June 16, 2016

UOW researchers looking at signs of mental illness

Researchers are calling on the community to help them better understand perceptions of mental illness in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region.

Each year, one in five Australians will experience some form of mental illness.

With suicide the leading cause of death for young people and one in four sick days taken due to mental health issues, mental health is a major concern for the whole community.

However, unlike physical illnesses, people do not always seek the help that they need.

Director of Clinical Training in UOW’s School of Psychology, Associate Professor Dr Mitch Byrne is leading a team of researchers seeking to understand how people perceive mental illness, what influences their decisions to seek help, and how much is known in the community about mental illness.

“The brain is just another organ of the human body, and just like your lungs or your stomach, sometimes it can become unwell,” Professor Byrne said.

“Unfortunately, people often don’t seek help until problems or difficulties become entrenched, by which time the consequences of their mental illness have caused disruptions in life with long term consequences.”

Through an anonymous survey, researchers are hoping to gain some insight on the mental health perceptions of the general population.

“The results of this survey will help us to develop strategies that will enhance recognition of mental illness and create pathways for better access to services,” Professor Byrne said.

“We need as many people as possible to complete the survey so that we get a good picture of what the wider community thinks and what influences the decisions that they make.

“This is a great opportunity to help those who suffer from mental illness in their daily life.”

The survey can be easily accessed online at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZTZFH6P.