WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY: Looking out for one another

During Mental Health Month, and World  Mental Health Day on Monday, October 10, residents are being reminded to look after their wellbeing and support those around them.

Strathalbyn & Communities Suicide Prevention Network has released educational resources to support mental health and help navigate conversations with others.

To look after yourself, the network suggests the following: 

• Talk about your feelings to help stay in good mental health.
• Keep active.
• Eat well.
• Drink sensibly.
• Keep in touch.
• Ask for help.
• Take a break.
• Do something you are good at.

Strathalbyn & Communities Suicide Prevention Network’s guide, an ‘action for happiness’, suggests different mindful strategies each day.

Some of these include:

• Monday: Take three calm breaths at regular intervals during your day.
• Tuesday: Set an intention to live with awareness and kindness.
• Wednesday: Notice three things you find beautiful in the outside world.
• Thursday: Start today by appreciating your body and that you’re alive.
• Friday: Notice how you speak to yourself and choose to use kind words.
• Saturday: Bring to mind people you care about and send love to them.
• Sunday: Have a ‘no plans’ day and notice how that feels.

Another guide by Strathalbyn & Communities Suicide Prevention Network offers steps to supporting another person.

In summary, the steps are: 

• Chat and connect, by finding out how the person is and what has been going on.
• Actively listening and hearing the other person, without judgement, reaction, interrupting, or rushing the conversation.
• Showing empathy, being ‘with’ the other person, which does not necessarily mean knowing how they feel, but reflecting the feelings that you are perceiving through the conversation or would be experiencing.
• Ask open questions, offer support and help the person help themselves.
• Refer and recommend other support people, groups or organisations.
• Coinciding with Mental Health Month, the Black Dog Institute released an online report, Turning the Tide on Depression, which calls on further data on depression in young Australians, enhanced efforts in prevention and early intervention, and improved youth mental health treatment and service delivery.

The research explores different areas which impact young Australians, such as sleep, diet and exercise, changes in family stress and parenting, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some statistics in the report included:

• In 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicted that by 2030 depression would be the single largest cause of disease burden in the world. 
• Within Australia, we lose more than 3000 people each year to suicide, an average of nine deaths every day. 
• Four out of every 10 deaths among Australians aged 18 to 24 are now due to suicide, with the rate being 2 to 3 times higher in young First Nations people. 

To read the full report by the Black Dog Institute, visit: (www.blackdoginstitute.org.au).

If this article raised any issues for you, please contact Lifeline by phone: (13 11 14) or visit: (www.lifeline.org.au). 

Beyond Blue can be reached by phone: (1300 224 636) or visit: (www.beyondblue.org.au).

Other places to seek help:

• Headspace, Mount Barker, phone: (8398 4262) or visit: (headspace.org.au).
• Strathalbyn and District Health Service: (8536 5333).
• Strathalbyn & Communities Suicide Prevention Network: (www.facebook.com/mentallyfitforlife).