Mental illness refers to health problems that significantly affect how a person feels, thinks, behaves and interacts. About 1 in 5 Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Common types include depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. While mental illnesses can cause great suffering, most are treatable, especially when treatment begins early. There are many myths and misunderstandings surrounding mental illness that contribute to stigma, but in reality people with mental illness are seldom dangerous and recovery is possible with appropriate treatment and support.

1. What is
mental illness ?

2. What is mental Mental illnesses cause a great deal of
suffering to those experiencing them,
illness? as well as their families and friends.
Furthermore, these problems appear to
About one in five Australians will be increasing. According to the World
experience a mental illness, and most Health Organization, depression will
of us will experience a mental health be one of the biggest health problems
problem at some time in our lives. worldwide by the year 2020.
Mental illness is a general term that
refers to a group of illnesses, in the
Types of mental illness
same way that heart disease refers Mental illnesses are of different types
to a group of illnesses and disorders and degrees of severity. Some of the
affecting the heart. major types are depression, anxiety,
A mental illness is a health problem schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder,
that significantly affects how a person personality disorders, and eating
feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts disorders.
with other people. It is diagnosed The most common mental illnesses
according to standardised criteria. The are anxiety and depressive disorders.
term mental disorder is also used to While everyone experiences strong
refer to these health problems. feelings of tension, fear, or sadness at
A mental health problem also times, a mental illness is present when
interferes with how a person thinks, these feelings become so disturbing
feels, and behaves, but to a lesser and overwhelming that people have
extent than a mental illness. great difficulty coping with day-to-day
activities, such as work, enjoying leisure
Mental health problems are more time, and maintaining relationships.
common and include the mental
ill health that can be experienced At their most extreme, people with
temporarily as a reaction to the a depressive disorder may not be
stresses of life. able to get out of bed or care for
themselves physically. People with
Mental health problems are less certain types of anxiety disorder may
severe than mental illnesses, but may not be able to leave the house, or may
develop into a mental illness if they have compulsive rituals to help them
are not effectively dealt with. alleviate their fears.

3. Less common are mental illnesses medication, cognitive and behavioural
that may involve psychosis. These psychological therapies, psycho-social
include schizophrenia and bipolar support, psychiatric disability rehabilitation,
mood disorder. People experiencing an avoidance of risk factors such as harmful
acute episode of psychosis lose touch alcohol and other drug use, and learning
with reality and perceive their world self-management skills.
differently from normal. Their ability
It is rarely possible for someone with a
to make sense of thoughts, feelings,
mental illness to make the symptoms go
and the world around them is seriously
away just by strength of will. To suggest this
affected.
is not helpful in any way.
A psychotic episode may involve
People with a mental illness need the same
delusions, such as false beliefs of
understanding and support given to people
persecution, guilt, or grandeur. It may
with a physical illness. A mental illness is no
involve hallucinations, where the person
different-it is not an illness for which anyone
sees, hears, smells, or tastes things that
should be blamed.
are not there.
People with mental illness may be at risk of
Psychotic episodes can be threatening
harmful alcohol and other drug use. This
and confusing to other people. Such
makes treatment more complex, so that
behaviour is difficult to understand for
effectively managing alcohol and other drug
people who are not familiar with it.
use is important.
Treatment of mental illness Risk of suicide is heightened for people with
some mental illnesses, particularly soon
Most mental illnesses can be effectively after diagnosis or release from hospital.
treated. Recognising the early signs
and symptoms of mental illness and
accessing effective treatment early is Myths, misunderstandings
important. The earlier treatment starts,
the better the outcome.
and facts about mental
Episodes of mental illness can come and illness
go during different periods in people’s Myths, misunderstandings, and negative
lives. Some people experience only one stereotypes and attitudes surround mental
episode of illness and fully recover. For illness. These result in stigma, discrimination,
others, it recurs throughout their lives. and isolation of people with mental illness,
Effective treatments can include as well as their families and carers.

4. Common questions about mental illness history.
are:
Many factors contribute to the onset
Are mental illnesses a form of of a mental illness. These include stress,
intellectual disability or brain damage? bereavement, relationship breakdown,
physical and sexual abuse, unemployment,
No. They are illnesses just like any other,
social isolation, and major physical illness
such as heart disease, diabetes, and
or disability. Our understanding of the
asthma. Yet the traditions of sympathy,
causes of mental illness is growing.
support, and flowers given to people
with physical illnesses are often denied Can anyone develop a mental illness?
to those with a mental illness.
Yes. In fact, as many as one in five
Are mental illnesses incurable and Australians may develop a mental illness
lifelong? at some stage in their lives. Everyone is
vulnerable to mental health problems.
No. When treated appropriately and
early, many people recover fully and Many people feel more comfortable
have no further episodes of illness. with the notion of having ‘a nervous
breakdown’ rather than a mental illness.
For others, mental illness may recur
However, it is important to talk openly
throughout their lives and require
about mental illness, as this reduces the
ongoing treatment. This is the same as
stigma and helps people to seek early
many physical illnesses, such as diabetes
treatment.
and heart disease. Like these other
long-term health conditions, mental Are people with mental illness usually
illness can be managed so that dangerous?
individuals live life to the fullest.
No. This false perception underlies some
Although some people become of the most damaging stereotypes.
disabled as a result of ongoing mental People with a mental illness are seldom
illness, many who experience even very dangerous. Even people with the most
major episodes of illness live full and severe mental illness are rarely dangerous
productive lives. when receiving appropriate treatment and
support.
Are people born with a mental illness?
Should people with a mental illness be
No. A vulnerability to some mental
isolated from the community?
illnesses, such as bipolar mood disorder,
can run in families. But other people No. Most people with a mental illness
develop mental illness with no family recover quickly and do not even need

5. hospital care. Others have short • Think about mental illnesses like any
admissions to hospital for treatment. other illness or health condition and
Improvements in treatment over recent bring them into the open.
decades mean that most people live in
• Talk about mental illness openly with
their communities, and there is no need
everyone you meet - it is surprising how
for the confinement and isolation that
many people are affected by mental
was commonly used in the past.
illness, particularly the highly prevalent
A very small number of people with disorders of depression and anxiety.
mental illness need hospital care,
• Educate the community to overcome
sometimes against their will.
negative stereotypes based on
Improvements in treatment are making
misconceptions.
this less and less common, and fewer
than one in a 1000 people are treated • Promote mental health and healthy
this way. attitudes through childhood and adult life.
Is stigma one of the biggest problems • Support the development of resilience:
for people with mental illness? learn ways to deal with stress in
relationships, situations, and events.
Yes. One of the biggest obstacles for
people recovering from mental illness • Assist friends and family with a mental
is confronting the negative attitudes of illness to obtain care and treatment as
other people. These often mean that early as possible.
people with mental illness face isolation • Ensure high quality support and treatment
and discrimination just for having an services are provided to people with
illness. mental illness to promote recovery.
Positive and hopeful attitudes of family, • Actively support the families and carers of
friends, service providers, employers, and people who have mental illness, who also
other members of the community toward experience the confusion, distress, and
people with mental illness are critical to stigma that can accompany mental illness.
ensuring quality of life for people with
mental illness and supporting recovery. • Address discrimination in every area of life,
including employment, education, and the
What can be done provision of goods, services, and facilities.
• Encourage research into mental illness to
about the stigma of assist understanding of how these illnesses
mental illness? affect people and can be prevented and/
or effectively treated.

6. Where to go for help About this brochure
• Your general practitioner. This is the first in a series of brochures
• Your community health centre. on mental illness funded by the
Australian Government under the
• Your community mental health centre. National Mental Health Strategy.
For information on services, check the Information about specific mental
Community Help and Welfare Services illnesses can be found in the other
and 24-hour emergency numbers in your brochures, which include:
local telephone directory. • What is an anxiety disorder?
For immediate counselling assistance,
• What is bipolar mood disorder?
contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Lifeline can
also supply you with contacts, further • What is a depressive disorder?
information and help.
• What is an eating disorder?
Other useful sources of information
• What is a personality disorder?
about mental illness are:
• What is schizophrenia?
SANE Australia www.sane.org
Free copies of all brochures are available
Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia
www.mifa.org.au from Mental Health and Workforce
Division of the Australian Government
The public area of the Royal Australian Department of Health and Ageing:
and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
www.ranzcp.org GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Auseinet www.auseinet.com
Tel 1800 066 247
Australian Government’s HealthInsite
www.healthinsite.gov.au Fax 1800 634 400
www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth
Insert local contact details here