Most mental illnesses begin in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, with over half starting by age 14 and three-quarters by age 24, making these critical years for intervention, though conditions like ADHD can start even earlier, and depression/anxiety peak in the teens and early twenties, especially for females.
20% of adolescents may experience a mental health problem in any given year. 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14 and 75% by age 24.
TAC's definition of severe mental illness includes schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, bipolar I disorder, and major depression with psychotic features. These disorders often include psychosis as a component.
Stress, anxiety and feeling down can affect anyone, and happens to a lot of us at some point in our lives. Over 75% of mental health issues occur before the age of 25, while suicide continues to cause the largest loss of life of young people in Australia.
Common signs and symptoms include:
Starting in your 60s, you may notice normal cognitive aging when your brain's processing speed slows down. You may not readily recall the name of a childhood friend or forget where you parked the car.
Five key warning signs of mental illness include significant mood changes (extreme highs/lows, persistent sadness), withdrawal from friends/activities, major changes in sleep or eating habits, difficulty coping with daily problems or stress, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide, alongside other indicators like substance abuse, confusion, or changes in hygiene. These signs often represent a noticeable shift in behavior, functioning, and emotional state that impacts daily life.
One in five Australian adults experience a mental illness every year. About 45 per cent of Australian adults will be affected by mental illness at some time in their life. Anxiety, mood disorders (such as depression) and substance use disorders are the most common mental illnesses experienced by Australian adults.
Younger people are more likely to have some form of anxiety:
In 2021, those aged 16 to 29 years were most likely to have some form of anxiety (28% likely) This decreased steadily through the age groups, and the least likely group was those aged 70 and over (5% likely)
A simple framework to intuitively understand what may constitute a mental illness is the 5Ds. Deviation, Duration, Distress, Dysfunction, and Danger.
Out of all the mental disorders including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, which do you think is the deadliest? A review of nearly fifty years of research confirms that Anorexia Nervosa has the highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses (Arcelus, Mitchel, Wales, & Nelson, 2011).
If the mentally ill person poses a threat to your safety, you should consider cutting ties with them, as a relationship with a history of abuse can jeopardize your well-being. Physical abuse should never be present in a healthy relationship with your spouse or siblings.
Depression is one of the most treatable mental health conditions. Approximately 80% to 90% of people with depression who seek treatment eventually respond well to treatment. Treatment options include: Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (talk therapy) involves talking with a mental health professional.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): One of the most common mental disorders, GAD is characterized by excessive worry about issues and situations that individuals experience every day. Any worrying that is out of proportion to the reality of the situation may fall under this disorder.
Psychosis often begins in young adulthood when a person is in their late teens to mid-20s. However, people can experience a psychotic episode at younger and older ages and as a part of many disorders and illnesses. For instance, older adults with neurological disorders may be at higher risk for psychosis.
Life stressors such as divorce or trauma may add to the situation and cause a breakdown. Other factors that may affect mental health and cause a nervous breakdown are: lack of social support. slow build-up of stress.
The observed age pattern for daily stress was remarkably strong: stress was relatively high from age 20 through 50, followed by a precipitous decline through age 70 and beyond.
The #1 worst habit for anxiety isn't singular, but avoidance (procrastination), poor sleep, and negative thought patterns (like catastrophizing) are top contenders, creating vicious cycles where anxiety fuels these behaviors, and the behaviors, in turn, worsen anxiety by preventing healthy coping and creating more stress. Other significant habits include excessive caffeine, poor diet, too much screen time, and social withdrawal, all disrupting the body's ability to manage stress effectively.
Panic disorder is twice as common in women as it is in men. Symptoms often begin before age 25 but may first occur in the mid-30s. Children can also have panic disorder, but it is often not diagnosed until they are older.
The 5 C's of Mental Health provide a framework for well-being, often cited as Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring, focusing on feeling capable, believing in oneself, nurturing relationships, living by values, and showing empathy. While some variations exist, like adding Compassion, Coping, or Community, the core idea is building resilience through personal growth and strong relationships, helping individuals manage challenges and thrive.
Regular exercise may improve depression or anxiety symptoms enough to make a big difference. That big difference can help kick-start further improvements. The mental health benefits of exercise and physical activity may last only if you stick with them over the long term.
Symptoms
The first stage of a mental breakdown, often starting subtly, involves feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and increasingly anxious or irritable, coupled with difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep/appetite, and withdrawing from activities or people that once brought joy, all stemming from intense stress that becomes too much to handle.
Nervousness — Fear or suspiciousness of others or a strong nervous feeling. Unusual behavior — Odd, uncharacteristic, peculiar behavior. Changes in school or work — Increased absenteeism, worsening performance, difficulties in relationships with peers and co-workers.