Your Mental Health
YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
As October the 10th marks the World Mental Health Day, we thought that it may be a good opportunity to reflect on what good mental health can mean and the various types of mental illness.
Good mental health is a sense of wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem. Good mental health enables us to fully enjoy and appreciate other people, day-to-day life and our environment.
Having this sense of mental wellbeing enables us to:
Form positive relationships
Use our abilities to reach our potential
Deal with life’s challenges
A mental illness is a health problem that significantly affects how a person thinks, behaves and interacts with other people; and it is diagnosed according to a standardised criteria.
1 in 5 Australians will suffer from a mental illness in any given year
There are different types of mental illness with various degrees of severity. Some of the major types are:
Anxiety
Depression
Eating disorders
Bipolar mood disorders
Personality disorders
Schizophrenia
A mental health problem also affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves, but to a lesser extent than a mental illness.
Mental illness results from complex interactions between the mind, body and environment. Factors which can contribute to mental illness are:
Long-term and acute stress
Biological factors such as genetics, chemistry and hormones
Use of alcohol, drugs and other substances
Cognitive patterns such as constant negative thoughts and low self-esteem
Social factors such as isolation, financial problems, family breakdown or violence
How can we improve our mental health?
Talk about or express your feelings
Exercise regularly
Eat healthy meals
Get enough sleep
Spend time with friends and loved ones
Develop new skills
Relax and enjoy your hobbies
Set realistic goals
Talk to your healthcare professional
A lot of the factors contributing to mental illness can be minimised by a strong and supportive community environment.
Below we have listed some links to local assistance in the area; as well as 24 hour service lines, if you need someone to talk to:
Headspace Albury Wodonga:
https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/albury-wodonga/
(02) 6055 9555
YES – Youth & Family Services Albury:
https://yesalbury.wordpress.com/
1800 885 355
Beyond Blue:
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
1300 224 636
Lifeline:
https://www.lifeline.org.au/Home
13 11 14
Men’s Line Australia
https://www.mensline.org.au/
1300 789 978
