Mental Health Issues In Australia

Health risk increased with unemployment. There is evident that the health risk is higher in areas where unemployment is common. Stable and secure work improves to individual’s job satisfaction, well-being and health. Deteriorate illness and premature death caused by higher unemployment (Wilkinson & Marmot 2003). A number of research form many foreign countries shows individuals and their families face comparatively high risk of premature death (Wilkinson & Marmot 2003). Australia indigenous peoples accounted for 2.4% of the Australian population, the impact of factors such as unemployment, imprisonment, low-income, eligible housing, lead them to life expectancy 9-12 years less than other Australian population(Cunningham & Paradies 2013).

Mental illness disorders and suicide as surveys and statistics would show, affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at a higher rate than the rest of the Australian population (Elder, Evans, Nizette, 2013). Thirty percent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population aged 18 years and over experienced some sort psychological distress at a greater than normal level during the year 2012 to 2013 (ABS, 2015). Compared to other Australians, the Indigenous people aged 18 years and over were three times more prone to experiencing psychological distress than the rest of the Australian population (ABS, 2015). Mental health services treat more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in contrast with the Non-Aboriginal population, around

Suicide is the 10th biggest killer; with homicide ranking 16th. Suicide is heavily implied within ‘Summertime Sadness.’ During 2009 to 2013, the average number of suicidal deaths per year in Australia was 2, 461. Suicide is not a

In the 1970’s a psychotherapist by the name of Peter Sifneos came up with the term Alexithymia (derived from the Greek, meaning no words for emotions). Alexithymia is defined as a personality construct characterized by the sub-clinical inability to identify and describe emotions in the self. (Alexithymia, n.d.) The core characteristics are marked dysfunction in emotional awareness, social attachment, and interpersonal dating. (Alexithymia, n.d.) Recent studies have found Alexithymia to be more predominant in men, almost a 2:1

In the general population, 6 in 10 men and 5 in 10 women will experience a traumatic event which will lead into unstable habits, resulting in restricted physical activity. These restrictions in physical activities are linked with fear. In the recent years, researchers such as Campbell et al. (2008), Follette et al. (1996), Hoge et al. (2007) and Wagner et al. (2000) have concluded that there are physical health impacts a person can present from traumatic events (namely, combat exposure, sexual assault or natural disaster). The Australian Defence Force states that in 2010, approximately 90% of the ADF and 73% of Australian citizens have been affected by at least one traumatic event (Australian Government, unknown).Brewin, Andrews and Valentine (2000) informs that multiple traumatic events induce stronger neural signals on the brain. Campbell et al. (2008) and Hoge et al. (2007) highlight that somatic disorder is interrelated from these strong neural signals on the brain in emerging data in traumatic events and physical health.

Depression is a mental disorder in which a patient might feel intense, prolonged, negative emotions (Beyond Blue, 2014). This can have severe impact on a person's mental and physical health, thus affecting a person's quality of life. Severe cases can even lead to suicide. It is estimated that one in six Australians will experience depression in their lifetime (Beyond Blue, 2014). The burden of disease gives an indication of of the loss of health and well being of Australians due to each disease (ABS, 2010). Depression and anxiety is the leading cause of burden among females, accounting for 10% of burden while it is the third leading cause for men, accounting for 4.8% (AIHW, 2003) (This was the most recent information found).

Whether it’s positive or negative, the media molds our ideas and ways in which we understand other people. The implications of the often unfair and inaccurate portrayals of mental health issues are consequential. Faulty information in the media about mental illness results in misunderstandings that can have very real and sizeable consequences. For example, inaccurate depictions of schizophrenia can lead to false beliefs and confusion. Dr. Oz defines schizophrenia as “an illness of thinking and emotion where the brain struggles to properly organize information from the outside world and interpretations from within.” The media often confuses schizophrenia with multiple personality disorder

The Australian Government created an innovating National Youth Mental Health Foundation is known as, Headspace. Headspace provides early support, care and services for a range of mental health challenges young people commonly face. Headspace aim to target any problems young people may face in order to adverse effects. They provide services that span over physical health, drug and alcohol support and vocational counsel. They aim to empower young people to seek assistance, support, advice or simply someone to talk about mental health issues. Anyone who walks into a headspace centre should feel treated with respect and compassion, within a confidential and safe environment.

In addition, Farrell cites the pressure that men feel to stifle their emotion as another restrictive role affecting men (1974). This, of course, has its consequences. Men are less likely to talk about what is emotionally troubling them, which can have some pretty serious ramifications. Across history, suicide rates have been higher among men than women, and this difference has been increasing over time, with suicide rates being higher than ever among men (Helgeson, 2012). This has become such a large issue that the high rates of suicide among men have been called the “silent epidemic” (White & Bilsker, 2011). This is partly because it is much harder to identify men who are at risk of committing suicide because they are less likely to open up

Similar results were found by researchers using clinical style-interviews and observational measures with 85 American men (Berger, Addis, Green, Mackowiak, & Goldberg, 2013). Again, those who strongly endorsed masculine norms were less likely to seek help for mental health issues and displayed more negative reactions towards a suggestion that they seek treatment. The men interviewed were especially sensitive to stigma and reported not wanting to be ‘labelled’ or medicated. This attitude was particularly salient if the men indicated high levels of self-reliance.

Mental Health is a multifaceted term that exceeds the traditionally thought notion that to be well is to be absent of disease (Response Ability 2010, p. 5). Physical, mental and social wellbeing are all components that correlate with mental health (Response Ability 2010, p. 5). Wellbeing can be achieved when an individual learns to be resilient by managing their mental health rather than removing adversity or the normal daily stresses of life (Response Ability 2010, p. 5). Poor mental health can cause short and long-term decline in an adolescent’s overall happiness, academic performance, social life, motivation and self-esteem (Pearce, 2017). Evidence reveals that approximately one in seven adolescent Australians experience a mental health condition (Youth Beyond Blue, 2017)

WHO (2012) state that “depression is a common mental disorder/illness, with that greater than 350 million people affected world-wide. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide”. Depression is the second leading cause of global disease burden for morbidity and mortality. (Ferrari et al, 2013). Dudley et al, (1997) found that suicide rates in Australia are increasing for youth and young adult males (aged 15-24years) and more than females of similar age, with steep increases in rural areas compared to metropolitan areas.

Taylor - The Oxford dictionary defines depression as feelings of “severe despondency and dejection.” But it’s more than that, around one in 35 young Australians aged 4-15 experience a depressive disorder. Within the first day of opening the kids helpline received 3,200 calls. Yearly suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians and accounts for the deaths of more young people than car accidents. Therefore the number of deaths by suicide in young Australians is the highest it has been in 10 years, These statistics aren’t to be very proud of.

Male stereotypes often emphasize strength and toughness which lead men to believe that they should suppress emotions of sorrow and despair, which dissuade

Women are proportionally more likely to seek mental help than men mainly due to men’s reluctance to admit to un-masculine feelings or experiences or to appear weak.