Prevalence Of Mental Health Effects On An Individual 's Emotions, Perceptions, Behavior, And Wellbeing

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

The Mental Health Commission of Canada estimates ‘up to 70% of young adults living with mental health problems report that the symptoms started in childhood.’ (Bartram et al., 2012) In a study that investigated the incidence and prevalence of depression among adolescents, it was determined that ‘by age 21, the lifetime prevalence of at least one episode of depression was

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).

Did you know that 19.9 percent of adult Americans had some sort of a mental illness, according to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (samhsa.gov, 2015, Para. 3). This is a total of 45.1 million adults in America suffering with mental health disorders (samhsa.gov, 2015, Para. 3). There are also currently 20.8 million adults in America who suffer from substance use disorder ever year (NAMI.org, 2015). Both of these are alarming statistics of the wellbeing of the American citizens. To make matters worse, these two groups intertwine to a population of people known with a co-occurrence of mental illness and substance use or, more commonly known as, dual diagnosis.

Mental illness has a profound impact on the Australian community, with 45% of Australians expected to experience mental illness at some point in their lives. In 1991, Australian Health Ministers commenced The Australian National Mental Health Strategy, which has since transitioned to its Fourth National Mental Health Plan Agreement. The Australian healthcare policy that has recently received attention in the Australian media is the revised National Mental Health Policy of 2008. The media article, ‘‘Futures will be lost’: Health fears as youth psychosis program dropped,’ has been analysed on its illustration of current structural reform proposed in the Mental Health sector. The role of media is critical in conveying policy to the public and

There is a wealth of literature about the relationship between substance use and mental illness. Bahorik, Newhill, and Eack (2013) reported that individuals who have a mental illness have a higher prevalence rate of substance use than individuals who do not have a mental illness. Fluery, Grenier, Bamvita, Perreault, and Caron (2014) cite that at least one half of people who develop a substance abuse problem report being diagnosed with a co-occuring mental disorder. There is an abundance of information in the field that provides support for the assertion that there are high rates of comorbidity, which leads into the question of why the two constructs are often found together. Specific factors such as demographics, types of mental illness and motivation for engaging in substance use are considered. Ratnasingham et al. (2013) conducted a study in Ontario on the burden of mental illness and found that the burden of living with comorbid substance use and mental illness increases the risk of early mortality and decreases overall quality of life, so much so that the consequence of living with each ailment is greater than the consequences of the four most common types of cancer and all other infectious diseases. The primary motivation for substance abuse is to cope with psychological distress or negative emotions stemming from

Aboriginal have a higher incidence of mental health illness and psychological distress in comparison to the non-indigenous population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). The rate of suicides is almost twice that of non- indigenous Australians with the risk being the highest in the younger age group (15 to 19 years) (Department of Health and Ageing, 2013). Multiple challenges and barriers including communication, stigma and distance from the services limit access to health services thus further aggravating the burden of mental health illness.

The spread of mental illness continues to be of concern especially in Britain. For statistic say that 70% of the prison population has a mental health disorder. As known, there are a high quantity of mental health disorders. As each 7 year period arrives, the English government do a survey in order to measure the various disorders which are common in our society today. This survey was done in 2009 and reported that for depression 2.6 in 100 people were diagnosed. As for anxiety, 4.7 in 100 people, phobias, 2.6 in 100 people, OCD, 1.3 in 100 people, eating disorders, 1.6 in 100 people. This survey also covered bipolar, schizophrenia and personality disorders. It enclosed that as for personality disorders, 3 to 5 people in every 100 are suffering.

A mental illness is an issue that affects one’s behaviour, emotions, thoughts and ability to interact with others (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing 2007). Common mental illnesses in Australia include anxiety, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders and personality disorders, with the most prevalent being anxiety disorders and depression. Anyone can develop a mental illness, although suffering from a chronic medical illness, experiencing a highly stressful or traumatic event, having a blood relation with a mental disorder or drug and alcohol use can increase one’s risk (Mayo Clinic 2015).

Poor mental health has large socioeconomic, sociocultural and environmental consequences for individuals and societies. Socioeconomic determinants of mental health problems exist mainly within people who are unemployed, these groups have a greater likelihood to involve themselves within substance abuse in relation to those with a higher socioeconomic status. A lack of employment can lead to increased levels of stress among young Australians. The rate of unemployment is inordinately high, the rate for people with critical and persistent mental health disorders (such as schizophrenia) are the highest within the unemployed (80-90%). Environmental factors affecting mental illness takes the biggest toll particularly on young males living in rural

With one in five Australians aged sixteen to eighty-five suffering from a mental health disorder, and with expenditure on the problem exceeding $28 billion dollars annually, mental health is an issue that can no longer be ignored. Peak health bodies such as the Australian Medical Association and Beyondblue are calling for increased support for people suffering from mental illness and for a reformation of mental health services. With discussion surrounding mental health issues becoming decreasingly stigmatised, I talk tonight to those at the front line of health policy, treatment and prevention about the reality and future for the millions of Australians living with mental illness.

The high prevalence of mental health problems is not matched by a commensurate level of service use and associated help-seeking behavior; instead there is a marked mismatch between prevalence of mental disorder and professional help-seeking. Figure 1 shows the extent of this mismatch from Australian national data. It plots the percentage of Australians experiencing a mental disorder within a 12-month period and the relative proportion of those with a disorder who sought professional help.1 At all ages there is a much higher prevalence than there is service use, although the mismatch is greatest where the need is highest, ie, for those aged 16–24 years, and decreases with age. In the youngest age group, for males, there were 23% who reported

Mental health problems are considered to “interfere with how a person thinks, feels and behaves” (Australian Government Department of Health, 2007, para. 3). Considered to be more prominent, yet less severe than mental illnesses, mental health problems are experienced for

“I want to be able to talk to someone in a pub and say ‘I have been mentally ill’ and for them to say ‘That’s interesting, what did you experience?’”, said a survivor from the UK in 1997 (Sayce 18). Almost twenty years later and this man 's wish still has not come true. People may ask why, and the answer is because of the stigma that comes along with having a mental illness. Mental illness is something not often talked about because of the fear of being judged. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in every four Americans has a mental illness, and only about 40% of them seek professional help (Hamid). People are being put into mental institutions instead of getting the help that they need to get better, because even people in the medical field are not understanding about this situation because they do not understand how it feels. The stigma and stereotypes towards mental illnesses are overwhelming, therefore people should be made aware of their impact and take steps to reduce stigma and stereotypes.

It has been reported that the number of people with mental disorder is increasing in our communities at an alarming rate. Environmental and social changes are among the most mentioned causes of the accelerating rate of mental illness in society (Häfner, 1985). Despite the prevalence, about one fifth of the adult population will battle with mental illness every year ("Facts and figures about mental illness," 2014) and the acknowledgement of authorities mental illness is still given less attention then is needed to treat the problem successfully. Health bodies need to be putting more resources into this area as