While it’s important to increase the diagnosis of depression and find a treatment plan that suits the individual, simply writing more scripts for antidepressants isn’t the answer.
Young women (and men) have been dramatically restricting their calorie intake for centuries, but not all the symptoms of modern anorexia have always been present.
Thousands of people with mental illness are shackled in Indonesia even though the practice has long been banned. Why does the practice persist and how can we eliminate it once and for all?
The relationship between insomnia and mental illness is bidirectional: about 50% of adults with insomnia have a mental health problem; up to 90% of adults with depression have sleep problems.
Most young people rely on music to make them feel better, and have had multiple experiences of this working. But if someone you know is struggling with mental health problems it’s worth having a chat.
We make assumptions about people based on the words we use, and when we use the words ‘the mentally ill,’ those assumptions lead to lower levels of tolerance and acceptance.
Australian discrimination laws offer some protection for employees wanting to disclose their mental illness, but it doesn’t make the decision any easier.
New data shows Australians are spending more on mental health services and with costs to business in the millions, it’s time employers realised good mental health is good for the bottom line too.
Unexplained, chronic pain known as fibromyalgia affects up to 5% of the population. Yet there are no effective treatment options for the millions for whom each day begins with persistent pain.
The reforms announced today have the potential to change this appalling situation. But ultimately they should be judged on the outcomes they achieve for patients.
Severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and dementia are disorders that are ultimately traced to brain function, and not the manifestations of individual weaknesses.
Despite the many people with mental illness who go to prison, successful defences of mental impairment are rare. But this is not a ‘get out of jail free’ card and should be more accessible.