Mental Health
If you are suffering from a mental illness, remember, you are not alone! Around 45% of Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 will suffer from a mental illness at some point during their life time. Depression and anxiety are the most common forms of mental illness. 1-2 million Australians live with depression and / or anxiety each year. Many Australians will suffer from, or know someone suffering from a mental illness.
Mental illness affects an individual's perception of their reality, changing how they feel, think, behave and interact with others. Mental illness affects each indiviudal differently; from mild forms of depression or anxiety, which may reduce the individual's ability to manage a stressful situation, to extreme and debilitating psychosis. Other types of mental illness include obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorders, eating disorders, and addiction.
Many mental illnesses are unlikely to go away on their own, and require tailored treatment plans for each indiviudal. The treatment of mental illness can be complex, and patience is required to find the right treatment option, or combination of treatment options. These include prescribed medication, counselling and community support programs, as well as congnitive behavioural therapy. Many of these treatment options can be provided by your general practitioner in collaboration with a psychologist or psychiatrist.
How We Care
Realising that all is not well is the big first step in avoiding a slide into serious mental health problems. Suffering from a mental illness can be debilitating, and affects the indiviudal's personal relationships, self esteem, study and work. Family and friends may express concern about mood and behaviour of an indvidiual, which is often the first sign that something is not quite right. However, it often takes a while for a mental health condition to be diagnosed. In somes cases it may take many years for a major condition such as bipolar disorder, to be definitively diagnosed. There are no simple tests for mental illness.
General practitioners are generally the first port of call for someone seeking advice and treatment for a mental illness. All of our male and female doctors at Globe Medical are experienced in providing private and supportive care for our patients with mental illness, without discrimination or judgement. We have strong relationships with many local mental health care professionals including, psychologists, psychiatrists and community support groups. Our doctors will work alongside other healthcare professionals to achieve the best outcome for each indiviudal, whether their problem is likely to be short term or life-long.
Related Clinical Centres
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Allied Health (Psychology)