Mental Health Overview
Overview
Mental Illness is more common than you think. Approximately one in five Australians experience some type of mental illness in a given year. Unfortunately, many people don’t seek help. The consequences of not getting treatment are significant. Serious mental illness costs Australian more than $193 billion dollars every year in lost income. Not only that, but mental illness also affects physical health. People with severe mental illness suffer from cardiovascular disease, bacterial and viral infections, obesity-related cancers, and many other diseases at a much higher rate.
Knowing about mental health disorders can raise your awareness and give you an idea of when to seek help.
Improve your Mental Wellbeing
Understanding Mental Disorders
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are by far the most common mental disorders in Australia. More than 2 million adults in Australia are diagnosed with Anxiety Disorder per year. Most people experience anxiety from time to time. It is a normal reaction to stress. Anxiety disorders are different however, they are an abnormal reaction to things that normally do not cause worry or fear.
Mood Disorder
Mood disorders refer to a class of mental illnesses that affect a person’s mood. Everyone experiences changes in mood at times. But, mood disorders are more than that. They involve serious changes in mood that lead to disruptions in a person’s work, school, and social life.
Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are a group of mental illnesses that involves extremely rigid, unhealthy ways of thinking, feeling, or behaving. These disorders can cause significant distress and impairment in relationships, work, and school functioning. There are three subtypes or “clusters” of personality disorders.
Psychotic disorders
Psychotic disorders are severe mental illnesses that cause a person to lose touch with reality. They involve abnormal thought patterns and perceptions of what is real. Psychotic disorders can significantly affect a person’s ability to function normally.
Substance Abuse Disorder
A substance use disorder also called an addiction, involves a maladaptive pattern of taking a substance or drug, which results in significant impairments in functioning or distress.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental illness that occurs in some people who have witnessed or been the victim of a traumatic event like a sexual assault, car accident, or natural disaster. People who have PTSD may experience distressing memories or nightmares about the event.
Eating Disorder
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that are characterized by severe disturbances in thoughts and behaviors related to eating and food. These disorders have the highest fatality rate of any mental illness. Eating Disorders often involve a great deal of shame and secrecy. People with these illnesses often go through a great deal of effort to hide symptoms.