World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day

Each year, approximately one in every five Australians will experience a mental illness. Yet accessing mental health services remains difficult for people with mental disorders due to a lack of investment in the overall health budget in countries worldwide. Add the pandemic for the last 18 months and the theme for World Mental Health Day on October 10th is more urgent than ever before; equality in mental health.

Key facts

According to the World Health Organisation:

• It is estimated about 45% of Australians may experience mental illness at some point in their lives.

• Mental illnesses are the third leading cause of disability burden in Australia, accounting for an estimated 27% of the total years lost due to disability.

• About 4% of people will experience a major depressive episode in a 12-month period, with 5% of women and 3% of men affected.

The good news is there are plenty of resources online to seek help if you or a loved one are suffering from mental illness or any form. Whether you are looking for help with something that is bothering you or helping someone you care about, Head to Health is a good place to start. It brings together apps, programs, forums and phone services, as well as a range of digital information resources.

Depression

Depression is common and can be mild and short-lived or more severe and longer-term. It’s good to be able to recognise the symptoms in yourself and others and know what you can do about it.

Support for women with disability

Sunny App

Sunny is 1800RESPECT’s app for women with disability who have experienced violence and abuse. Sunny has been co-designed with women with disability to make sure it provides the very best support for the people who use it.

Webchat support for mental illness

Beyond Blue is a team of mental health professionals who provide free, immediate, short-term counselling, advice and referrals to anyone in Australia via web chat from 3pm to midnight (AEST), every day.

Are you a healthcare practitioner?

Health Translations provides direct links to reliable translated health and wellbeing resources from government departments, peak health bodies, hospitals, and community health and welfare organisations. This online library enables health practitioners and those working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to easily find free translated health information.