Mental illness
13-minute read
If you or someone close to you is experiencing an emergency, or is at immediate risk of harm, call triple zero (000). To talk to someone now, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Key facts
- Almost half the Australian population has experienced a mental health disorder at some time in their life.
- There are multiple types of mental illness — each has different symptoms that may impact you differently.
- If you're concerned that you might be experiencing a mental illness, see your doctor.
- Seeking support is the first step to getting treatment and returning to good mental health.
What is mental illness?
A mental illness is a health issue that can affect your thoughts, mood and behaviour. A mental health issue can affect the way you see and interact with the world around you.
A mental illness can impact your ability to function in everyday life, such as:
- at work
- in relationships
- when managing everyday tasks
Some mental illnesses last for a short time. Other may last for your whole life.
The impact that a mental illness has on your life depends on many things. A mental illness may be more disabling if:
- it's severe
- it's chronic (long-lasting)
- you have more than one mental illness
- you don't have much support or live in an rural or remote area
Almost 1 in 2 Australians will experience a mental health disorder at some time in their life.
What are the types of mental illness?
There are many different types of mental illness. Some of the main groups of mental health disorders are:
- mood disorders (such as depression or bipolar disorder)
- anxiety disorders
- personality disorders
- psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia)
- eating disorders
- trauma-related disorders (such as post-traumatic stress disorder)
- substance misuse disorders
What are the symptoms of mental illness?
If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000). For help and support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Mental illness can change your thoughts, moods or behaviour. This can happen suddenly or over time and can impact people differently.
Each type of mental illness causes different symptoms. Some common symptoms are:
- excessive sadness, hopelessness or loneliness
- being easily stressed, irritable or angry
- having low self-esteem
- a loss of motivation and energy
- reduced memory and ability to concentrate
- changes to your appetite and sleep patterns
- having unusual or upsetting thoughts
These symptoms can impact your life and lead to:
- withdrawal from interests, friends and loved ones
- not performing as well as usual at school or work
- taking risks such as using alcohol or drugs
- a lack of personal hygiene and self-care
- having difficulty completing other responsibilities
Mental illness can increase your chance of having suicidal thoughts.
Some symptoms can be more specific to certain conditions. Here are some examples:
- Excessive worry or panic may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
- A low mood for a longer period of time can be a sign of depression.
- An ongoing feeling of hopelessness after childbirth could be a sign of postnatal depression.
- Excessive agitation or hearing voices could be a sign of psychosis.
- Extreme dieting, binge or overeating or excessive exercise may be a sign of an eating disorder or body dysmorphic disorder.
Symptoms can be very distressing for a person with mental illness, as well as for their loved ones.
If you have a mental illness, symptoms may come and go throughout your life.
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.
What causes mental illness?
There are many interacting factors that can contribute to a mental illness.
Genetic factors
Many things that can affect your mental health are influenced by genetics. If you have a family member with a mental illness, you may have a higher chance of developing a mental illness.
Environmental factors
Your mental health can be affected by your:
- childhood experiences
- social group
- culture
- life experiences
- lifestyle choices
In both children and adults, the chance of developing a mental illness can increase with experiences of:
- ongoing stress
- abuse, neglect or domestic violence
- bullying and harassment
- trauma
Illicit drug use can be associated with mental illness and can trigger certain symptoms like psychosis.
Social factors
Your mental health may be impacted by issues such as:
- social isolation
- relationship breakdown
- financial or work problems
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual and other sexually or gender diverse (LGBTIQA+) Australians may be at higher risk of mental illness.
Physical health
Your physical health plays a role in your mental health problems. Other health conditions can impact your everyday life.
When should I see my doctor?
If you have symptoms of a mental illness that impact your daily life it's important to get help.
Seeing your doctor is the first step to getting treated and returning to good mental health.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
How is mental illness diagnosed?
A doctor can help diagnose your mental illness. They will ask about your thoughts, mood and behaviours.
