“A mental illness is a health problem that significantly affects how a person feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people. It is diagnosed according to standardised criteria. The term mental disorder is also used to refer to these health problems.” (Australia Department of Health)
Mental illness is more common than people realise. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimate that one in five Australians experience mental illness in any year. There is no single cause for mental illness, it is a mix of factors and can affect anyone.
Mental illness is a term that is used to cover a number of different conditions, with different symptoms and different impacts and for different lengths of time for each person.
The lived experience perspective on the nature of ‘mental illness’ is diverse. For example, often ‘voice hearers’ are happy to hear voices and do not see this experience as creating any barriers for them … or see themselves as ‘ill’ or ‘disordered’.
Mental illnessThis page provides a brief overview of mental illness, with links to more sites for information at the bottom of the page.Type: Web pageEstimated reading time: 5 minutesProduced by: Health Direct
What is mental illness?This fact sheet and guide give brief overviews of mental health and mental illness. You can also click through to a range of other fact sheets and guides.Type: Fact sheet and guideEstimated reading time: 5 minutesProduced by: SANE Australia
Fact vs myth: mental illness basicsThis fact sheet separates truths about mental illness from the myths. Type: Fact sheetEstimated reading time: 5 minutesProduced by: SANE Australia
Introduction to mental health
