Three guests will speak at the forums, which have been organised by the Mental Health Association NSW. Attendees will be able to discover what helps recovery and what services are available in their areas.

Dr Rocco Crino, and associate professor of clinical psychology at Charles Sturt University will give an overview of anxiety conditions including obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, panic attacks, agoraphobia, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and generalised anxiety disorder.

Julie Leitch will speak about her experience living with and her treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder and Shauna Docherty will speak about her experience as a carer.

"People experiencing high levels of anxiety often feel very alone or different, but the fact is almost one in five Australians will experience a mental illness in a 12-month period," Mental Health Association NSW CEO Elizabeth Priestley said.

She said anxiety disorders affected many people, and some found it hard to do simple things like socialise, visit crowded places or look out of high windows, and all of that could be very disruptive to their personal lives.

The forum will take place on Monday, June 23 at 6.30pm at the Dubbo RSL and Gilgandra Services Club on Tuesday, June 24 from 9.30am.