Understanding mental health.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Over 8.5 million Australians are affected by mental health issues every day. There are likely many more affected, who are unable to speak to anyone about how they are feeling. We are here to erase the stigma, educate and inform, and provide useful resources on mental health.
You have the power to change your life.
Facing any mental health concern can be stressful, scary, isolating, and extremely traumatic for any individuals. Likewise parents who are experiencing a child battle mental health, or any other family member, can find this to be a difficult and frustrating time.
Adverse mental health has the power to destroy and consume someone’s life. But you have the power already within you to change your own life, or the life of someone struggling. The first step is gaining a proper understanding of the various types of mental health battles that may be affecting you or your loved ones.
Below are some of the most common and regularly diagnosed mental health issues and disorders, as classified by the World Health Organisation.
Depression
Depressive disorder (also known as depression) is a common mental disorder. It involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure or interest in activities for long periods of time.
Depression is different from regular mood changes and feelings about everyday life. It can affect all aspects of life, including relationships with family, friends and community. It can result from or lead to problems at school and at work.
Depression can happen to anyone. People who have lived through abuse, severe losses or other stressful events are more likely to develop depression. Women are more likely to have depression than men.
Anxiety
Everyone can feel anxious sometimes, but people with anxiety disorders often experience fear and worry that is both intense and excessive. These feelings are typically accompanied by physical tension and other behavioural and cognitive symptoms.
They are difficult to control, cause significant distress and can last a long time if untreated. Anxiety disorders interfere with daily activities and can impair a person’s family, social and school or working life.
An estimated 4% of the global population currently experience an anxiety disorder. In 2019, 301 million people in the world had an anxiety disorder, making anxiety disorders the most common of all mental disorders.
Bipolar Disorder
In 2019, 40 million people experienced bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder experience alternating depressive episodes with periods of manic symptoms. During a depressive episode, the person experiences depressed mood (feeling sad, irritable, empty) or a loss of pleasure or interest in activities, for most of the day, nearly every day.
Manic symptoms may include euphoria or irritability, increased activity or energy, and other symptoms such as increased talkativeness, racing thoughts, increased self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, and impulsive reckless behaviour.
People with bipolar disorder are at an increased risk of suicide. Yet effective treatment options exist including psychoeducation, reduction of stress and strengthening of social functioning, and medication.
Eating Disorders
In 2019, 14 million people experienced eating disorders including almost 3 million children and adolescents. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, involve abnormal eating and preoccupation with food as well as prominent body weight and shape concerns.
The symptoms or behaviours result in significant risk or damage to health, significant distress, or significant impairment of functioning.
Anorexia nervosa often has its onset during adolescence or early adulthood and is associated with premature death due to medical complications or suicide.
Individuals with bulimia nervosa are at a significantly increased risk for substance use, suicidality, and health complications. Effective treatment options exist, including family-based treatment and cognitive-based therapy.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a long-lasting disorder in which a person experiences uncontrollable and recurring thoughts (obsessions), engages in repetitive behaviors (compulsions), or both.
People with OCD have time-consuming symptoms that can cause significant distress or interfere with daily life. People with OCD may have obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessionsare repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that are intrusive, unwanted, and make most people anxious.
However, treatment is available to help people manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia affects approximately 24 million people or 1 in 300 people worldwide. People with schizophrenia have a life expectancy 10-20 years below that of the general population.
Schizophrenia is characterised by significant impairments in perception and changes in behaviour. Symptoms may include persistent delusions, hallucinations, disorganised thinking, highly disorganised behaviour, or extreme agitation.
People with schizophrenia may experience persistent difficulties with their cognitive functioning. Yet, a range of effective treatment options exist, including medication, psychoeducation, family interventions, and psychosocial rehabilitation.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
The prevalence of PTSD and other mental disorders is high in conflict-affected settings. PTSD may develop following exposure to an extremely threatening or horrific event or series of events. It is characterised by all of the following:
1) re-experiencing the traumatic event or events in the present (intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares);
2) avoidance of thoughts and memories of the event(s), or avoidance of activities, situations, or people reminiscent of the event(s); and
3) persistent perceptions of heightened current threat.
These symptoms persist for at least several weeks and cause significant impairment in functioning. Effective psychological treatment exists.
We’ve listed only a few of the most common issues that affect Australians. But there are hundreds of disorders, complex or niche issues, or even combinations of mental health issues that may be affecting you or your loved ones.
Now that you are equipped with a brief insight into mental health, discover key resources and crisis support below.