MENTAL HEALTH A state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.

Different types Mental illness is a broad term for a group of conditions. These conditions can be short or long term, and there is no way of knowing who will be affected by them. The two most common types of mental illness are anxiety and mood disorders (sometimes called affective disorders), particularly depression.

Why is it an NHPA? A significant number of people will experience mental illness. People believe it is a weakness being unable to cope and believe they will get over it. Mental illness continues to have a stigma attached to it.

How it contributes to the Burden of disease In contrast to the overall health gains of world populations in recent decades, the burden of mental illness is growing. Mental and behavioural health disorders are common, affecting more than 25% of all people at some time during their lives and are present at any point in time in about 10% of the population (WHO, 2001).

Risk factors Biological; Body weight- links have been made between mental illness and obesity. Genetic predisposition- if mental illness has run in the family, one is more likely to develop mental illness at some stage in their life. Chemical imbalance- having a deficiency in some of the chemicals in the brain that assist in controlling moods, particularly the ‘happy chemical’ serotonin, contributes to depression. Behavioural; Tobacco use, alcohol misuse, substance abuse.. People that abuse these things are more likely to have a mental illness. Although no conclusive evidence if one is suffering from a mental illness, they’re more likely to take up one of these habits. Of course these things can lead you to mental illness too. And physical activity- it releases endorphins that relieve stress and assist in maintaining optimal mental health.

Physical Physical; Natural disasters- things such as floods, droughts and bushfires can increase rates of mental health issues in children and adults. Housing- living in overcrowded housing conditions can increase the risk of psychological distress. Access to recreation facilities- Regular physical activity has been shown to decrease the risk of developing a mental illness. Noise pollution- People experiencing ongoing pollution often experience higher rates of mental health. Transport- Not having access to transport may increase levels of distress if people cannot stay in contact with the people they need or are unable to access recreational facilities.

SOCIAL Social; Socioeconomic status (SES)- people in lower SES groups have higher rates of mental illness. Social exclusion- There is a direct relationship between this and mental illness. People who are socially excluded are more likely to suffer from mental illness and also be of lower socioeconomic background. Occupation- Work related stress can add to depressive symptoms. Unemployment- those who are unemployed may experience prolonged feelings of stress and anxiety as a result of not being able to provide for themselves and/or their family. Stress- prolonged stress increases the risk of depression. Those experiencing severe stress may lack the coping skills to prevent mental illness. Early life experiences- loss of a parent, divorce or adverse parenting styles (lack of attention, abuse).. Anything hard or traumatic to happen when early in life.

Health promotion programs Headspace – A nationwide mental health program for youth. KidsMatter; Created by the Australian government and a range of non-government organisations. KidsMatter aims to create positive environments to promote mental health in children in preschool, day care centres and primary schools.

AWARENESS VIA ADVERTISING http://www.headspace.org.au/about-headspace/news-videos/videos/tv-advertisements

AWARENESS IN ADVERTISING http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/

DIRECT COSTS Mental health problems are often associated with ongoing treatment such as medication and counselling

Indirect costs Inability to work, due to increased anxiety or depression Paying for services that they cannot perform in their state. Lost productivity if an individual is unable to work. Social security payments.

Intangible The impact of mental illness stretches further than economic costs. The individual suffers from the condition as well as their family, friends, work colleagues and society in general. Those suffering from illness may not be able to participate in their usual activities which can increase sadness and despair. Family members may have to take time out out from their normal activities.

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