Your mental health fact file

Cassandra Green

Everything you need to know about supporting loved ones who suffer from a mental illness.

Photo: iStock

R U OK? Day is a great time to sit down and brush up on your knowledge of mental health. Understanding the different types of mental disorders and options for treatment will not only help you be a better friend, but also help you if you find yourself feeling down.

We have compiled a short guide to mental health, so when you ask people "R U OK?" today you can listen carefully and give back informed support and friendship.

How to help a mate with their mental health

When someone comes to you for support, you need to know that sometimes listening is enough. If someone can unburden their troubles by talking you, you’ve already helped them immensely. If you have a wise nugget of advice, suggest it gently and let them adopt their own strategies in time.


Depression tends to run in families and may be induced by a traumatic event such as death, divorce, financial stress, physical pain, or childbirth (post-natal depression).

Key symptoms include sleep disturbance, chronic tiredness, irritability and thoughts that life is hardly worth living.

It is best treated with the help of a doctor or counsellor, although the positive support of friends and family can be a huge factor in getting over the illness. Drug therapy can be used where doctors prescribe antidepressants to help patients through their troubles. Counsellors can help patients to open up and unburden their worries; however this can also work with a supportive friend. Cognitive behaviour therapy is often used to ‘rewire the brain’ to react more resiliently in different situations.


Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses in Australia, and one that is often looked over because of our ‘no worries’ lifestyle. Australians take pride in being ‘get-on-with-it’ sort of people, which means many people with anxiety disorder, especially men, don’t try to get help.

Anxiety is similar to that ‘butterfly’, slightly sick feeling you get before a rollercoaster or job interview. Those physical symptoms are your “fight or flight” response kicking in, where the body prepares for danger by releasing adrenaline. For people with anxiety this occurs more often and certain things can trigger it, like being in small spaces. Sometimes there is no particular reason at all.

Counselling and medication can help reduce the effects of anxiety and help equip those with the disorder to deal better when they feel their symptoms coming on. Meditation and self-care (eating healthy, exercising, avoiding caffeine) can be really successful tools as well.

If your friend is having a panic attack make sure you listen to them and don’t overcrowd their space. If they need anything get it for them, otherwise the best thing you can do is be with them so they know you’re there should they need you.

Eating disorders

Disordered eating can begin with the smallest of changes to the diet, from skipping a meal to binging on a lot of food quickly in emotional distress. If you see your friend developing a bad relationship with food you might need to watch out for them a little more. These habits can develop into different eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating.

If you notice that your friend is tired a lot, missing meals, ashamed about eating, losing a lot of weight quickly or partaking in extreme amount of exercise it’s possible they have anorexia. If they are also binging and purging their food its possible they have bulimia. If they are eating a lot of food, not caring what food, and doing it secretly especially at emotional times, it’s possible they have binge eating disorder.

It’s important not to self-diagnose or judge your friend for their changed behaviours, but to be there for them and help them get professional help from a doctor or counsellor. Cognitive behavioural therapy can be used to change thoughts of ‘bad food’ into ‘delicious sometimes treats’.


Alcohol dependency is the powerful need to drink large quantities on a daily basis. It may be inherited or arise because of other factors like stress and depression.

Traits of alcoholism include drinking alone and being unable to stop once started as well as trying to hide one’s drinking. If a person cannot stop drinking even if it is negatively affecting their lives they might be an alcoholic.

Recognising the problem is the first step to overcoming alcoholism. As a friend you can ask gently if they want to talk about how much they drink, however you must understand that some alcoholics can be defensive of their habits. Doctors, counselling and group counselling can be incredibly helpful in keeping alcoholics accountable for their drinking habits. If you suspect your friend might be an alcoholic, try to stay away from catching up at bars or ‘going for drinks’ and put an emphasis on health and wellbeing.

You can claim psychological treatment on Medicare

It is important to know that getting help for mental health doesn’t have to cost a fortune; it’s claimable on Medicare. Patients who are deemed by a doctor to suffer psychological disorders can get a Mental Health Treatment Plan from their doctor that covers a maximum of ten individual and ten group services per calendar year. So money is no excuse not to get your friend appropriate help and get them feeling bright and new again.

Need some extra support? For confidential advice 24/7 call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Find other supports at or