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Mental Health : Mental Illness

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MENTAL HEALTH REPORT
1.Prevalence is the number of cases of disease in a given population and is defined with epidemiological data. Mental health is a person’s psychological well-being. Associated diseases have become increasingly prevalent in Australia over the past decade, with a recent advertisement by the ABC highlighting that 50% of Australians will experience a mental illness. Mental illness is responsible for the third largest burden of disease in Australia, making it a priority.
• Morbidity refers to the rates of illness. Mental illness encompasses many diseases which are prevalent in Australia.
The recent 2007 National Survey of Mental health highlighted anxiety disorders as the most prevalent (evident on graph) followed by depression and substance abuse. Prevalence of mental illness generally decreases with age with most prevalence in ages 16-24
Anxiety is characterised by constant feelings of worry. The Black Dog Institute identified that women were more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, whereas men had higher rates of substance abuse and were also less likely to access help than women.
Comorbidity factors, such as substance abuse, are prevalent with mental illnesses and contribute to the burden of disease while increasing chances of reoccurrence and severity, making recovery less likely.

• Mortality
Mental disorders don’t directly cause death but they can lead to suicide, the intentional fatal harming of oneself. Suicide is the

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