HAT DAY FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Posted by Gordon Curran 
 
Hat Day is an annual fund-raising project directed at supporting research into the maintenance of mental health and the prevention and treatment of mental illness. Australian Rotary Health began in 1981 when Ian Scott from the Rotary Club of Mornington, Victoria, proposed the establishment of a charitable fund, and to raise a minimum of $2 million for research into cot deaths. The funded research resulted in a massive reduction in cot deaths Australia wide. The scope of funded research subsequently expanded into four key areas, Mental Health, General Health, Indigenous Health Scholarships and Rural Medical and Nursing Scholarships.
 
Tuesday night’s activities and next week’s guest presentation focus on mental health.
 
  • In each year, approximately one in every five Australians will experience a mental illness.
  • Mental illnesses are the third leading cause of disability in Australia.
  • About 4% of people will experience a major depressive episode in a 12-month period.
  • Approximately 14 % of Australians will be affected by an anxiety disorder in any 12-month period.
  • About 3% of Australians are affected by psychotic illness; such as schizophrenia, where there is a loss of contact with reality during episodes of illness.
  • 14 per cent of Australian children and adolescents aged 4-17 have mental health or behavioural problems.
  • 12 per cent of 13-17 year olds report having thought about suicide, while 4.2% actually make a suicide attempt.
  • Girls have higher rates of suicidal thoughts than males. Teen boys are more likely to complete an act of suicide.
 
Even among young people with the most severe mental health problems, only 50% receive professional help. Parents report that help is too expensive or they didn’t know where to get it, and try to manage on their own.
 
Mental illness is not a life sentence. Most people will recover fully, especially if they receive help early. Some people may require ongoing treatment to manage their illness. 
Some people have only one episode of mental illness and recover fully. For others, mental illness occurs only occasionally with years of wellness between episodes.
For a minority of those with a more severe illness, periods of acute illness may occur more regularly and, without medication and effective management, life becomes extremely problematic
 
Each year, Australian Rotary Health provides around $350,000-$400,000 to support a total of 15 new and continuing mental health research scholars. Our club contributes around $1,000 each year towards this work. Studies supported include many areas of mental health including new treatments for schizophrenia, the impacts of prenatal alcohol and drug exposure on infant brain development, treating depression among low vision adults, and testing dietary improvement as an effective treatment for mental health.
 
Next week club members will hear of the psychiatric services provided in our region by South West Health Care.