THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS

One in five people aged 16 to 85 experiences mental health problems at some point, with depression and anxiety being the most common. But we’re dealing with other more serious psychiatric disorders, too. The more you know the better so, in this health book, we take a closer look at some mental illnesses affecting Australians and find out what you need to know to improve the outcomes for everyone involved.

MENTAL HEALTH OVERVIEW

A mental illness is a health problem that significantly affects how a person feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people. Why some people develop mental illness isn’t completely clear, but people who are naturally very sensitive and who have had bad experiences growing up may have an increased risk.

MIND MAP

Here is a brief outline of some of the mental health conditions and disorders affecting Australians.

ANXIETY CONDITIONS

» Generalised anxiety disorder: Characterised by uncontrollable worry that impacts day-to-day life.

» Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Involves unwanted negative thoughts that can be constant and can control your life.

» Panic attacks: Are very common, with up to 40 percent of Australians experiencing a panic attack at some point in their lives.

» Post-traumatic stress disorder: Is characterised by fear, anxiety and memories of trauma that persist for a long period of time and interfere with the ability to function in life.

MOOD DISORDERS

Depression and bipolar are known as mood disorders. These types of conditions can cause a person to withdraw from social contact or hide their real feelings.

» Depression: There are different types of depression, with distinct symptoms and causes.

» Bipolar disorder: People with bipolar have more extreme mood states that last for long periods.

PERSONALITY DISORDERS

» Affects people’s thoughts, emotions and