Mental Health Matters!
Why does mental health matter so much?
Because it influences everything. How we think,feel, interact with others, and the choices we make every day. Good mental health enhances our ability to cope better with stress, overcome challenges, build stronger relationships, and build our resilience. None of which can be overrated.
Mental health is influenced by biological, psychological, social and environmental factors, all of which interact.
Structural factors - a safe living environment, employment, access to education, freedom from discrimination and violence, and access to economic resources.
Community factors - a positive sense of belonging, community connectedness, activities to highlight and embrace diversity, social support, and participation in society
Individual factors - the ability to manage thoughts and cope with stressors and having communication and social skills to support connection with others.
Tips for mental health and wellbeing
Even achieving one of these can make a huge difference; every day is one step at a time.
Get enough sleep and rest. Often easier said than done, but starting with a routine, same - same every night, can really help.
Take time out for things you enjoy. This doesn’t mean finding an extra 20 hours in a week. Start small and build up, 30 minutes a couple of times a week to do what you like. Stop saying no to social events; you don’t have to stay long, just show up, stay a while and leave if that’s all you have in you.
Be active and eat well. We know it, we are what we eat, yup, yup, yup! And exercises can look like a lot if different things, every step counts.
Nurture relationships and connect with others. Our connection to others is what builds us up and keeps us strong; we all need to “people” occasionally!
Learn to manage stress. Okay, I know what you are thinking, “learn to manage stress”, sure it’s that simple, not! We can all find that one thing that can release us. For me, it was saying, as I lay in bed not being able to sleep because I was so stressed, “There is literally nothing I can do about that right now, definitely a tomorrow thing.” It took a few weeks for my brain to rewire to this thinking, but it did, and now it’s my go-to. Find your go-to and stick with it.
Get involved. Push past the “I’m not interested in this” thinking and step outside your comfort zone. Try saying yes and not cancelling, and it will get easier with practice.
Build your confidence. Learning improves your mental fitness, and taking on a new challenge builds confidence and gives you a sense of achievement. What floats your boat? It really doesn’t have to be something huge. Or teach someone something, equally as rewarding.
Be comfortable in your own skin. Do you! You are enough!
Set realistic goals and deal with tasks one at a time. It is good to be specific when you set a goal to help keep you on track
Reach out for help when you need it. Everyone needs support from time to time. Talking to a family member, a friend, your doctor, even online platforms offer some amazing support.
Excerpt from: https://everymind.org.au/understanding-mental-health/mental-health/understanding-mental-health-and-wellbeing
Asking for help can be hard, but also life-changing.
The following link is a directory of agencies that can help you in times of need.