Frequently Asked Questions

The 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, has found that one in five of Australian adults had a mental disorder in the previous 12 months and that almost half the total Australian population would experience a mental disorder at some time in their lives.

Please contact a complaints commission within the state that the service operates.

Mental illness is a general term for a group of illnesses that affect the mind or brain. These illnesses, which include bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety and personality disorders, affect the way a person thinks, feels and acts. The exact cause of mental illness is unknown. What is known is that mental illness is NOT a character fault, weakness or something inherently ‘wrong’ with a person. It is an illness like any other.

The Commonwealth plays a leadership role in mental health policy-making, research and funding issues. The states and territories deliver public acute and psychiatric hospital services as well as a wide range of community and public mental health services. Non-government organisations also play a role providing a range of community-based mental health support services.