Look after your mental health, Maroondah
Published on 10 October 2023
Council is encouraging residents to look after their mental health as we recognise World Mental Health Day on Tuesday 10 October.
World Mental Health Day is an international day that has been recognised since 1992 and is a time to raise awareness and support of mental health around the world.
This year Mental Health Australia’s message is simple: “Look after your mental health, Australia.”
It’s worthwhile building a tool kit of mental health and wellbeing strategies to help with the day-to-day stresses and challenges of life.
Like physical fitness, you can strengthen your psychological health in lots of small ways. This will help you live a happier and a longer life, as well as help you to cope with stress.
5 Ways to Wellbeing
‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ introduces you to five simple and effective ways to improve your psychological and emotional health that are based on extensive international research. A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body for overall wellbeing.
Take the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ quiz to see your overall wellbeing score and what it means.
You can ‘try the 5’ at home, work or during study. It costs nothing and it’s easier than you think!
Connect
Developing close relationships and socialising with friends, family and others is important for good health and wellbeing. Broadening your social networks and range of relationships with others in the wider community is also important for your wellbeing.
Gain confidence with some ‘how to’ relationship development guidance.
Be active
Being active can increase your good moods, keep you at a healthy weight, increase your muscle mass and brain cells, and prevent or delay the onset of many illnesses. A simple walk around the block can improve your mental health for the day!
Find an activity that you like and take three steps to get started.
Keep learning
We often think about learning as being something important for children or young adults. Research shows it’s just as important for people of all ages and life stages to keep learning for happiness, health and wellbeing. Learning doesn’t have to mean getting more qualifications. It can be easy to fit learning into your daily routine, as long as you’re open to different experiences.
Understand the simple types of learning that can be done at home and work.
Be aware
Take time to stop and be aware of your surroundings and the moment you are in, paying attention to your thoughts and feelings. Doing this can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach life’s challenges.
See examples of ways you can be aware, you might even save some money!
Help others
Helping others is a good thing to do in itself, but research shows it can also improve your wellbeing. There are many things you can do to contribute to your community: volunteer, donate to a charity, show kindness. A simple smile or considering someone else’s point of view are easy examples.
Understand how helping others can help you and then consider a commitment that you’re comfortable with.
Self-care
Add self-care to your tool kit of character strengths and 5 ways to wellbeing.
Self-care is all about caring for yourself so that your physical and emotional needs are met. Taking time to care for your wellbeing isn’t a luxury, it is a necessity.
Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, increase happiness, and more. It can help you adapt to changes, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks.
Practising self-care daily can help you maintain positive wellbeing. There is no recommended time frame or frequency. Self-care activities could include things like exercise, reading, listening to music, talking to a friend, meditating.
There are self-care apps too, such as the Black Dog Institute’s Mycompass - a free resource with a focus on building resilience and good mental health.
50 ways to take a break
Consider some of the ways you can take a break with this fun '50 ways to take a break’ poster, which originally appeared in a HuffPost article.
Taking time for yourself each and every day, even for a few minutes, can make a big difference to your health and wellbeing.
Some examples include:
- Move twice as slowly
- Take a walk
- Call a friend
- Take a bath/shower
- Take deep belly breaths
- Do a small act of kindness
- Do some gentle stretches
- Write in a journal
Helpful links and resources
Support
If you or someone you know needs urgent support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Eastern Health Mental Health Triage on 1300 721 927.