Where to get help
If you need help, talking to your doctor at Stannum Medical Centre Ashfield is a good place to start.
If you’d like to find out more or talk to someone else, here are some organisations that can help:
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SANE Australia (people living with a mental illness) — call 1800 187 263.
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beyondblue (anyone feeling depressed or anxious) — call 1300 22 4636 or chat online.
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Black Dog Institute (people affected by mood disorders) — online help.
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Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) — call 13 11 14 or chat online.
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Suicide Call Back Service (anyone thinking about suicide) — call 1300 659 467.
Not sure what to do next?
If you or someone you know are finding it difficult to manage mental health issues, try healthdirect’s Symptom Checker and get advice on when to seek professional help.
The Symptom Checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare steps, whether it’s self-care, talking to a health professional, going to a hospital or calling triple zero (000).
Causes of mental illness
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Researchers are still trying to understand what causes mental illness. There is no one cause — it can happen due to a mix of factors including genetics, how your brain works, how you grew up, your environment, your social group, your culture and life experience. Read more in Healthdirect....
Diagnosis of mental illness
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Mental illness can be diagnosed after a doctors talks to you in detail about your symptoms. There are generally no blood tests or brain scans that can confirm a mental illness, although these tests may be useful in finding out other possible causes of the symptoms. Read more in healthdirect........
How to talk about your mental health concerns
Mental illness can be hard to talk about. Letting your friends, family or employer know could be a positive experience or you might worry it will bring up more problems. That’s why it’s important to think carefully about whom to tell and when would be the best time. Read more in Healthdirect......
Symptoms of mental illness
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Each type of mental illness has a different set of symptoms. For example, extreme dieting may be a sign that someone has an eating disorder. Hearing voices could be a sign of psychosis. An ongoing feeling of hopelessness after childbirth could be a sign of postnatal depression. Read more in Healthdirect.....
