including medication, psychoeducation, family interventions, and
psychosocial rehabilitation.  
2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The prevalence of PTSD and other mental disorders is high in conflict-
affected settings (3). PTSD may develop following exposure to an
extremely threatening or horrific event or series of events. It is
characterised by all of the following: 1) re-experiencing the traumatic event
or events in the present (intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares); 2)
avoidance of thoughts and memories of the event(s), or avoidance of
activities, situations, or people reminiscent of the event(s); and 3) persistent
perceptions of heightened current threat. These symptoms persist for at
least several weeks and cause significant impairment in functioning.
Effective psychological treatment exists.

3. Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is

one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is
usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children
with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive
behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be
overly active.

Signs and Symptoms

It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or
another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviors.
The symptoms continue, can be severe, and can cause difficulty at school, at
home, or with friends.

A child with ADHD might:

 daydream a lot
 forget or lose things a lot
 squirm or fidget
 talk too much
 make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks
 have a hard time resisting temptation
 have trouble taking turns
 have difficulty getting along with others

4. Bipolar Disorder
People with bipolar disorder experience alternating depressive episodes
with periods of manic symptoms.  During a depressive episode, the person
experiences depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty) or a loss of
pleasure or interest in activities, for most of the day, nearly every day. 
Manic symptoms may include euphoria or irritability, increased activity or
energy, and other symptoms such as increased talkativeness, racing
thoughts, increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility,
and impulsive reckless behaviour.  People with bipolar disorder are at an
increased risk of suicide. Yet effective treatment options exist including
psychoeducation, reduction of stress and strengthening of social
functioning, and medication.

5. Eating Disorders
People experienced eating disorders including almost 3 million children and
adolescents (1). Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia
nervosa, involve abnormal eating and preoccupation with food as well as
prominent body weight and shape concerns. The symptoms or behaviours
result in significant risk or damage to health, significant distress, or
significant impairment of functioning. Anorexia nervosa often has its onset
during adolescence or early adulthood and is associated with premature
death due to medical complications or suicide.  Individuals with bulimia
nervosa are at a significantly increased risk for substance use, suicidality,
and health complications. Effective treatment options exist, including
family-based treatment and cognitive-based therapy.

6. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in

which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations
(obsessions). To get rid of the thoughts, they feel driven to do something
repetitively (compulsions). The repetitive behaviors, such as hand
washing/cleaning, checking on things, and mental acts like (counting) or
other activities, can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and
social interactions.

Many people without OCD have distressing thoughts or repetitive

behaviors. However, these do not typically disrupt daily life. For people with
OCD, thoughts are persistent and intrusive, and behaviors are rigid. Not
performing the behaviors commonly causes great distress, often attached
to a specific fear of dire consequences (to self or loved ones) if the
behaviors are not completed. Many people with OCD know or suspect their
obsessional thoughts are not realistic; others may think they could be true.
Even if they know their intrusive thoughts are not realistic, people with OCD
have difficulty disengaging from the obsessive thoughts or stopping the
compulsive actions.

7. Personality is the way of thinking, feeling and behaving that makes a

person different from other people. An individual’s personality is influenced
by experiences, environment (surroundings, life situations) and inherited
characteristics. A person’s personality typically stays the same over time.

To be classified as a personality disorder, one's way of thinking, feeling and

behaving deviates from the expectations of the culture, causes distress or problems
functioning, and lasts over time.1 The pattern of experience and behavior usually begins
by late adolescence or early adulthood and causes distress or problems in
functioning. Without treatment, personality disorders can be long-lasting.

There are 10 specific types of personality disorders in the DSM-5-TR. Personality

disorders are long-term patterns of behavior and inner experiences that differ
significantly from what is expected. They affect at least two of these areas:

 Way of thinking about oneself and others

 Way of responding emotionally
 Way of relating to other people
 Way of controlling one’s behavior

8. Depression
Depression is different from usual mood fluctuations and short-lived
emotional responses to challenges in everyday life.  During a depressive
episode, the person experiences depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable,
empty) or a loss of pleasure or interest in activities, for most of the day,
nearly every day, for at least two weeks. Several other symptoms are also
present, which may include poor concentration, feelings of excessive guilt
or low self-worth, hopelessness about the future, thoughts about dying or
suicide, disrupted sleep, changes in appetite or weight, and feeling
especially tired or low in energy. People with depression are at an
increased risk of suicide. Yet, effective psychological treatment exists, and
depending on the age and severity, medication may also be considered. 

9. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental

disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have
problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or
repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different
ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that

affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although
autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder”
because symptoms generally appear in the first 2 years of life.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a

guide created by the American Psychiatric Association that health care providers
use to diagnose mental disorders, people with ASD often have:

 Difficulty with communication and interaction with other people

 Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors
 Symptoms that affect their ability to function in school, work, and other areas
of life

10. Anxiety Disorders

People were living with an anxiety disorder including 58 million children and
adolescents (1).  Anxiety disorders are characterised by excessive fear and
worry and related behavioural disturbances. Symptoms are severe enough
to result in significant distress or significant impairment in functioning.
There are several different kinds of anxiety disorders, such as: generalised
anxiety disorder (characterised by excessive worry), panic disorder
(characterised by panic attacks), social anxiety disorder (characterised by
excessive fear and worry in social situations), separation anxiety disorder
(characterised by excessive fear or anxiety about separation from those
individuals to whom the person has a deep emotional bond), and others.
Effective psychological treatment exists, and depending on the age and
severity, medication may also be considered.
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