Youth Mental Health & Mental Illness Disorders   More Australian teenagers are in severe psychological distress than five years ago despite growing awareness and initiatives aimed at tackling mental illness, a new report shows.  The alarming statistics, released in a report by Mission Australia, show almost a quarter of teens surveyed meet the criteria for

Detrimental Mental Health Impacts of the Marriage Equality Debate   Around 1-2% of people in our communities identify as lesbian or gay, and a similar percentage identify as bisexual.  A much higher percentage (6-13%) have had a same sex experience in their lifetime, but may not identify as LGBTIQ.   LGBTIQ traditionally stands for lesbian,

Stigma…What Can We Do About It?     Stigma and discrimination can have a significant impact on people with mental illness and their family and friends. The greatest impact appears to be related to personal relationships and employment.     Research has shown that people with mental health problems are pre-judged, find it hard to

Suicide Myths and Facts   Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 44, with around 3,000 people dying by suicide every year. That’s an average of eight people every day.  For every suicide, there are tragic ripple effects for friends, families, colleagues and the broader community.   Suicide is

Types of Common Mental Illness Anxiety Everyone worries and everyone experiences anxiety.  Anxiety becomes a problem when it’s more than just feeling stressed or worried and the feelings associated with a pressured situation continue once the “stressor” is removed.   When those anxious feelings don’t subside, when they are ongoing and exist without any particular reason