In contrast, a mental health condition is something that can impact negatively on our day-to-day existence and can destroy relationships, careers and physical health, and even lead to premature death in its severest form.

Yet, this is a somewhat simplified definition, because mental health conditions can manifest in many different ways and occur at fluctuating levels of acuity. In fact, most of us will experience a mental health issue of some kind at least once during our lives.

A mental health issue becomes a problem when it starts to adversely affect our everyday lives. And if it starts to feel as if nothing can make it go away, then it might be considered to be a mental illness.

Mental Health Conditions

There are several commonly experienced mental health conditions including:

• Depression – feelings of hopelessness and low self-worth, despondency, dejection, apathy, guilt, and often suicidal thoughts.
• Anxiety – abnormal feelings of unease, apprehension and fear, often accompanied by panic attacks and insomnia.
• Drug addiction – the use of substances as a way of coping that leads to addiction and becomes both unhealthy and life threatening.
• Alcohol addiction – the use of alcohol as a way of coping. Can be accompanied by depression, anxiety, guilt, infidelity, weight gain, liver toxicity, and relationship breakdown.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or Trauma– anxiety triggered by a traumatic event causing extreme fear, shock or helplessness.

Symptoms of Mental Health Conditions

Some of the general symptoms that indicate that your mental well-being needs attention can include:

• A tendency to worry more than usual
• A lack of interest in activities you previously found enjoyable
• A feeling of constant irritability
• Sleep conditions (either insomnia or sleeping more than usual)
• Crying spontaneously for no particular reason
• An unwavering feeling of sadness or hopelessness
• A lack of motivation
• An inability to concentrate
• Changes to eating habits (eating more or less than usual)
• Struggling with normal tasks such as work, study or daily tasks
• Use of alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism
• Difficulty participating in everyday activities
• Isolating yourself from friends and family

While none of these symptoms necessarily indicates a mental health issue, if you experience any of them over a prolonged period or in conjunction with other symptoms, it might be a good idea to talk to someone about them, such as your GP.

Potential causes of mental health conditions

Mental health professionals have long debated the cause of mental illness, but the common consensus these days is that mental health conditions are most likely caused by one or more of the following influences:

• Psychological factors – how we feel about ourselves (i.e. low self-esteem or body image).
• Substance abuse factors – overuse or misuse of drugs or alcohol.
• Experiential factors – traumatic life events such as neglect, abuse, severe stress or the loss of a loved one.
• Biological factors – genetics (a family history of mental illness) or hormonal imbalances (hypothyroidism, menopause, postpartum depression etc).

Treatment for Mental Health Conditions

One treatment approach for mental health conditions are psychological treatments and the effectiveness of each depends on the type and severity of the illness.

Psychological treatments

These are particularly useful in the treatment of disorders such as depression and anxiety and include:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

This therapy aims at redirecting a patient’s thoughts and feelings away from unhelpful patterns into positive new ways of thinking and acting, often involving the completion of tasks outside the therapy sessions.

• Interpersonal Psychotherapy

This approach aims at improving a patient’s relationships with others through self-examination of their own thoughts and behaviours.

Palladium Private Treatment

At Palladium Private, our program is designed exclusively for those suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD and/or alcohol/drug dependency.

The Palladium Private Program is a full immersion program where we limit the distractions of the outside world and help you to understand the core thinking behind your symptoms.

Treatment takes a holistic approach involving a combination of three daily components: mental/emotional therapy, physical/flexibility, and relaxation/detoxification.

Our psychologists draw from a wealth of experience and a range of cognitive, emotional and behavioural therapies to suit the individual client. Evidenced-based Therapies may include CBT, DBT, REBT, Schema Therapy, Gestalt, ACT, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Emotion Focused Therapy, EMDR, Neuropsychotherapy, Brief Solution Focussed Therapy, Sensorimotor Therapy, Art Therapy, and Expressive therapies.

This focus on both mind and body to achieve total health takes place during a residential stay of two to five weeks in tranquil surrounds, where you are supported by experienced people who are dedicated to you achieving a long lasting positive change to your mental state. Your team includes psychologists, counsellors, support hosts, personal trainers, massage therapists, mindfulness trainers, yogi’s and chefs.

To take the first step to a better life for you or a loved one, just make the call to one of our admission team who can listen and then tailor a program to suit your needs. Or if you prefer, then fill in your details in our online enquiry form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Call Palladium Private on 1300 573 095.