Mental Health versus
Mental Ill-Health
The terms MENTAL HEALTH and MENTAL ILLNESS have different meanings for different people.
In Australia, the field of mental health describes an area of health that focuses on the psychological, emotional and behavioural wellbeing of the population.
At HelpingMinds, we would like to differentiate between mental health and mental ill-health. Mental health refers to a balanced state of mind, whilst mental ill-health indicates that something is off-balance, off-centre and it is impacting on someone’s ability to live a normal life.
Mental ill-health is a broad term that includes both mental illnesses and mental health challenges.
What is mental illness?
At HelpingMinds, we use the broad term ‘ill-health’, ‘illness’, or disorder to refer to mental health ‘challenges’ which are classified as more severe and long-lasting.
A mental health challenge is a health problem that significantly affects how a person feels, thinks, perceives, behaves, and interacts with other people. It can include behavioural issues or problems processing thoughts that often cause significant distress or functional impairment.
Mental illnesses on the other hand are severe forms of mental challenges that not only socially, psychologically or mentally affect a person but they are also experiencing physical discomfort or psychogenic pain.
Identifying the different types of mental health illnesses and understanding the challenges that come with each can help you and your family safeguard your mental health or properly manage short-term or long-term mental health challenges.
Learn more about some common mental health challenges:
Diagnosing mental health challenges
Experiencing mental health challenges can develop from a very young age that is why it is necessary for a suspected person to be professionally assessed by a medical practitioner so that they can be given proper treatment early on. A diagnosis involves systematic interviews alongside ruling out other behavioural and mental health conditions. Often, signs and symptoms must be a recurring experience for the person to be diagnosed with the mental health condition.
What is recovery?
Recovery is different for every person living with mental health challenges. Recovery is a process, sometimes ongoing and lifelong, defined and led by the person with the illness, through which they can achieve a meaningful and contributing life in the community. In order to make a recovery, the patient must first seek professional medical help to be advised of the proper treatment required for the specific mental health condition.
Treating mental health illness
Treating mental health illnesses or challenges is unique for every person. However, everything starts with a proper diagnosis and creating a treatment plan which can include medication and several forms of therapy, including Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Self-help, encouragement from family and friends as well as joining support groups are also powerful means of treating mental health challenges.
Are you supporting a family member or friend
with a mental health challenge?
Living with or caring for someone with a mental health illness can be a challenge. This can be a stressful, overwhelming, and isolating experience, especially if you do not know what to do not understand what your family or friends are going through.
At HelpingMinds, it is our mission to support Carers or family and friends of people with mental health challenges by educating them and providing services that can make their role as a Carer more bearable. Here is some more information to help you understand what your loved one is going through and how to help yourself.
How to help your loved one
Often, we have a strong desire to ‘fix’ or ‘solve’ someone else’s problem, however, this is not your role and should be left to a professional. The best thing you can do is to help them find an appropriate service through a GP, or a mental health phone line. Searching for mental health can also go a long way as the first step to getting information about mental health and what you should do.
Once your family or friend starts receiving proper medical help, the next best thing you can do for them is to offer support and provide encouragement for their battle against mental health challenges. Offering a listening ear and letting them know you are here for them are powerful acts that can be therapeutic for a person experiencing mental health problems.
How to help yourself
Having someone close to you who lives with mental health challenges can be exhausting, frustrating, confusing, and isolating. But you don’t have to go through it alone.
HelpingMinds® offers free and confidential support to people who are caring for someone living with mental health challenges. As a registered NDIS provider of mental health services, we offer free counseling, support groups, rest and revive activities, school holiday programs, family programs, youth programs, and advocacy to people living in WA.
Feel free to browse through our pages and see the mental health programs and support services we offer in Perth, Western Australia.
Get Support from HelpingMinds®
Would you like to know more about our free and confidential services and how we can support you? Please feel free to contact HelpingMinds® via the form below or on (08) 9427 7100. For one of our team to get back to you, we will require your email address and/or phone number. Please know all information provided will be treated completely confidential and in line with our privacy policy.