Glossary

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A

Advocate: Person given the power by consumers to speak on their behalf.

 

Affective disorders: Disorders that are characterised by disturbance in mood, such as extreme emotional highs or lows.

 

Anxiety: An unpleasant feeling of fear or apprehension accompanied by increased level of psychological arousal (eg heart rate, breathing).

 

Anxiety disorder: A disorder characterised by extreme sense of fear and worry with intense psychological sensations in situations where there is no real danger or threat. The sensations and intense fear are such that the individual is unable to function effectively in the feared situation.

 

Agoraphobia: Fear about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in which help may not be available if a panic attack occurs. Fears can include situations such as being outside the home alone; being in a crowd or standing in a line; being on a bridge; and travelling in a bus, train, or car.

 

Anorexia nervosa: A serious eating disorder whose core feature is self-induced weight loss by starvation, exercise and purging. Individuals experience a distorted body image and an intense fear of becoming fat even when severely underweight.

 

Assessment: The systematic and ongoing evaluation of information about a consumer to determine his or her diagnosis, needs and the desired outcome of care.

 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A disorder usually first diagnosed in childhood, AHDH symptoms include persistent inattentiveness, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity in a variety of settings. Children with ADHD often make careless mistakes in school, find it difficult to concentrate and are easily distracted. Behaviours include constant fidgeting, excessive talking and interruption and constantly being “on the go”.

 

Bipolar disorder: The more recent name given to “manic depressive” illness. It is characterised by the presence of a history of manic (or hypomanic) episodes usually alternated with depressive episodes although some individuals do not experience the depressed mood.

 

Bulimia nervosa: An eating disorder characterised by eating binges during which the person feels a loss of control and self-disgust. To compensate for the binges and to avoid weight gain, individuals use self-induced vomiting and/or the abuse of laxatives and fluid tablets.

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Carer: a person whose life is affected by a close relationship with a consumer, or who has chosen a caring role.

 

Chronic: Of long duration or recurring frequently, often with progressive seriousness.

 

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT): A short-term goal-oriented psychological treatment. CBT is guided by the principle that how we behave and feel is learned through experience and therefore may be changed or unlearned and that thought processes have a direct impact on behaviour. In CBT, the client is encouraged to examine their negative perceptions and interpretations of their experiences and taught problem-solving techniques.

 

Comorbidity: The co-occurrence of two or more disorders. Eg. Depressive disorder with anorexia.

 

Conduct Disorder: Any condition characterised by aggressive, destructive, deceitful and rule breaking behaviours as defined by standard psychiatric criteria.

 

Consumer/client: A person who has experienced mental illness and has received or been significantly affected by a mental health service.

 

Counsellor: At present, anyone in Australia can call himself or herself a counsellor, therapist or psychotherapist, although credentialing bodies and professional organisations exist to provide standards and education. A counsellor generally provides services to those who are having problems coping with everyday situations, events or relationships. A counsellor generally cannot diagnose mental illness or prescribe medication.

 

Dementia: A syndrome due to disease of the brain, usually of a chronic or progressive nature, in which there is a disturbance of multiple higher cortical functions, including memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language and judgement. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease, which involves the degeneration of neurons and their pathways.

 

Depressed mood: Feelings of great sadness that most of us experience at times throughout our lives.

 

Depressive disorder: Clinical term for a number of mood disorders characterised by deep and ongoing sadness and loss of pleasure; a collection of disturbances in emotional, behavioural and cognitive functioning that is defined by standard psychiatric diagnostic criteria.

 

Diagnosis: A decision based on the recognition of clinically relevant symptomatology, the consideration of causes that may exclude a diagnosis of another condition, and the application of clinical judgement.

 

Discharge: Refers to the time when a person who has attempted suicide leaves the hospital or mental health facility. Research shows that there is increased risk of suicide up to four weeks after discharge from a mental health facility.

 

Early Intervention: Interventions targeting people displaying the early signs and symptoms of a mental health problem or mental disorder. Early intervention also encompasses the early identification of people suffering from a first episode of a disorder.

 

Eating Disorder: Eating disorders occur when a person has a distorted body image affecting their self-confidence and personality. Anorexia nervosa is characterised by excessive and self-induced weight loss and bulimia nervosa involves eating binges alternated with self-induced vomiting and/or laxative abuse.

 

Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT) – A form of treatment for some mental health problems, rarely used today. Thought to be highly effective for severe depression, bipolar disorder or psychotic illness as a last resort where other treatments have not been effective. After the person is given a general anaesthetic and muscle relaxant, a carefully controlled electrical current is passed through their brain. For a fact sheet on ECT, visit the SANE website here.

Evidence-based Practice: A process through which professionals use the best available evidence integrated with professional expertise to make decisions regarding the care of an individual.