A mental health diagnosis can help you understand your symptoms and work towards recovery.
Let your doctor know if anything is worrying you — it can help them assess your mental health.
If you are diagnosed with a mental health problem or illness, your doctor can develop a mental health treatment plan for you.
Your doctor can also refer you to a mental health professional, such as a:
It's normal to feel nervous talking to your doctor about your mental health. It may help to bring a family member, carer or friend to your appointment.
Blood tests or brain scans are not needed to confirm a mental illness. Your doctor may suggest these tests, as the results can help rule out other causes for your symptoms.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.
How is mental illness treated?
There are many treatment options for mental illnesses. Most people with mental illness recover and live productive and full lives.
You can read more about recovery and mental health.
Your best treatment will depend on:
- the type of mental illness you have
- how severe your symptoms are
- your medical history
A good first step is to talk to someone, such as your partner, friend or a family member. They can support you through your recovery.
Psychological therapy
There are many different types of therapy to help manage mental illness. These include:
- cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
- mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
- dialectical behaviour therapy
- interpersonal therapy
- supportive psychotherapy
- acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- psychodynamic psychotherapy
You can engage with therapy:
- on your own
- in a group
- with your partner or family members
Therapy can be done in person, over the phone or online.
You can read more about types of psychotherapy.
Medicines
Medicines can be used to treat mental illness. Antidepressants are used for conditions like anxiety or depression.
Antipsychotic medicines and mood stabilisers may be used for psychosis.
A doctor or psychiatrist can tell you which treatments may be suitable for you.
Lifestyle measures
Healthy habits and lifestyle measures are important to help manage mental illness and avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms. You can:
- exercise to help ease or prevent anxiety and depression
- eat a healthy diet
- ensure you are getting enough sleep each night
- avoid illicit drugs and alcohol
- take time to do things you enjoy
- try to surround yourself with good social support
Daily actions to improve your mental health
Research from MindSpot has shown that regularly performing five simple daily actions can improve your mental health.
Complementary therapies
If you have a mental illness, you may want to try complementary therapies like meditation, yoga and relaxation strategies for stress relief.
Sometimes, these techniques may be part of psychosocial therapy.
Support programs
There are many different mental health services in Australia. These include programs in your community. They can help with practical aspects of life, such as:
- employment
- education and training
- accommodation
They can be helpful if you have a long-term mental illness. You can ask your doctor about local services.
Hospital treatment
It may be necessary for you to be treated in hospital.
This may happen if you are struggling to take care of yourself or if you are at risk of harming yourself or others.
Can mental illness be prevented?
You can help maintain good mental health by:
- following healthy habits, eating well and exercising
- allowing yourself time to rest and relax
- seeking mental health support when you need it
- practicing healthy coping mechanisms and building resilience
- building healthy relationships family, friends and your community
Complications of mental illness
If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000). For help and support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
People with mental illness may experience stigma and discrimination, which can impact their recovery. Your loved ones can help support and advocate for you.
Having a mental illness may place you at a higher risk of suicide.
Resources and support
If you need support in a language other than English, visit the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health website.
Where to get help
Telephone or online mental health resources can often be effective, especially if you aren't able to access a health service or find talking to someone face-to-face difficult. Here are some telephone and online resources to try:
- Medicare Mental Health — for advice and to connect to local mental health services, call 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.
- SANE Australia — for people living with a mental illness, call 1800 18 7263.
- Beyond Blue — for anyone feeling depressed or anxious, call 1300 22 4636 or chat online.
- Black Dog Institute — online help for people affected by mood disorders.
- Lifeline — for anyone having a personal crisis, call 13 11 14 or chat online.
- Suicide Call Back Service — for anyone thinking about suicide, call 1300 659 467.
- Qlife — for those experiencing mental health issues related to their sexuality or gender identity (LGBTIQA+), call 1800 184 527 or chat online.
- 13YARN — for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples experiencing mental health issues, call 13 92 76.
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.