Summary

Mental health is a state of emotional and social wellbeing which infl uences how we cope with the stresses of everyday life and whether or not we can achieve our potential. Mental disorders are broken down into three groups: anxiety, mood and substance use disorders. According to a major 2007 survey, 45% of Australians aged 16-85 years (7.3 million people) experienced at some point in their lifetime a mental disorder. This book explores the prevalence of mental disorders and the services available for treatment. It also focuses on improving community understanding of the negative effects of mental illness on individuals such as reduced work participation, social isolation, stigma and discrimination. So many among us experience mental illness - are we doing enough to understand its causes, and manage its many social, health and economic impacts?