2010 Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry
Wed Feb 10 2010stay on top: mental health
That 2010 Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry, is a psychiatrist - and leading international researcher, clinician and advocate for youth mental health reform - highlights growing recognition of, and concern for, issues related to mental health.
Professor McGorry is Executive Director of Orygen Youth Health and the National Mental Health Foundation, and his work has put Australia at the forefront of innovation in theprevention and treatment of mental illness.
McGorry believes early intervention offers the greatest hope for recovery although, unfortunately, sufferers rarely contact a mental health professional at the onset of ill health. McGorry's work is therefore focused on educating the community to recognise the early signs of mental illness, without stigmatising or discriminating.
Yet as he points out, mental health issues are pervasive.During recent interviews, he repeatedly made mention of his belief that 50% of Australians will develop a mental disorder at some point during their lives.
McGorry's concerns illustrates that whilst some groups in the community are more at risk than others, mental healthissues really do affect us all - be it ourselves, a family member, a colleague or a friend at risk.
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