Mental Illness

There are a variety of stereotypes

Some highlight the mystery

Media

Politicians

Mental Health Professionals

Mental Illness - The Statistics

Schizophrenia 1%

Bipolar Affective Disorder 1.2%

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Depression 12-16%

Generalised Anxiety Disorder 8-10%

Panic Disorder 2-6%

Insomnia 20-25% (episode)

12% chronic

Alcohol Abuse Disorder 6%

Suicide (deaths) 1.7%

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (of people who experience an event that might make them a candidate for this disorder) 5% men

11% women

Mental Illness

A mental illness is a diagnosable illness that significantly interferes with a person's mental, emotional or social abilities.

A mental illness usually significantly impairs a person's ability to function on a day to day basis

Mental illnesses are of different types and degrees of severity.

In rural communities the two issues of most serious concern are:

Depression & Suicide

Depression

• Major depression is now the most generally disabling illness in the developed world
• Depression ranks 2nd only to cardiovascular disease as a cause of premature death
• Depression is the fourth most frequently managed illness by GPs
• In 73% of cases, the onset of depression is linked to a common negative life event like:

- Financial difficulties - Loss/bereavement

- Relationship problems - Unemployment

• Depression can also occur without any apparent reason
• Depression in men is often under diagnosed, because men are more likely to talk about physical symptoms (like constant tiredness) than the emotional or psychological ones
• Without treatment depression can last for weeks, months or years
• Depression is a potentially life-threatening disorder; a common feature is that people want to die
• 15 % of people with severe depression kill themselves. Suicide is the leading external overall cause of death in Australia (exceeding all deaths by car accident)

Suicide

• Suicide researchers say that an average of five men die by suicide every day
• Of the 2,000 suicides every year in Australia, 80 percent are male - exceeding the total number of Australian road deaths
• Men are four times more likely than women to die by suicide
• The most significant increase in suicide rates is in rural communities, where the rate is also higher than in urban areas
• The suicide rate increases in communities of less than 4000 people

As early as 1998 statistics on suicide revealed that:

• Nearly 24 per cent were by people aged 20 to 29
• More than 25 per cent were by people aged 30 to 39
• About 17 per cent were by people aged 40 to 49
• About 27 per cent were by people aged over 50
• About 12 per cent were by people aged over 65; and

Mental Health

What is mental health?

Mental Health

Mental health describes the capacity of an individual to handle normal levels of stress, maintain satisfying relationships, and 'bounce back' or recover from difficult life events and situations.

Even when this capacity appears overwhelmed by a mental health problem or a mental health disorder, it can be strengthened and reenergised (with assistance), and remains the primary resource and basis for a person's recovery.

Mental Health Problems Mental Illness

• Mild depression Major depression

• Feeling highly anxious, Anxiety disorder

overwhelmed or panicky Panic episodes

• Much trouble sleeping Chronic insomnia

• Constantly stressed Anxiety/depression

Physical illness

• Often feel angry Habituated anger behaviour

• High alcohol consumption Alcohol dependence/disorder

What physical and mental health have in common is that:

• If you have good mental health - as with physical health, you are much less likely to become ill. And if you do happen to become ill you'll usually have a better capacity for recovery

• Many mental health problems and illnesses (like physical ones), are preventable if we take care of our mental health

• When the first signs of a physical or mental illness are apparent, tackled immediately (early intervention), in most cases, illness can be kept from worsening

Mental Health as a Sustainability Issue

2002 survey data from pastoralists and farmers in the Mid-North, indicated that many were struggling to maintain their mental health.

25% of them indicated that they were experiencing mental health problems, with issues of prolonged stress, emerging depression and anxiety.

The message in this, is that it isn't enough just to focus on the sustainability of agricultural enterprise

A high priority also needs to be given to Personal Health and Wellbeing as a major sustainability issue.

Taking Care of Your Mental Health

Things you can do:

• Acknowledge and manage stress(learn how to relax, still your mind,)

• Stop, step back from things and ask yourself: "what really matters most to me"? Does anything

matter as much as your health and relationships?

• Put time into methodical, structured (rather than random) problem solving

• Be prepared to be open, flexible, adventurous and creative in your thinking
• 'Rein in' negative patterns of thought (self-defeating "self-talk" can can make things much worse and can damage your mental health)

• Get health devoted not just work related physical exercise (minimum 30 mins of elevated heart rate)

• Pay careful attention to a balanced and healthy diet

• Stick to low risk alcohol consumption; "drowning your sorrows" will only increase your sorrows

(2 SD women / 4 SD men)

• Cut down on or cut out caffeine (it worsens stress)
• Put effort into your relationships, and making sure you cultivate quality social support

- social isolation, loss of a sense of belonging, and loneliness, can have a measurable impact on the body's immune system - its ability to respond to disease

- belonging to a supportive social network can add years to your life

- socially isolated people have between two to five times the risk of dying from all causes compared to those who maintain strong ties to friends, family and community

• Most of us can usually put our emotional experience and thoughts into a structure that makes them manageable. If we lose that structure, talking to someone else can often help restore it
• Much about men's experience can only be shared with and understood by other men. Only men understand the kind of fears that go with the territory of masculinity. So getting some conversation going with other men can be a huge help

Don't ignore symptoms - danger signs of emerging mental health problems

If you have concerns, talk to a health professional - your GP. If referral to a counsellor, psychologist, or psychiatrist is suggested

• If you need help and can't find it in the public system, seriously consider paying a private practitioner. A couple of hours of cost might save your life or be a major turning point in your life
• Invest in your mental health - take responsibility for you and your families sake
• If your doctor strongly recommends that you take medication - don't be dismissive, it might make a huge difference. Ask for information

If you or someone else you know is in real trouble:

• Speak to a GP immediately
• Phone the Rural and Remote 24 hour Mental Health Service: 131 465
• Go to Accident and Emergency at the hospital

Take home resource book:

Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family

Contains:-

• Lots of topics; select only what interests you *

• Checklists so that you can ascertain whether you (or someone else you know) is running into trouble

• Lots of information and self-help strategies, to boost your mental health, or to 'nip in the bud' the beginnings of a mental health problem

• Therapies that can complement medications your doctor may have prescribed (such as for anxiety or depression)

• Tips on how to help other people experiencing difficulties

• How, where, and when to get professional help

Depression 7

Anxiety 47

Disturbing Thoughts 93

Insomnia 111

Conflict 143

Anger 155

Stress 175

Relationship Violence 217

Alcohol 227

Substances and Mental Health 255

Grief 267

Key Services and Resources 303

Used with permission Dr. John Ashfield (please recognise the source if any part is used) copywrite 2007