Day: December 21, 2023

What is mental illness? A mental illness is a health issue. It can affect your thoughts, mood, or behaviour. It can impact the way you perceive the world around you. A mental illness can cause distress. It may affect how you cope at work, how you function in relationships and your ability to manage everyday tasks. Mental illnesses can last for a short time or for your whole life. Some mild mental illness lasts only a few weeks. Sometimes severe illnesses can be life-long and cause serious disability. Each year, about 1 in every 5 Australians will experience a mental

What is a mental health treatment plan? A mental health treatment plan is for people with a mental health condition. The plan identifies: your treatment options support services available what goals you and your doctor have agreed on How can a mental health treatment plan help me? If you are struggling with your mental health, having a mental health treatment plan can help cover the cost of seeing a specialist mental health professional. It can also help you: feel more in control of your mental health feel supported Am I eligible for a mental health treatment plan? You can only

Understanding the costs of mental health services How much do mental health services cost? The costs of mental health services can vary enormously, depending on where you live and which service you are receiving. The first step is to see your doctor. If you can’t see your doctor, any health service should be able to help you. Search for mental health services in your location. Low cost or free mental health services If you have a mental health condition, you might be able to get help with payment through a government program. The Better Access initiative gives Medicare rebates to help people see mental

Recovery and mental health Recovery from mental health is the process of getting well, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and creating a satisfying life for yourself. Most people who are diagnosed with a mental illness recover with the right support. A range of services can help you recover and what’s needed will be different for every person. What is common to everyone with mental health issues is the sooner you seek help and treatment, the better your possibilities for recovery. What is mental health recovery? Recovery from mental health is not the same as a cure. Recovery means being able

What are the types of mental health professionals Many types of health professionals work in mental health care, including: your doctor – general practitioners can diagnose and treat mental health disorders, as well as advise you and refer you to other mental health professionals psychiatrists – these medical doctors have done specialised training in mental health – they can diagnose and treat mental illness, both with psychotherapy (talking therapies) and/or medication mental health nurses – nurses with a specialist qualification in mental health; they help people work towards recovery from mental health issues psychologists – provide treatment of mental health problems with psychotherapy;

What is a mental health nurse? A mental health nurse specialises in working with people who have a mental illness, or mental health issues. These can include: depression postnatal depression schizophrenia bipolar disorder psychosis substance abuse Mental health nurses might have also completed further study in mental health recognised by the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. What does a mental health nurse do? Mental health nurses mostly work with people who have a mental illness. Mental health, physical health, and other aspects of life can all affect each other. So, mental health nurses work with people to help them manage their life.

What is mental health first aid? Mental health first aid (MHFA) refers to training programs for members of the community. People complete an MHFA program so that they can provide support and guidance to anyone who experiences a mental health problem, or is going through a mental health crisis. Just like physical first aid, mental health first aid provides help until the person receives professional care or until the crisis resolves. MHFA training courses were first established in 2000 and have grown since then. This is due to the rising need for mental health support — every Australian is likely to

Heavy periods The amount of blood lost during a period differs from person to person. Some people pass clots (clumps of blood) with their period. Heavy periods are common and affect about 1 in 5 females. A large loss of blood can affect you physically and emotionally and can be very distressing. Bleeding after menopause is never normal. If you bleed after you have been through menopause, it’s important to see your doctor. How do I know if my periods are heavy? Heavy periods (also known as menorrhagia) refers to heavy or prolonged blood loss that interferes with your quality of life. This could mean any

What is menopause? Menopause is a natural event in a woman’s life. Menopause occurs when there has been a change in a woman’s reproductive hormones and the ovaries no longer release any eggs. Menopause is marked by the end of a woman’s monthly periods. Technically, you have reached menopause when it has been 12 months since your last period. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55. Before a woman’s final period, there is usually a few years of fluctuating hormones, known as the perimenopause. The hormones that are affected are oestrogen and progesterone. Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms that interfere with

Early menopause What is early menopause? Early menopause is when a woman’s last monthly period occurs between the ages of 40 and 45 years. Up to 1 in 12 women have their last period by the time they are 45 years. When menopause occurs before the age of 40, it is considered to be ‘premature menopause’. Most Australian women experience normal menopause between the ages of 45 and 60 years. What are the symptoms of early menopause? Symptoms of early menopause are similar to those of normal menopause: Changes to your menstrual cycle — monthly periods become less frequent and stop.