 

Hallucinations: The most common form of hallucination is hearing imaginary voices. Less common is seeing, tasting or smelling imaginary things that are very real to the person.

 

Hypomania: An episode of illness that resembles mania but is less intense and less disabling. The state is characterised by a euphoric mood, an unrealistic optimism, increased speech and activity, and a decreased need for sleep. For some, there is increased creativity, while others experience reduced judgement and functioning.

 

Incidence: The number of cases identified in a given period, usually a year, i.e. the number of people who die by suicide. Incident rate is usually expressed per 100 000 population.

 

Maintenance treatment: Treatment designed to prevent a recurrence of illness or maintain maximum health.

 

Mania/manic episode: An episode of illness characterised by feeling extremely high, energetic, and agitated, having less need for sleep and experiencing rapid speech and thought. Some people also experience hallucinations and delusions.

 

Mental disorder: A diagnosable illness that significantly interferes with an individual’s cognitive, emotional or social abilities. Often used interchangeably with the term ‘mental illness’.

 

Mental health: A holistic sense of wellbeing and the capacity within a social environment to interact in a way that promotes subjective wellbeing and optimal development to achieve individual and collective goals.

 

Mental health literacy: According to Jorm et al. (1997), “The ability to recognise specific disorders; knowing how to seek mental health information; knowledge of risk factors and causes, of self-treatments and of professional help available, and attitudes that promote recognition and appropriate help-seeking.” (p. 182).

 

Mental health problem: Reduced emotional, social or cognitive ability or wellbeing, but not to the extent that the criteria for a mental disorder are met; disruption in the interactions between the individual, the group and the environment producing a reduced state of mental health.

 

Mental health professional: A professionally trained person working specifically in mental health such as a social worker, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse or occupational therapist.

 

Mental health promotion: Activity to maximise mental health and wellbeing among populations and individuals.

 

Mental health service: A public or private service in which the primary role is to provide treatment, rehabilitation or community support for people affected by mental disorder or psychiatric disability.

 

Mental illness/disorder: A recognised, medically diagnosable illness that results in a significant impairment of an individual’s thinking and emotional abilities and may require intervention.

 

Morbidity: The relative frequency of illness or disorder, or illness rate, in a community or population.

 

Mortality: The relative frequency of death, or death rate, in a community or population.

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N

National Mental Health Strategy: Comprises the National Mental Health Policy and Plan adopted by Commonwealth, State and Territory Health Ministers in 1992 ad the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. The strategy commits all governments to improve the lives of people with a mental illness.

 

National Suicide Prevention Strategy: A $48 million whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach to suicide prevention, building on the National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy. The NSPS supports national suicide prevention activities across the lifespan, with a continuing focus on young people. Activities include education and training within communities, building networks between primary care providers such as general practitioners and community organisations, and initiatives that aim to address risk ad protective factors for suicide, including media activities and community development.

 

National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy: A $31 million coordinated approach to youth suicide prevention (which ended in June 1999) that involved all Australian governments, health professionals, carers, researchers and others. Funding was provided for rural youth counselling, enhanced telephone counselling, programs for parents, the education and training of professionals and for research activities.

 

O

Obsessive/compulsive disorder: A mental health disorder characterised by constant unwanted thoughts; often results in the performance of elaborate behaviours or rituals in an attempt to control or banish the persistent thoughts. For example, the person may continually return home to check that the oven is turned off.

 

Panic attacks: Episodes of overwhelming physical symptoms of anxiety and a fear of death or total loss of control. Extreme panic attacks can occur in situations that would not scare most people.

 

Phobia: Intense fear of specific objects/situations where there is no real danger. Phobias interfere significantly with the individual’s ability to function effectively in the feared situation.

 

Postnatal depression: A serious depressive disorder that affects about one in eight women after the birth of a baby and involves mood changes, appetite and sleep disturbance, feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and guilt, and loss of concentration and memory.

 

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): A disorder experienced by many people who have been through a major trauma such as war, torture, motor accidents, fires or violence. A person with PTSD may continue to feel terror long after the event has occurred. They may experience nightmares or flashbacks for many years.

 

Prevalence: The proportion of the population with a particular disease/disorder.

 

Prevention: Any intervention that occurs before the onset of a disorder. This includes universal intervention (general public or whole population), selective intervention (targeted to a population sub-group with an above average risk of developing a mental disorder) and indicated intervention (targeted to high-risk individuals).

 

Primary Care: Services provided in the community by generalist providers who are not specialists in a particular area of health intervention, such as GPs, Indigenous health workers, pharmacists and community health workers. Tertiary services involve specialist care and include emergency services, hospital wards, youth health and mental health services.

