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Glossary
Learning disability means that the person has severe difficulties in understanding and learning things, and in generalising the learning to new situations.
Mental health can be defined positively. The positive dimension refers to the concept of wellbeing and the ability to cope in the face of adversity. This encompasses various dimensions including: resilience, confidence, a sense of mastery, coherence and control, optimism and hope, and the ability to initiate, develop and sustain mutually satisfying personal relationships.
Mental health problems arise when a problem, life event or situation disrupts the way we think and feel. This can either be temporary - for example, following a bereavement - or be more enduring. Mental health problems can include suffering stress, constant worrying, deep-seated or chronic unhappiness, loneliness, lack of self-esteem, an inability or lack of resilience in dealing confidently with adverse life events or circumstances and an inability to build and maintain healthy relationships. 'Mental health problem' is often used to describe conditions seen as less serious and as distinct from severe and enduring mental illness. Mental health problems are more common, are usually less severe and of less duration than mental illness but may develop into a mental illness.
Mental illness refers to a diagnosable illness which significantly interferes with a person's functional, cognitive, emotional or social abilities. Mental illness can include clinical depression, severe anxiety, schizophrenia, bi-polar affective disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, drug and alcohol addiction and dementia (organic illness). Mental illnesses are usually defined medically by using internationally recognised classifications. However, terminology can still vary across professions and cultures.
Personality disorder refers to severe and enduring patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about oneself and the environment in ways that are unhelpful and distressing to the person or to those around them.
Wellbeing is a positive feeling about one's life situation, physical and mental health. It can be independent of circumstances or health.
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