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A mental disorder, also called a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitting, or occur as a single episode. Many disorders have been described, with signs and symptoms that vary widely between specific disorders. Such disorders may be diagnosed by a mental health professional.
The causes of mental disorders are often unclear. Theories may incorporate findings from a range of fields. Mental disorders are usually defined by a combination of how a person behaves, feels, perceives, or thinks. This may be associated with particular regions or functions of the brain, often in a social context. A mental disorder is one aspect of mental health. Cultural and religious beliefs, as well as social norms, should be taken into account when making a diagnosis.Services are based in psychiatric hospitals or in the community, and assessments are carried out by mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers, using various methods such as psychometric tests but often relying on observation and questioning. Treatments are provided by various mental health professionals. Psychotherapy and psychiatric medication are two major treatment options. Other treatments include lifestyle changes, social interventions, peer support, and self-help. In a minority of cases, there might be involuntary detention or treatment. Prevention programs have been shown to reduce depression.Common mental disorders include depression, which affects about 300 million, bipolar disorder, which affects about 60 million, dementia, which affects about 50 million, and schizophrenia and other psychoses, which affects about 23 million people globally. Stigma and discrimination can add to the suffering and disability associated with mental disorders, leading to various social movements attempting to increase understanding and challenge social exclusion.

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    SA Assault at young age leading to lack of any relationships, mental health issues, no qualifications, suicide attempts, affected quality of life

    I was assaulted multiple times between the ages of 5-teens, sexually assaulted by a boy of my age at an age I was unable to know the repercussions of his actions. I had no friends at school until he was away from me, I spent each weekend at his farm and 5nights a week playing sport with him, I...
  2. S

    VIC mental health act history

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  3. T

    Can mental illness be a defence to a Defamation action?

    Hi people. Firstly; thanks very much for taking the time to answer questions on this forum and for giving your opinions to these questions. It's incredibly helpful to all I'm sure. My question is in regards to this. I'm about to bring a civil case of defamation against a person who has falsely...
  4. P

    NSW Lie about husband mental health

    Hi, I rang lifeline lie to them that my husband was about to hang himself, so they sent help, but I didn't expect the policemen. I thought only emergency service or ambulance would come. The police and 000 came and took my husband to assess him under mental health act. My husband refuse to give...
  5. W

    VIC Claiming compensation due to psychological harm under mental health care.

    Hello everyone, I was wondering whether or not compensation could be made here. I was under the care of a mental health professional a year ago now, and she did not undertake the appropriate training due to the negligence of the organisation she works for, which consequently lead to me...
  6. W

    VIC Misleading and Deceptive Conduct? - Mental health SIL rent

    Hey, I live in a facility called a SIL (Supported Independent Living) for mental health reasons, run by a mental health service. When I moved in, I was told that rent was %30 of my gross income, stated as fact. I never got a copy of what I had signed until recently when I asked, because I had...
  7. kingofmeereen

    QLD Does an employer owe a duty of care that their employee is mentally healthy?

    Like for example, a paramedic or a police are expected to witness very brutal scenes. Do their employers owe them a duty of care in ensuring they are still mentally healthy and if not and they do suffer some form of psychiatric injury, will they be entitled to sue their employer for compensation?
  8. A

    NSW Ex partner not letting me see my son

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