What is menopause? Menopause is the time in life when you stop having monthly periods. This marks the natural end of the reproductive stage of your life, when your ovaries no longer have eggs to release. Most Australian women experience menopause between 45 and 60 years of age. The average age of menopause is 51 years. You have reached menopause when you have gone 12 months without having your period. Some women experience early menopause due to health conditions, such as primary ovarian insufficiency (where ovaries stop working normally). Menopause can also occur after surgery to remove your ovaries or uterus, or cancer treatment. Each woman

What is meningococcal disease? Meningococcal disease is a contagious disease. It is caused by a type of bacteria called neisseria meningitidis (also known as meningococcal bacteria). Meningococcal infections can cause invasive meningococcal disease, which can include: septicaemia (when bacteria enter your bloodstream and cause blood poisoning) sepsis (a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body damages its own tissues and organs in response to infection) meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding your brain and spinal cord) Invasive meningococcal disease can develop quickly and is life-threatening. Less commonly, meningococcal bacteria can also cause local infections, such as: septic arthritis (an infected joint) pneumonia conjunctivitis What

What is mental health? Mental health is a state of well-being, where every individual realises their own potential, can work productively, can cope with the normal stresses of life, and is able to contribute to their community. Why is my mental health important? Your mental health is an important part of your overall health and wellbeing. You need good mental health to help you get through life’s challenges, to have healthy relationships with others and to enjoy life. Problems with mental health are common, and not a sign of weakness. In fact, it can take courage to admit there’s a

What is depression in men? Depression is a serious mental health condition that affects how you feel, think, and handle daily activities. It can make you feel sad, irritable or empty and lose pleasure or interest in things you usually enjoy. While it is normal to feel down sometimes, if you feel this way for 2 weeks or more you may be experiencing depression. Social norms that define masculinity, like not talking about your feelings or not getting upset, can sometimes make it hard for men to acknowledge that they may be experiencing depression. This page is about depression in

What is memory loss? If you are getting forgetful or confused, you might be worried it’s dementia. Everyone forgets things from time to time, but memory loss (amnesia) is linked with many conditions, including dementia. Some memory loss can happen as a part of normal ageing. Memory change with healthy ageing doesn’t interfere with your everyday life. But everyone is different and the effect of getting older on memory will be different for everyone. However, major changes in your memory are not normal at any age. What causes memory loss? There are many causes of memory loss, such as: dementia depression, stress and anxiety traumatic

Skin cancer and melanoma What is skin cancer and melanoma? Skin cancer is a disease that occurs when your skin cells grow abnormally, usually from too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. This uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells forms a tumour in the skin. Tumours are either benign (non-cancerous), or malignant (cancerous tumours that can spread through the body, causing damage). Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer: each year, more than 15,000 Australians are diagnosed with a melanoma and over a million new cases of non-melanoma skin cancers are treated. Skin cancer is mostly preventable, and there are

What is melancholia? The word ‘melancholia’ has been used since the time of the ancient Greeks to describe feeling intensely sad and hopeless. Melancholic depression, also known as ‘major depression with melancholic features’, is usually a severe illness. It makes people lose interest in almost all activities and has other distinct physical symptoms. What are the symptoms of melancholia? The symptoms of melancholia are similar to the general symptoms of depression but are usually more severe. Most people with melancholia slow right down. Their movements, thoughts and speech can be very slow. Less commonly, people with melancholia can experience agitation

What is the Mediterranean diet? The Mediterranean diet includes the food that people living in countries around the Mediterranean Sea such as Greece, Italy and Spain would traditionally eat. This way of eating is mainly made up of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, seeds and fish and olive oil, a moderate amount of dairy food, low amounts of red meat, and limited processed meats and packaged foods. The World Health Organization recognises that research on the Mediterranean diet shows it has many positive effects on your health. Research also shows it has a lower impact on the environment than other healthy

What is meditation? Meditation is a type of mind–body relaxation technique. It is an ancient Eastern practice that people use today to lead to a mentally healthier life. Meditation can help you cope with everyday life, reduce stress and improve your overall wellbeing. During meditation, you concentrate your mind on one particular thing, such as: breathing sounds body movements and feelings a mantra (chant) Meditation focusses your attention on the present moment and on body sensations. It is central to many religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism, but religion is not required in order to meditate. Meditation can help release muscle tension,

Pain-relief medicines What is pain-relief medicine? Pain-relief medicines are used as part of a strategy to manage short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) pain. They work by targeting the cause of your pain or by reducing how your pain travels along the nerves to the brain. What are the different types of pain-relief medicines? As everyone’s experience of pain is different, individuals need different ways to help manage their pain. There are also specific pain-relief options that suit some circumstances or health conditions. You can buy some pain-relief medicines ‘over-the-counter’ (OTC). This means you don’t need a prescription from your doctor to access