Types of Mental Illness
Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the community. In Australia, one in four women and one in six men will experience depression at some time in their life. Depression is a mood disorder characterised by feelings of extreme sadness and dejection - not just the feeling of sadness we all experience at times. There is a range of safe and effective treatments for depression. Need to more
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, like depression, is a mood disorder. It is a new name for what used to be called manic depression. Bipolar disorder affects the functioning of the brain, causing exaggerated swings of mood from being high, over-excited and self-important to feeling extremely low and helpless, and having difficulty in making decisions.
Anxiety
Anxiety disorders, of which there are a number, have in common an intense and paralysing sense of fear or a sustained pattern of worrying when there is no real danger or threat. Anxiety disorders include panic disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post traumatic stress disorder.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia interferes with the mental functioning of a person and limits their ability to think, feel and act. Symptoms include delusions, phobias, hallucinations and confused thinking. Approximately one in a hundred people will develop schizophrenia. Some may experience only one or more brief episodes, while for others, it remains a life-long condition.
Eating Disorder
Anorexia and bulimia are the two most recognised and serious eating disorders. Each involves having a preoccupation with control over eating, body weight and food. People with anorexia are determined to control the amount of food they eat, while people with bulimia tend to feel out of control where food is concerned.