October is Mental Health Month, and this year’s theme is “Let’s Talk About It”. How do you connect with the people around you? Do you ever talk about mental health?
Mental health conditions will affect around 45% of Aussies at some point in their life, and affect 1 in 5 Aussies every year.
Here at AB Clinical Psychology, we’re working toward a world with better mental health, free from stigma and misunderstandings. With social support being one of the strongest protective factors in mental illness (i.e., factors that help protect you from mental health conditions), it’s so important to think about how you connect with the people around you.
Regardless of whether you’re currently suffering from a mental health condition, you might like to reflect on your own mental wellbeing and if there are any areas of your mental health which might be improved. Or you might like to think about how you could support people around you who are experiencing mental illness.
How To Get Involved:
1. Support a specific cause or charity:
There are a number of wonderful mental health charities in Australia, including Beyond Blue, R U OK?, Black Dog Institute, and Headspace. You could do a fitness challenge or hold a coffee morning to raise money for charity–some great ideas can be found here.
2. Check in with your loved ones:
Don’t wait till R U OK? Day to ask if your loved ones are doing okay. If you think someone you know might be struggling, you can start a conversation with a simple, “How have you been coping with everything that’s on your plate lately?”
3. Support your own mental health:
We’ve mentioned this one last, but don’t let your own mental health be the last priority on your list! Just like in the event of an airplane emergency, where you put your own oxygen mask on before attending to others, looking after your own mental health ensures you’re in good shape for caring for those around you.