A mental disorder is an affliction of the mind, that manifests in many symptoms and conditions. MentalHealth.gov provides many preliminary diagnostic systems:
Pulling away from people and usual activities
Feeling helpless or hopeless
Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
Yelling or fighting with family and friends
Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
Thinking of harming yourself or others
Inability to perform daily tasks
And many more...
Mental illness affects 1/4 people at some point in their life, so it is important to know if you need treatment.
The Suicide Problem
According to the CDC, in ages 10-24 suicide is the second leading cause of death, contributing to 17% of mortalities. Most often, suicide is linked to mental disorders, primarily depression. Therapy can easily help prevent, contain, or even cure most mental illnesses.
Heron, Melonie. “National Vital Statistics Report.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016, www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr67/nvsr67_06.pdf.