Mental Health - What Are We Doing About It?

Picture Source: lifeline.org.au

With statistics presenting that there is on average one suicide every three hours in Australia, it's about time that we wake up to the issue that is mental health and we start talking about it, increasing awareness of the prevalence of mental health issues and destigmatise this disease.

According to the ABS between 2013-2014 there was a 13.5% increase in the amount of suicides in Australia. Suicide is the top cause of premature deaths within Australia and in 2014 it reached the highest rate of suicide in over 10 years. Each year there is approximately one out of every five Australians that is suffering from some form of mental illness (Mindframe, 2014). Chances are you or someone you know is suffering from a mental illness and yet the rates of those affected seeking help with their condition is as low as 35%.

More young Australians are dying from suicide than car accidents according to Youth Beyond Blue 2013. These statistics are very overwhelming and one of the reasons suicide is on the rise is due to the stigmatisation of mental illnesses which makes those affected less likely to seek treatment (British Journal of Psychiatry 2003).

It is about time that we eliminate the idea that those affected with mental illness are somewhat weak as this is not the case and is feeding the stigma which prevents those affected from seeking help. (British Journal of Psychiatry 2003). Additionally mental illness is not a life sentence and with the right help it can be addressed and may people will therefore recover (Mindframe, 2014).

Nation wide initiatives such as R U OK day, which is on the 8th of September this year, are designed to get the community involved in communicating with each other and finding out how your family and friends are actually doing. A simple question such as 'are you okay?' can have such an enormous impact on someone and it could be all the motivation they need to talk about how they are feeling. To find out more about R U OK day visit their website.

If you or anyone you know needs help call Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics, Causes of Death Australia, accessed on the 19th of March, http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/3303.0~2014~Media%20Release~Changing%20patterns%20of%20mortality%20reflect%20ageing%20population%20(Media%20Release)~10048>

The British Journal of Psychiatry 2003, Stigma as a cause of suicide, accessed on the 19th of March, http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/183/2/173.2>

Lifeline, accessed on 19th March, https://www.lifeline.org.au/About-Lifeline/Media-Centre/Media-Releases/National-suicide-toll-reaches-tragic-high>

Youth Beyond Blue, accessed on 19th March, https://www.youthbeyondblue.com/footer/stats-and-facts>