 

Protective factors: Refers to a range of factors that appear to have the capacity to protect individuals who might otherwise be at risk of suicide.

 

Psychiatric disability: Loss or deficit in a person’s day-to-day functioning that is the result of currently or previously having a mental disorder. The level of psychiatric disability may be minimal or nonexistent if the disorder is well managed or if the individual has fully recovered.

 

Psychiatrist: A medical practitioner with specialist training in psychiatry.

 

Psychologist: An allied health professional with specialist training in psychology holding registration with the relevant state registration body.

 

Psychosis/psychotic episode: A period of mental illness when the person loses contact with reality. The ability to make sense of thoughts, feelings and external information is seriously affected.

 

Psychopathy: A term often used interchangeably with Antisocial Personality Disorder, psychopathy generally refers to a number of personality characteristics such as serious deficits in social ability, lack of guilt, remorse or empathy, inability to control behaviour, pathological lying and other serious behavioural problems that impact a person’s ability to function in everyday life and society.

Psychotherapy:  Refers to a form of counselling offered by a trained mental health professional. Treatment is available for a number of mental health problems including depression, anxiety and phobias. Psychotherapy can occur one-on-one or in groups. Forms of psychotherapy include behaviour therapy, cognitive therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, narrative therapy and family therapy. For a fact sheet on psychotherapy, visit the Reach Out! Website here.

 Q, R

Resilience: Capacities within a person that promote positive outcomes, such as mental health and wellbeing, and provide protection from factors that might otherwise place that person at risk of adverse health outcomes. Factors that contribute to resilience include personal coping skills and strategies for dealing with adversity, such as problem solving, good communication and social skills, optimistic thinking, and help-seeking.

 

Risk factors: According to Mrazek and Haggerty (1994), “Those characteristics, variables, or hazards that, if present for a given individual, make it more likely that this individual, rather than someone selected at random from the general population, will develop a disorder” (p.127).

 

Risk-taking behaviours: Behaviours in which there is some risk of immediate or later self-harm. Risk-taking behaviours might include activities such as dangerous driving, train surfing, and self-harming substance use.

 

Schizophrenia: A mental illness that affects one in 100. It interferes with a person’s mental functioning and, over the long term, may cause personality changes. The first onset is usually in adolescence or early adulthood.

 

Self-harm: This includes the various methods by which individuals harm themselves, such as self-laceration, self-battering, take overdoses, or deliberate recklessness. Recent research suggests that self-harm is more common than attempted suicide and is a serious youth health problem.

 

Social phobia / social anxiety: Fear that others will judge everything one does or says in a negative way. People may believe they are permanently flawed and worthless if any sign of poor performance is detected.

 

Somatic Complaints: Chronic physical complaints without known cause or a medically verified basis.

 

Stigma: A mark of shame or disapproval; of being shunned. Stigma emerges when people feel uneasy or too embarrassed to talk about behaviour they perceive as different. Some degree of stigma is associated with all mental illness but is particularly strong when the illness results in unusual behaviour. Stigma can create a wall of silence that is damaging to the person, the community, his or her family and friends.

 

Substance Dependence: The misuse of a drug accompanied by a physiological dependence, made evident by tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.

 

Substance Abuse: Substance use to an extent that a person is often intoxicated throughout the day and fails in important obligation and attempts to abstain, but where there is not necessarily physical dependence.

 

Substance Use Disorders: Disorders in which drugs are used to an extent that behaviour becomes maladaptive; social and occupational functioning is impaired; and control or abstinence becomes impossible. Reliance on the drug may be psychological, as in substance abuse, or physiological, as in substance dependence.

 

Suicidal behaviours: A broad term that describes the many types of non-accidental self-harm including suicide attempt.

 

Suicide: A conscious and deliberate act to end one’s life. By conscious act, it is meant that the act was done to end the person’s life.

 

Suicide ideation: A pattern of thoughts about suicide.

 

Support: Support may refer to ongoing care by professionals as part of a therapeutic process or it may refer to support provided by anyone in the community.

 

Substance use disorders: Disorders in which drugs are used to an extent that behaviour becomes maladaptive; social and occupational functioning is impaired, and control or abstinence becomes impossible. Reliance on the drug may be psychological, as in substance misuse, or psychological, an in substance dependence.

 

Symptom: An observable physiological or psychological manifestation of a disorder or disease, often occurring in a group to constitute a syndrome.

 

Treatment: An intervention (either medication or therapy) by a recognised health professional such as a psychiatrist, general practitioner or other doctor, nurse, psychologist, occupational therapist, social worker or other professional mental health worker.

 

Werther effect: A term drawn from literature to describe the copycat effect after media reporting of suicide. Relates to the story ‘The Trials of Young Werther’ by Johan Wolfgang von Goethe.