What is mental health?

Mental health is a state of wellbeing. Good mental health means:

• feeling well
• recognising your abilities
• being able to handle life’s usual stresses
• being productive

When young people have poor mental health, it can be harder for them to live happy and successful lives.

Lots of teenagers and young people struggle with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety and self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. Around 1 in every 2 adult mental health disorders start before the age of 14 years.

Why is my mental health important?

It is important for you to have good mental health so you can:

• feel confident and capable of dealing with life
• adapt to change in a healthy way
• feel good about yourself
• express and manage your emotions appropriately
• improve your relationships with other people

If your mental health is poor, life can seem a lot more difficult and you may feel like you are not coping well.

It’s normal to have ups and downs through the course of your life, and many people have mental health challenges from time to time. But if you feel like life never gets any easier and there is nothing you can do about it, it’s possible that you could be suffering from a mental health disorder.

Mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders, have an impact on how you think. Like many other illnesses, they can be effectively treated.

What can affect my mental health?

Common factors that can affect mental health and wellbeing in teenagers include:

• your home environment and family relationships
• school, work and other activities
• relationships with friends
• your sexuality and gender identity
• your physical health and feelings about your body
• alcohol and drug use
• how safe you feel with family, friends and other people in your life

Teenagers can struggle with a range of issues. You may be more likely to have problems with your mental health if you:

• have a family history of mental health disorders
• are under a lot of stress
• have lost a loved one
• have experienced relationship breakups or problems with friends or family
• suffer from physical injury, pain or sleep problems
• have experienced bullying (including cyberbullying) or abuse

When should I see a doctor?

It is important to reach out for support or see your doctor if you feel like your mood or behaviour negatively impacts your day-to-day life.

Many teenagers and young people feel down or upset at times and you may have thoughts such as:

• ‘I feel alone’
• ‘I hate myself’
• ‘I’m being bullied’
• ‘I feel angry all the time’
• ‘I’m in an abusive relationship’
• ‘I’m too fat or skinny’

If you feel you need support or you are just not coping in your daily life, it’s important to seek help. You could speak to:

• loved ones — if you feel comfortable
• your doctor
• a psychologist
• your school counsellor

You should also seek support if you:

• are drinking too much
• think you have a drug problem
• are being sexually abused

One of the most serious mental health issues you can have is feeling hopeless, like you want to hurt yourself, or wanting to kill yourself. If you are self-harming or having suicidal thoughts it’s very important for you to get help.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 5 to 17 years old in Australia.

If you, or someone you know, is having suicidal thoughts and is in immediate danger, call triple zero (000). For help and support, call Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 or Lifeline 13 11 14.

How can I improve my mental health?

The good news is that mental health issues for teenagers can usually be managed or treated. The earlier you improve your mental health the better the result. There’s plenty you can do for yourself, and there’s plenty that other people can do to help.

Here are some tips to get you started:

• Eat well.
• Get enough sleep.
• Exercise regularly.
• Talk to an adult you trust if you are feeling sad or anxious.
• Cut down on drugs and alcohol check in with yourself — these tend to make things worse, not better.
• Learn some relaxation techniques to help you deal with stress, such as mindfulness or meditation.
• Spend time with others.

Resources and support

If you need someone to talk to, or want to find out more online, here are some organisations that can help:

• Kids Helpline — telephone and online counselling for ages 5 to 25, call 1800 55 1800.
• headspace — online, in-person and phone support for people aged 12 to 25.
  • headspace also has mental health information and resources for multicultural young people.
• ReachOut — youth online mental health service.
• SANE Australia — for people living with a mental illness, call 1800 187 263.
• Lifeline — support for anyone having a personal crisis, call 13 11 14.
• Suicide Call Back Service — for anyone thinking about suicide, call 1300 659 467.
• Head to Health — for advice and to get connected to local mental health services, you can call 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.

Other languages

Do you speak a language other than English?

• Transcultural Mental Health Centre has many resources about wellbeing and mental health in different languages.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

This information has been developed for indigenous communities:

• Yarn Safe has mental health and wellbeing information.
• Wellmob has more mental health information and resources.