Mental illness: New study reveals misconception [Video]

It’s possible for people with a mental illness to have as good a wellbeing as those who are deemed “mentally healthy”. These were among the findings of a new study, published on Thursday in Frontiers in Psychiatry. The researchers also validated an effective measure of mental wellbeing in adolescents.

Early in her research career, Associate Professor Justine Gatt, lead author of the study, focused on understanding anxiety and depression. She started to wonder why some people coped better with life’s adversities.

However, there was little research being done in the area. People who visit a GP are assessed for psychological distress and, if they reach a certain threshold, are referred on. For everyone else, she says, “There’s this assumption that if you …