Can you see mental illness?

It’s often said that you can see physical illness but you can’t see mental illness. But while you can’t see the cause of mental illness you can see the signs that someone is suffering.

Kim spoke to Bill Woods on 2GB during Mental Health Month (October). “Look for social withdrawal, poor concentration, prolonged sadness, changes in mood, behaviour, and mannerisms. Ask yourself, how does this person behave when they’re happy, compared to how they’re behaving now? Start the conversation. If you’re not sure how, the best advice is to be direct. Mental health conversations don’t need to be subtle. And don’t worry if you don’t have a solution, it’s more about trying to understand what they’re experiencing, listening without judgement, and making sure they know they’re not alone.”