Mental health and mental illness
Mental health problems are increasing around the world and are currently affecting more than 25% of all people at some time during their lives. In Australia, mental disorders are the leading cause of disability, responsible for 60% of the burden of disease in persons aged 15 - 34 years and $13 billion in direct and indirect costs (Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, 2002).
Mental disorders, including depression, substance use and anxiety disorders are the third largest cause of health burden in Queensland and the largest cause of disability. Mental disorders accounted for 14% of the burden of disease and injury in Queensland in males in 2003 and 15% of the burden in females. Different to most other diseases, almost the entire burden of disease from mental disorders is due to disability (98%) rather than mortality. (Queensland Health, 2006).
The shift to greater prevalence of mental and behavioural health disorders indicates the increasing importance of mental health promotion and illness prevention activities. There is clearly a need for programs promoting positive mental health to reduce the social and economic impact of mental illness.
Project overview
In 2004, formative research was undertaken to assess North Queenslanders' understanding and beliefs about mental health. The research findings indicated that most participants had little understanding of the concepts of positive mental health. The term 'mental health' was equated with mental illness, but when people were asked what it meant to be 'mentally healthy', they were much better at describing associations with resilience, coping and the importance of social support networks. Recommendations from the report proposed that mental health is something people should be concerned about and something they should do something about. It recommends mental health be put on the agenda for both individuals and whole communities. The report compared this proposed action with past physical health campaigns, such as skin protection, healthy nutrition and physical activity. North Queenslanders’ Beliefs about and Understanding of Mental Health.
A benchmark survey on the influences on mental health was also carried out in Western Australia Mental Health Promotion Scoping Project, (Centre for Developmental Health, Curtin University of Technology and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, 2003.) In 2004, Queensland Health followed WA's lead and undertook a computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) of 2000 Queenslanders (1000 in North Queensland and 1000 in the rest of the state) to gather information relevant to the development of a mental health promotion campaign, including:
The results from the survey were largely the same as those found in WA and a decision was taken to engage a creative agency to develop a mental health promotion campaign.
References
Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging, 2002, National Mental Health Report 2002: Seventh Report. Changes in Australia's Mental Health Services under the first Two Years of the Second National Mental Health Plan 1998-2000. Mental Health and Special Program's Branch, Canberra.
Queensland Health. The Health of Queenslanders 2006. Report of the Chief Health Officer, Queensland, Queensland Health. Brisbane 2006.
Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Feedback
|
Other languages
© The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2008.
