What is Serious Mental Illness (SMI)?

Mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being, but sometimes the challenges go beyond the scope of general mental health issues. This is where the term “Serious Mental Illness” (SMI) comes into play.

But what is serious mental illness? It’s a designation for a group of severe mental health disorders that significantly impair an individual’s ability to function in daily life.

Understanding serious mental illness is vital for those affected, their loved ones and society as a whole to help ensure that appropriate support and treatment are provided.

What Qualifies as a Serious Mental Illness?

Serious mental illness encompasses a range of psychiatric disorders that are intense, long-lasting and cause substantial functional impairment. The definition of serious mental illness often includes the following criteria:

• The individual has a mental, behavioral or emotional disorder diagnosable currently or within the past year.
• The disorder results in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.

Serious mental illness can take many forms, but it is typically associated with significant distress and major disruptions in life activities such as work, family and social engagements.

List of Serious Mental Illness

Serious mental illnesses can include a variety of conditions. Here are some of the most common:

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Major depression
• Severe anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Borderline personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) when it leads to significant impairment

Each of these illnesses has its own set of symptoms and challenges, but they are all serious enough to require professional medical attention and often long-term treatment.

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is characterized by disturbances in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness and social interactions. Individuals with schizophrenia may experience hallucinations, delusions and disorganized thinking, which can make it difficult for them to differentiate between reality and fantasy.

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder involves severe mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). These mood swings may affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.

Major depression

Major depression is more than just feeling sad or going through a rough patch. It’s a serious mental health condition that requires understanding and medical care.

Severe anxiety disorders

Severe anxiety disorders go beyond temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can worsen over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork and relationships.

Borderline personality disorder

Borderline personality disorder is characterized by pervasive instability in moods, interpersonal relationships, self-image and behavior. This instability often disrupts family and work life, long-term planning and your sense of self-identity.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

OCD is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, counting, checking or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away.

Serious Mental Illness Diagnosis

Diagnosing serious mental illness typically involves a combination of:

• Clinical assessment: A mental health professional will conduct a thorough clinical interview to gather information about symptoms, medical history and other relevant factors.
• Psychological evaluation: Standardized psychological tests and questionnaires may be used to help diagnose the specific type of mental illness.
• Medical examination: To rule out physical causes for the symptoms, a medical examination, including laboratory tests, might be necessary.
• Observation: Symptoms and behaviors may be observed over time to understand the extent of impairment and the context in which they occur.

It’s important to note that a proper diagnosis is crucial as it forms the basis for an effective treatment plan.

What is Considered a Serious Mental Illness?

To be considered a serious mental illness, the condition must significantly impair an individual’s ability to perform major life activities. This could include challenges with daily living, maintaining relationships and holding down a job. These impairments can fluctuate in severity, with individuals experiencing periods of relative well-being interspersed with episodes of intense symptoms.

Awareness Can Make a Difference

Serious Mental Illness is a term that encompasses a range of severe mental health conditions that profoundly disrupt individuals’ lives. Understanding what serious mental illness is, recognizing the various conditions that qualify as serious mental illness and knowing how it’s diagnosed are critical for providing the necessary support and treatment. With ongoing research, improved treatment options and increased awareness, there is hope for those affected by serious mental illness to lead fulfilling lives.

Treatment Can, Too!

If you or someone you know may be experiencing symptoms of a serious mental illness, it is essential to seek professional help. Valley Hospital, located in Phoenix, Arizona, provides inpatient and outpatient programs that can make a difference. Contact us today to talk to our admissions team and get started.

About Valley Hospital

Valley Hospital is a private psychiatric hospital located in Arizona that specializes in mental health and chemical dependency care. We provide a full continuum of care to meet you where you are and help get you where you need to be. Our core principles are outstanding care, compassionate people and unparalleled services.

We provide a wide range of services with evidence-based treatment methods. These methods have been proven to have positive outcomes for our patients. Some of these services include inpatient, outpatient, women’s mental health program and more. We combine the best clinical techniques with state-of-the-art medical care to create the greatest potential for lasting recovery.

To schedule a no-cost assessment or for more information, please call our main number at 602-926-7904.