Mental illness

Information for refugee and migrant men about mental health.

Mental illness affects how someone feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people. Not every mental health problem is a mental illness. Mental illnesses can affect anyone at any time. It does not reflect anything bad or shameful about the person experiencing the illness.

Different types of mental illnesses can range from manageable to very serious. People who have the same mental illness are affected differently and each person experiences a variation in the intensity of the illness. There are a range of symptoms that can go from mild to severe and can be experienced short-term or long-term. Remember that conditions can be episodic, which means that people go through phases where they feel good and other times when they’re not at their best.

If you experience a mental illness, you must seek help from a doctor or another health professional such as a psychologist or counsellor.