Welcome from the Director

Welcome to the web site of South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Health (SESIAHS) Mental Health Services.

This site contains information for the general public, young people, consumers, carers and mental health care providers.

One important purpose of the SESIAHS Mental Health web site is to provide information to people who have questions about their own mental health or the health of a family member or friend.

Mental disorders affect people of all ages. Research shows that one in five people in Australia will have a diagnosable mental disorder this year. Many more will experience mental distress that can diminish quality of life, impede academic achievement, disrupt productivity on the job and result in considerable distress for the person and their family. Although mental disorders are common and can be highly disabling, they also can be identified and diagnosed reliably, and treated with a high degree of effectiveness.

Scientific progress and an informed public are remarkably powerful means of combating the stigma that is so often and so unfairly attached to mental disorders. We seek to support the development of policies and initiatives that ensure a clear understanding of mental disorders and to afford all people who have these illnesses the opportunity to receive timely, appropriate, and effective treatments.

We hope you find our web site informative and helpful.
Please email us if you have any questions regarding information on this web site. We also encourage you to contact your local mental health service if you have questions regarding your own mental health or the health of a family member or friend.

Associate Professor Beth Kotze
Director
Mental Health Services,
South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service

More information about Mental Health Services.