Day: December 23, 2023

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;

If you or someone you know has a mental illness, then you may get to know a mental health nurse. Mental health nurses usually work as part of a wider team of health professionals. 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

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

Older people and mental health Getting older brings its share of challenges, and at times you may find it difficult to stay mentally healthy and strong. If feelings like sadness or worry are preventing you from getting the most out of life, help and support is available. Your mental health is important Your mental health is a central part of your overall wellbeing. If you don’t have good mental health, it’s possible you also don’t have good self-esteem or you don’t feel confident and able to face life and its challenges. Being mentally healthy is important, not just so you can get through the day but

What is menstruation? Menstruation is bleeding from the vagina that happens about once a month. It is a normal part of the menstrual cycle. It is also known as having a period. Periods usually come between 21 and 35 days apart. This can change from cycle to cycle. You can work out your menstrual cycle length by counting how many days there are from the first day of your period until the first day of your next period. The menstrual cycle gets your body ready for a pregnancy and is controlled by hormones that come from your brain and ovaries.

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 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 meningitis? Meningitis is a rare but serious infection of your meninges (the membranes covering your brain and spinal cord). Meningitis is usually caused by a virus or bacteria, and sometimes it’s caused by a fungus. Viral meningitis is usually a less dangerous form of meningitis and most commonly affects children. Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency. Early diagnosis and treatment are vital. It is often not possible to tell the difference between viral and bacterial meningitis from the symptoms alone. What are the symptoms of meningitis? The symptoms of meningitis in young children and babies can include: fever or low

What is Meniere’s disease? Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes hearing and balance problems. There is no cure, but the symptoms can be managed. People with Meniere’s disease experience attacks vertigo that usually lasts between 2 and 4 hours. Some people have several attacks of Meniere’s disease in a short period of time, while other people only have it every few months or years. In between attacks, most people usually have mild or no symptoms. Most people with Meniere’s disease have it in just one ear. It often leads to worsening hearing loss in that ear. What are the symptoms of

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

Depression in men 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

  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

What is melatonin? Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland in the brain. Its level varies throughout the day and night to control your body clock. Melatonin levels are higher at night and are lower in bright daylight. Your body naturally increases melatonin levels about 2 hours before going to sleep, to get you ready for sleep. You can take melatonin as a medicine to help with sleep problems, including insomnia, and for jet lag. A form of melatonin has also been made as a medicine to help treat depression. What is the role of melatonin? Melatonin naturally helps control your body’s sleep and

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,

Why am I more likely to have problems with my medicines as I get older? Your chance of problems with medicines increases as you age for 2 main reasons: how your body works changes with age you are more likely to be taking multiple medicines (polypharmacy) as you get older Changes in your body Your body changes in many ways as you age. For example, the amount of water, fat and muscle you have changes. Because of these changes, your body may: become more sensitive to your medicines not be able to process your medicines properly have difficulty getting rid of medicines

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