I know I said that this last 2 weeks in October were going to be dedicated to Zombies, but since I'm going through a tough time at the moment - I thought I would just share information which may assist some readers in Australia.

Also it was Mental Health Week last week - so better late than never!

What is mental health?

Good mental health is a sense of wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem. It enables us to fully enjoy and appreciate other people, day-to-day life and our environment. When we are mentally healthy we can:

form positive relationships

use our abilities to reach our potential

deal with life’s challenges

What is mental illness?

anxiety

schizophrenia

bipolar mood disorder

personality disorders

eating disorders

depression

What causes mental illness?

long-term and acute stress

biological factors such as genetics, chemistry and hormones

use of alcohol, drugs and other substances

cognitive patterns such as constant negative thoughts and low self esteem

social factors such as isolation, financial problems, family breakdown or violence

A mental illness is a health problem that significantly affects how a person thinks, behaves and interacts with other people. It is diagnosed according to standardised criteria.

One in 5 Australians will suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives.

A mental health problem also affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, but to a lesser extent than a mental illness.

Mental illnesses are of different types and degrees of severity. Some of the major types are:

These illnesses may also be referred to as a mental disorder, mental impairment or psychiatric disability.

Mental illness results from complex interactions between the mind, body and environment. Factors which can contribute to mental illness are:

These factors can be minimised by a strong and supportive community environment.

The following information was taken from the Beyond Blue website:

General information

Depression and anxiety - an information booklet

Depression is more than just feeling sad or low during tough times. People with depression can have intense negative feelings for weeks, months or even years, sometimes for no good reason.

Depression is relatively common, affecting more than one million Australians each year.

Unfortunately, many people with depression don’t recognise it or get help. But, it is treatable and most people with depression go on to lead happy, productive lives with the right treatment for them.

Understanding depression - information for adults (fact sheet)

Understanding Depression and Anxiety (Flyer)

Depression symptom checklist

What causes depression? (fact sheet 3)

Practical ways to help someone with depression (information card)

How to organise a public forum on depression and anxiety

Treatment

A Guide to What Works for Depression (booklet) - a comprehensive review of all known treatments for depression, including medical, psychological, complementary and lifestyle interventions

A Guide to What Works for Anxiety Disorders

Types of help available (fact sheet 4)

Changing your thinking - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (fact sheet 10)

Antidepressant medication - Advice for adults (fact sheet 11)

Getting help - How much does it cost? (fact sheet 24)

Benzodiazepines (tranquillisers and sleeping pills) (fact sheet 44)

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) (fact sheet 48)

Recovery

Reducing stress (fact sheet 6)

Sleeping well (fact sheet 7)

Keeping active (fact sheet 8)

Changing your thinking - Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (fact sheet 10)

Reducing alcohol and other drugs (including smoking) (fact sheet 9)

Recovery (fact sheet 15)

Healthy eating for people with depression, anxiety and related disorders (fact sheet 30)

Related disorders

Anxiety disorders (information card)
Anxiety Treatment Australia provides information about anxiety disorders and the treatment options available. You will also find information on psychologists around Australia who treat anxiety disorders and who offer group therapy and workshops.
Anxiety disorders (fact sheet 21)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (fact sheet 31)
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (fact sheet 35)
Panic Disorder (fact sheet 36)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (fact sheet 37)
Specific Phobias (fact sheet 38)
Social Phobia (fact sheet 39)
Bipolar disorder (fact sheet 16)
The Black Dog Institute is a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.
Reducing alcohol and other drugs (including smoking) (fact sheet 9)
Eating disorders and depression (fact sheet 42)
SANE Australia is a national charity working for a better life for people affected by mental illness – through campaigning, education and research.
Problem gambling and depression (fact sheet 45)

I know this is information overload, but I think it's important to have the information at hand all in the one place, especially when you really need it. By the way, if any readers have any further information they would like to add, please feel free to post it on this blog.

The following organisations are available to assist with people with mental illness and their families: