Mental illness one of the worst health issues in Australia
UP among the top five most critical health issues facing Australians, sits mental illness alongside the likes of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer and diabetes.
Coined “the big five”, together these diseases are reported to claim almost 110,000 lives a year and cost the community billions of dollars.
Comments from Mental Health Commissioner Eddie Bartnik on the impacts of mental illness were published in The West Australian’s Health and Medicine section on September 11, 2013. Read an excerpt from the article below.
MENTAL ILLNESS, DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
What is it?
- Mental illness, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are a series of disorders that affect the function of the brain or thinking.
- Risk factors
- Family history
- Social isolation
- A history of heart disease or high blood pressure
- Diabetes and high cholesterol
What the experts say
Latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease have overtaken stroke as the second biggest killer in WA and the increase is probably due to the ageing population.
Alzheimer’s Australia WA chief executive CEO Rhonda Parker said the health and care system needed to be better equipped to deal with the problem.
“Dementia is not an epidemic that is coming, it is an epidemic that is upon us,” she said.
“The prevalence of the disease is already overwhelming the capacity of the health and care system to adequately respond to the needs of the person with the diagnosis and their carer.
“Governments, health and care providers and communities are all working hard to deal with this epidemic.
“Thousands of West Australians who have a loved one touched by dementia will know this disease is a personal tragedy. We have to find better ways to care for the increasing numbers affected by it as well as finding the cause and the cure.”
WA Mental Health Commissioner Eddie Bartnik said most people would be touched by mental health issues at some stage in their lives.
“We will all be directly affected at some stage in our lives by mental health problems — either ourselves or someone in our family or circle of friends,” Mr Bartnik said.
The National Mental Health Commission’s Report Card indicated that people with severe mental illness lived between 10 and 32 years less than the general population with higher rates of physical illness and lower rates of getting the hospital treatment they needed.
“People with mental illness and or mental health problems should have the same expectations for good health, wellbeing and quality of life as the general population and the same right to quality health care.”
Mr Bartnik said Suicide was the leading cause of death among young Australians and the State Government had invested $13 million as an election commitment over four years for the WA Suicide Prevention Strategy. which includes community action plans being developed in towns and communities with identified need across the State. The Mental Health Commission also provided significant investment in suicide prevention services.
The prediction
Mrs Parker said the prevalence of dementia in WA was years ahead of the community’s thinking and planning on how to deal with it.
International research had established that comprehensive care would reduce the impact of dementia on the sufferer, their carer and the health system but more funding and commitment was needed to make that happen.
Mr Bartnik said the WA Mental Health Commission and the Department of Health were developing a plan which would provide a 10-year blueprint for the delivery of mental health services in WA, including clinical and non-clinical services.
Protect Yourself
- Eat a healthy balanced diet, this can protect against dementia by keeping heart disease and hypertension at bay
- Stay socially active – get involved in community activities, join a club, seek employment or engage in volunteer work
- Seek help for mental health issues – contact Beyond Blue, Lifeline or talk to a relative or friend
- Avoid isolation – being alone makes things worse