Mental illness: How aware are you?

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The most challenging obstacle to mental illness awareness is a combination of lack of knowledge and misinformation. Mental illness is sensationalized in the media, with fiction often casting a shadow over fact. How much do you know about mental illness? Use this quiz to see how much you already know about mental illness, and to find out where you have the opportunity to improve your understanding. Be sure to check your answers with the correct ones at the bottom of the quiz.

1. Who is most likely to experience a mental illness?
   1. People with very demanding jobs who work more than 40 hours a week
   2. Adults above the age of 55
   3. Mental illness affects all populations, and is not determined by social class, income level or lifestyle
   4. Unemployed people


2. Depression, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder are all:
   1. Personality disorders
   2. Mood disorders
   3. Brief phases that affect everyone every now and again.


3. SAD is an abbreviation of:
   1. Simple Anxiety Disorder
   2. Seasonal Affective Disorder
   3. Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
   4. Sadness


4. True or False: you can tell by looking at someone if they have an eating disorder.
   1. True
   2. False


5. Someone is at a greater risk for attempting suicide if:
   1. Have attempted suicide in the past
   2. A family member or loved one has died of suicide
   3. If they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
   4. Any of the above


6. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is:
   1. Another term for bipolar disorder
   2. A recurring anxiety disorder that is triggered by a traumatic event or series of events
   3. A one-time reaction to a terrifying experience
   4. Both b & c


7. Agoraphobia is:
   1. Fear of spiders
   2. Fear of public places
   3. Fear of situations which would be difficult to escape from
   4. Fear of shopping malls


8. Social anxiety disorder is:
   1. Discomfort in groups of more than four people
   2. An intense fear of social or performance situations
   3. The normal anxiety that accompanies public speaking

How did you do?

Check your answers below, and explore the additional information to help you understand more about mental illness.

1. Answer c.

2. Answer b.

3. Answer b. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a mood disorder that is influenced by the seasons, most commonly presenting as increased depression during the winter months.

4. Answer b. Many people believe that people with eating disorders are extremely thin or look ill. People with eating disorders can be underweight, overweight or average, and it is rarely visible.