Download Mental health conditions.

Adviser information
Medical Fact Sheet
Mental health conditions.
Depression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental
health disorders experienced by Australians. It is predicted
that depression will be one of the world’s largest health
problems by 2020.1
What is mental health?
Risk factors
Mental health refers to a person’s emotional and psychological
well-being. It influences a person’s ability to cope with everyday
life, relate to others and achieve their potential. Broadly speaking,
there are two groups of mental health disorders.
Common risk factors for mental health disorders include:
•family history
•social isolation
•economic disadvantage
Neurosis
•traumatic life experiences (e.g. homelessness, incarceration)
•lack of physical activity
In the case of neurosis, the individual has a clear insight into his
or her symptoms. They realise that their behaviour is abnormal.
•obesity
Examples of a neurosis include:
•substance abuse.
•smoking
•anxiety
•most cases of depression
•some mood swings passing from elation to depression
(known as ‘bipolar disorder’)
Symptoms
Symptoms of mental health disorders include:
•dependency on alcohol
•sadness
•addiction to gambling.
•confusion
•excessive fear or worry
Psychosis
In the case of psychosis, the individual has no insight into
his or her symptoms. They do not realise that their behaviour
is abnormal.
Examples of a psychosis include paranoia, schizophrenia, severe
bipolar disorder, advanced alcoholism, and acute phases of
drug usage.
Mental health conditions present with varying degrees of severity
and disability. On average, however, symptoms should have been
persistent and present for several weeks.
Unsurprisingly, pain and depression are closely related.
Depression can cause physical symptoms such as unexplained
back pain or headaches and also exacerbate a person’s response
to pain. Conversely, chronic pain is stressful and depressing in
itself; pain and depression can create a vicious cycle.
1 http://www.mentalhealthvic.org.au/index.php?id=132 viewed 15 February 2012
•withdrawal from friends and family
•difficulty sleeping
•delusions or hallucinations
•inability to cope with day-to-day life
•alcohol or drug abuse
•increase or loss of appetite
•changes to sex drive
•excessive anger, hostility or violence
•suicidal thoughts.
Diagnosis
A general practitioner or mental health professional can
conduct a complete diagnostic evaluation.
They will obtain a complete history of the symptoms, including:
•when symptoms started
•any known triggers (such as bereavement or another
medical condition)
•the duration and severity of symptoms
•any previous episodes and, if so, how they were treated
•any family history of depression
Whatever treatment is chosen, it is imperative it be continued
for the optimal period of time. Compliance is an important
prognostic indicator; those who are non-compliant with treatment
are more likely to have a relapse or recurrence and are at a greater
risk of suicide.
Some people will require treatment for life due to the high risk
of recurrence.
The prognosis for anxiety disorders, major depression and
psychosis can also be improved by early detection and
intervention. Many people who receive appropriate treatment
recover well or even completely.
•whether the individual is using alcohol or drugs
•whether the individual has thoughts of death or suicide.
Effect on health
Common side effects of mental health conditions include:
•chronic fatigue
•sleep disturbance
•mood disorders
•feelings of hopelessness
•loss of concentration and decision making ability
•irritability and loss of temper
•lethargy and lack of motivation
•social withdrawal
•suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide.
Treatment
Not all people with a disturbance of mental health seek treatment.
In any 12 month period, around two thirds of people with a mental
health disorder do not receive any treatment .
Of those who seek help for neurosis, 75 – 90% is usually treated by
a general practitioner. Meanwhile, individuals with a psychosis are
almost always treated by a psychiatrist.2
2 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Latestproducts/4326.0Main%20
Features32007?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=
4326.0&issue=2007&num=&view= Viewed 15 February 2012
Underwriting mental health conditions
Underwriting mental health conditions can be challenging due
to their complexity, particularly when applying for disability
benefits such as TPD and Income Protection. Consideration needs
to be given to the impact of the occupation on the condition and
whether the occupation itself is likely to affect the prognosis.
Mental health exclusions may be applied to disability benefits
even where the life insured has completely recovered from
depressive illness. This is because 30 – 50% of people who initially
recover after treatment experience a relapse in the short term
when maintenance treatments are not used.
Moreover, once a second episode occurs, the risk of a third episode
is 75%. Following this, the risk of a fourth episode approaches 90%.
Accelerated Protection for mental
health conditions
TAL’s Accelerated Protection Income Protection and TPD
insurance covers the effects of mental health conditions.
Accelerated Protection Income Protection insurance offers two
plans; Standard and Premier. Generally, under Income Protection
insurance, your client can claim if the effects of their mental health
condition results in their inability to work.
For full details, please refer to the Accelerated Protection Product
Disclosure Statement and the Policy Document.
For more information:
TAL’s Adviser Service Centre on 1300 286 937
Monday to Friday 8am – 7pm AEST
[email protected]
www.tal.com.au
Important Information: This information has been prepared for use by advisers only and is not intended to be provided to clients. Before making any decision about the products, advisers and their clients
should consider the Accelerated Protection or Accelerated Protection for Investment Platforms Product Disclosure Statements and/or Policy Documents. If there is any inconsistency between this document
and the Product Disclosure Statement or Policy Document, the terms of the Policy Document will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency. Current as at: July 2013.
This document is issued by TAL Life Limited ABN 70 050 109 450 AFSL 237 848 (TAL).
TALR0924/0713