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What is mental health?
We know that many mental illnesses are caused by a physical dysfunction of the brain, but we don’t know exactly what triggers this.
Stress may trigger some mental illnesses or may prolong episodes. Stress can also result when a person develops a mental illness.
Mental illnesses can be separated into two main categories: psychotic and non-psychotic.
Psychotic conditions
A psychosis is a condition caused by any one of a group of illnesses that are known, or thought, to affect the brain causing changes in thinking, emotion and behaviour. People in an acute stage of a psychotic illness may lose touch with reality.
Their ability to make sense of thoughts, feelings and external information is seriously affected, and they may become very frightened. Psychotic illnesses include schizophrenia and some types of depression.
To those around them, these episodes can be threatening and perplexing. People who aren’t familiar with this kind of behaviour may find it difficult to understand the fear and confusion that people with these conditions live with on a daily basis. Effective medication and support from medical health professionals and counsellors mean that most people who experience a psychotic illness are able to live productive and rewarding lives.
More information about mental illness is available in the booklet Mental Illness – The facts.
Non-psychotic illnesses
Everyone has experienced strong feelings of depression, sadness, tension or fear. Some people’s feelings can become so disturbing and overwhelming that they have difficulty coping with day-to-day activities such as going to work, enjoying their free time and maintaining relationships.
These states describe a group of mental illnesses that are called non-psychotic illnesses. Many people experience them -- they include phobias, anxiety, some forms of depression, eating disorders, physical symptoms involving tiredness or pain, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Though the symptoms of these disorders are often not evident to others, they cause a lot of personal distress.
The warning signs can include:
- increased moodiness
- irritability and sensitivity
- social withdrawal
- loss of interest in food, sex or physical activity
- increased alcohol and drug use
- reckless behaviour
- difficulty in sleeping
- fatigue, and
- pain.
Depression can decrease quality of life and make diagnosis of other illnesses much more difficult.
Most non-psychotic illnesses can be effectively treated, usually with a combination of medication and psychological therapy. Treatment helps the person understand their illness, manage their symptoms, and lead a more satisfying life.
Read more: Depression and anxiety
Supporting people with mental illness
People who have a mental illness often suffer a great deal. They can be disturbed and frightened by their illness. Not only do they and their families have to cope with an illness that can radically alter their lives, they often experience rejection and discrimination.
People with a mental illness need the same understanding and support as people with a physical illness. A mental illness is no different – it is not an illness for which anyone should be blamed. It is rarely possible for someone with a mental illness to make the symptoms go away just by strength of will.
Further information on support for people with a mental illness, their carers and families is available at Health Insite, an Australian Government website.
More information
Information about specific mental illnesses can be found in a series of brochures produced as part of the National Mental Health Strategy. They include:
- What is depression?
- What is bipolar mood disorder?
- What is schizophrenia?
- What are eating disorders?
- What are anxiety disorders?
Free copies of all brochures are available from the Mental Health Branch of the Department of Health and Ageing GPO Box 9848 CANBERRA ACT 2601 Phone: 1800 066 247 Fax: 1800 634 400
For immediate counselling assistance, contact Lifeline on 13 1114.
Lifeline (more information) can also supply you with contacts, further information and help.
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