Depression
Eating disorders
Questions & Answers
What can I do?
One in five Australians will experience a mental illness.
Though we know that many mental illnesses are caused by a physical dysfunction of the brain, we do not know exactly what triggers this.
Most mental illnesses can be effectively treated.
'"Mental illness" is a general term that refers to a group of illnesses, in the same way that heart disease refers to a group of illnesses affecting the heart.
People who have a mental illness often suffer a great deal. They can be disturbed and frightened by their illness.
Stress may trigger some mental illnesses or may prolong episodes. Stress can also result when a person develops a mental illness.

It is rarely possible for someone with a mental illness to make the symptoms go away just by strength of will.
To suggest this is not helpful in any way.
Not only do they and their families have to cope with an illness that can radically alter their lives, they often experience rejection and discrimination.
Episodes of a mental illness can come and go in periods during people's lives. Some people experience their illness only once and fully recover. For others, it recurs throughout their lives.
People with a mental illness need the same understanding and support given to people with a physical illness. A mental illness is no different - it is not an illness for which anyone should be blamed.

Text from "Still Smiling: Sexuality Education Made Easy"
Published by The Family Planning Association of NSW