| type="text/javascript"> | | | | movies people have seen about insane asylums and |
| Mental illness is much more common in Australia then | | | | mental hospitals come flooding back. |
| people realize. Gone are the days of asylums and | | | | Fortunately, the Australian mental health system is |
| sufferers are usually treated as out-patients, living at | | | | very good. There are many websites and |
| home and simply visiting their doctor, psychiatrist or | | | | organizations that provide help and support. Medicare |
| psychologist as necessary. With sufferers being out of | | | | rebates make counselling affordable and the PBS |
| sight and out of mind, the huge number of cases is | | | | system means medication is subsidised and relatively |
| invisible to the general public. | | | | cheap. Doctors can refer patients to psychiatrists and |
| In some respects this has actually increased the | | | | psychologists for an initial six week period and a |
| stigma associated with mental illness. When a family | | | | further six weeks can be approved if required. The |
| member or work colleague is diagnosed with a mental | | | | patient then only has to pay the Gap fee. Often major |
| health problem, they are often seen as someone | | | | hospitals even have a free mental health clinic. |
| strange, to be feared and avoided. Memories of | | | | |