Mental Health FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about mental health, mental illness and what effect they may have on you and your studies.

What is mental health?
What is mental illness?
What is psychotic mental illness?
What is non-psychotic mental illness?
What causes mental illness?
Are mental illnesses incurable and lifelong?
Are people with a mental illness usually dangerous?
Can anyone develop a mental illness?
Does medication have negative effects?
Can mental illness effect my learning?
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What is mental health?

The term ‘mental health’ often makes people think immediately of ‘mental illness’. Mental ill health is surrounded by myths, uncertainty and ignorance. Because of this it is often thought of as something which happens to other people. In reality, the distinction between ‘mental illness’ and ‘mental health’ is not as clear cut as we might like to think.

Most of us at some time feel over-stressed or unhappy. If these feelings go on for a long time, they can become a real problem, interfering with the quality of our everyday life and relationships with other people.

Mental health refers to the capacity to live in a resourceful and fulfilling manner, having the resilience to deal with the challenges and obstacles that life presents. It has to do with how you think, feel and act.

In general, people with good mental health:

• Have a positive attitude - they look forward to the challenges of life 
• Feel good about themselves and others 
• Act responsibly in their work and their relationships 
• Have the resources to manage problems and obstacles that might arise 
• Behaviour, thoughts and emotions tend to be relevant to the context

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What is mental illness?

‘Mental illness’ is not the same as poor mental health. The term covers a broad range and severity of disorders, and the experience of a particular illness will vary between individuals. Broadly speaking, mental illnesses can be divided into two types – psychotic and nonpsychotic illnesses.

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What is psychotic mental illness?

Mental illnesses in which the symptoms are so severe that the person loses touch with reality, for example schizophrenia, bipolar disorder. If undiagnosed, people with psychoses are usually unaware that they are ill or that their behaviour is uncharacteristic or inappropriate.

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What is non-psychotic mental illness?

Non-psychotic illnesses are more common syndromes with less serious symptoms, although they can be very disturbing for the person involved.

The person is aware that they are ill and has concerns about it. These include anxiety, depression, phobias, eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder.

These illnesses have an impact upon thinking processes, emotions, perceptions, motivation and confidence, resulting in difficulties in learning, problem solving and achieving academic and vocational goals.

However, mental illness does not necessarily have to be a barrier to successful study.

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What causes mental illness?

There are usually very complex ‘causes’ involving a combination of biological, psychological and social factors.

These include:

• Genetics (a tendency to develop an illness has a hereditary component
• Exposure to trauma 
• Physical problems (such as chemical imbalances in the brain and infections) 
• Harmful learned behavior patterns 
• Unhealthy family environments 
• Cumulative stress and adverse life events

Mental disorders are more common in young adults than at any other age. The rates of depression and anxiety are high and the peak age range for the first onset of problems is between 18-24, coinciding for many people with their time as a student.

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Are mental illnesses incurable and lifelong?

No. When treated appropriately and early, many people recover fully. A mental illness is like many physical illnesses which require on-going treatment (such as diabetes and heart disease), but which can be managed so that the individual can participate in every day life. A mental illness can come and go in people’s lives. Some people have only one episode and recover completely. For others, it recurs throughout their lives and requires on-going treatment.

Through some people become disabled as a result of a chronic mental illness, many who experience a major mental illnesses manage to live full and productive lives.

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Are people with a mental illness usually dangerous?

No. In fact, this false perception underlies some of the most damaging stereotypes. People with a mental illness are seldom dangerous. Even people with the most severe mental illness are rarely dangerous when receiving appropriate treatment.

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Can anyone develop a mental illness?

Yes. In fact as many as one in five Australians may develop a mental illness at some stage in their lives. Everyone is vulnerable to mental health concerns.

Many people feel more comfortable with the notion of having a 'breakdown’ than the notion of having a mental illness. Reluctance to talk openly about mental illnesses is a barrier to seeking treatment.
Does everyone experience mental illness the same way?
Each person’s individual experience of mental illness will be very different. The particular illness, individual coping skills, personal resilience, support systems, and past experiences are just some of the factors which determine that there will be different impacts for different people.

There are some symptoms that are common to many illnesses and sufferers. These include:

• Heightened anxieties, fears and suspicions 
• Marked personality change over time 
• A level of personal disorganisation 
• Confused or disorganised thinking 
• Strange or grandiose ideas 
• Difficulties with concentration or remembering 
• Difficulty making decisions 
• Extreme highs and/or lows in mood 
• Denial of obvious problems 
• Thinking or talking about suicide

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Does medication have negative effects?

In order to manage their illness some people choose to take medication. However, they may experience some negative side-effects to the medication. These include:

• Nausea 
• Impaired concentration 
• Drowsiness (especially in the mornings) and fatigue 
• Blurred vision 
• Shakiness 
• Slowed response time

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Can mental illness effect my learning?

A student’s mental health problem may not be visible while their illness is inactive, but when their mental health becomes unstable, their performance may deteriorate and the learning process may become interrupted. Both the symptoms of the illness and the side-effects of the medication may cause difficulties for the student in managing their academic life.

The student’s behaviour will change and their academic performance might be affected in the following ways:

• Erratic attendance rates 
• Decreased verbal skills 
• Difficulty in concentration – restlessness, distractibility 
• Memory problems 
• Withdrawal and low self-esteem 
• Difficulties with motivation 
• Social isolation 
• Difficulties working with and relating to people 
• Lack of participation 
• Depressed mood 
• Problems getting organised, meeting deadlines 
• Inappropriate behaviour 
• Discomfort in groups – anxiety, timidity, passivity 
• Rigid thinking patterns 
• Problems with drowsiness and fatigue

As mental health conditions produce these changes in behaviour it is possible that lecturers or tutors might be the first persons to notice problems developing in an individual. It is very important that the student receive prompt advice, support and referral at these times.

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Related links

• Information brochures (opens in a new window)