- Definition
Mental illness refers to conditions that affect a person's thoughts, feelings, or actions, making it hard for them to function well and causing them significant distress. These conditions are diagnosed by a doctor.
An anxiety disorder is a type of mental illness where someone feels extremely worried about everyday things, like going to school, even when there is no danger.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Mental health is part of overall health. People can get support when thoughts, feelings, or daily life are hard to manage.
Ask your child: Who are trusted adults you could talk with if you were worried about yourself or a friend?
Common mix-up: Everyone can feel sad, worried, or upset sometimes. A mental illness is a health condition that can need support from trusted adults and health professionals; it is never someone's fault.
Examples
- Depression is a mental illness that can make someone feel very sad for a long time and not enjoy their favourite games.
- Having an anxiety disorder can make a person's heart beat fast and their mind feel scared about things that are not actually dangerous.
mental illness is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
