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The word 'recovery' can mean different things to different people.
Taken literally the Macquarie Dictionary says it's 'to regain a former (and better) state or condition'. But in the world of mental health recovery is more nuanced than this.
So to find out what recovery really means, we asked people living with mental illness what the word meant to them.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is a term bandied around a lot these days – ‘that’s so OCD’ or ‘when it comes to cleanliness I’m so OCD’ - but do we really know what it means?
There's far more to borderline personality disorder (BPD) than the stereotypes, myths and misunderstandings that often exist.
People who live with BPD are ordinary people. People who are overcoming challenging symptoms, as well as stigma and discrimination.
So, to raise awareness and reduce stigma we asked the community what they wanted to know about BPD. These questions have been answered by people who live with BPD and the SANE Help Centre.
Every relationship has its ups and downs, but when one partner is diagnosed with a mental illness, it can add an extra pressure. When your carer is also your spouse, it is important for both partners to look after themselves and each other. Todd and Natalie have worked together to manage Todd's mental illness since he was first diagnosed six years ago.
When people think of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), soldiers with traumatic experiences of war and people who have lived through disasters often come to mind.
However, trauma can arise from a variety of situations, such as neglect, abuse, domestic violence or abandonment by the primary caregiver.
Are you currently going through a time of change? A new job, starting university, getting married, buying a house, or living away from home for the first time?
This change may be obvious, subtle, unwanted or well-planned.
It's possible that you're experiencing stress regardless of whether it's a negative or positive change. Just how much stress depends on how you react to it.
When it comes to asking the important question 'are you okay?' fear can get in the way.
Fear of the response. Fear of our inexperience on the topic of mental health. Fear of appearing to be a stickybeak.
But these concerns don't recognise the relief many people feel after they hear the question.
It takes courage to ask simply and directly, ‘are you okay?’, if concerned about someone's mental health.
What if they’re actually fine? Will they be offended? And what do you do if they aren’t okay?
These are common concerns people have when it comes to asking a friend, colleague or loved one ‘are you okay?’. So it’s tempting to frame the question in a way that encourages a positive response, ‘you’re okay, aren’t you?’
For people who are socially isolated, online forums and support services can be a great way to encourage tangible changes in daily life. Often, making friends online can be a stepping stone to reaching out and making friends in the offline world.
I'm an artist, speaker, writer, teacher, wife, mum and founder of The Heartworks Creative.
I use every one of my bipolar brain cells, experiences and talents to assist and empower others on their own personal mental health recovery journey.