What is mental health?

The term ‘mental health’ refers to your state of mind. Good mental health allows you to feel confident in dealing with life’s challenges. Poor mental health can make it difficult to cope with day-to-day life.

Why is good mental health important?

Looking after your mental health is as important as looking after your physical health. Good mental health helps you:

• appreciate and enjoy life
• deal with life’s challenges
• form and maintain positive relationships
• reach your potential

Many people experience a mental health issue at some point in their life. But if things don't seem to get better, it could be a sign of a mental illness.

Mental illnesses can have a big impact on how you think, feel and behave.

Just like physical illnesses, mental illnesses need to be treated to get better. So, if you think you could have a mental health issue, think about seeking help.

What things can affect mental health?

A number of factors can negatively affect your mental health, including:

• stress
• work-related stress
• bullying and harassment
• alcohol and drug abuse
• physical health problems
• ageing
• grief and loss
• negative self-talk and low self-esteem
• biological factors, such as genetics, hormones and chemistry
• financial financial worries or stress
• family or relationship issues
• feeling isolated

If you’re having a difficult time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your mental health is in danger. But it’s worth talking to someone to get some advice.

These issues can lead to a mental illness, including depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders and eating disorders.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

How can I improve my mental health and wellbeing?

Ways to support and maintain good mental health include:

• exercising regularly
• eating a healthy diet
• getting enough sleep
• if you’re using drugs or alcohol, cutting down or stopping
• talking to and socialising with your friends and family
• relaxing in ways that suit you

Although you can take steps to nurture your mental health, it’s very important to seek help and support when you need it. Mental health concerns affect many people across all ages, cultures and walks of life.

If your mental health does not improve, see your doctor. They can organise a mental health plan for you. Your doctor can also refer you to mental health professionals for treatment.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Where can I get help if I am feeling suicidal?

If you, or someone else, is at immediate risk of suicide, call triple zero (000) for an ambulance now.

If you are in a personal crisis or are feeling suicidal, contact:

• Lifeline — call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online
• Suicide Call Back Service (all ages) — call 1300 659 467

Where can I find support for mental health issues?

Relationship issues

Relationship issues with partners, friends and family members can all affect your mental health.

You can get online support and self-help programs through:

• Beyond Blue — peer support forums, including one on relationship and family issues
• Breakup shakeup — a mobile phone app developed by ReachOut
• E-couch — online programs developed by the Australian National University

Support can also be found by calling:

• Mensline Australia — 1300 78 99 78
• 1800Respect — 1800 737 732
• Relationships Australia — 1300 364 277

Bullying and harassment

Online resources for bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault support include:

• 1800Respect
• Beyond Blue
• Lifeline

Work or study stress

Struggles with work or studying can affect your mental health. You can find resources, support, and self-help activities on the Headspace website.

You can also find advice on:

• Heads Up — how to talk to your employer about your mental health
• Headspace — information for young people on how to manage your mental health in the workplace

Black Dog Institute also offer a range of mental health training programs for the workplace.

Many workplaces offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a confidential support for their employees. It might be worth checking to see if your workplace has this.

Often places of study like schools, universities and TAFE colleges have their own support services. It would be worth checking these out. Or try these resources:

• ReachOut — a quiz for people studying
• Headspace — how to lower stress and prepare for exams

Financial stress

Problems with money can cause stress and have a negative impact on your mental health. There are services and resources available to:

• teach you about money management
• provide advice and aid in times of financial difficulty
• help you access a possible crisis payment

Online resources include:

• Money Smart
• Centrelink

Substance abuse

Your mental health can be impacted by the use of drugs or alcohol.

To speak with someone about substance abuse and mental health, you can call:

• National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline — 1800 250 015
• Family Drug Support — 1300 368 186
• Stimulant Treatment Line — 1800 101 188

You can find online support at:

• Counselling Online
• Alcoholics Anonymous Australia
• Narcotics Anonymous Australia
• Department of Health and Aged Care on how to quit smoking

Grief and loss

As you move through life, you are likely to experience grief and loss. This can impact your mental health. You can find support through:

• Griefline — 1300 845 745
• Beyond Blue
• Headspace

Where can I find support for mental illness?

Support and information on mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety can be found online.

Depression and anxiety

• Black Dog Institute
• Beyond Blue
• Understanding Anxiety
• This Way up
• MindSpot Clinic
• BluePages

Personality disorders

• Borderline Personality Disorder Australia
• Borderline Personality Disorder Foundation
• Blue Knot Foundation — recovery from trauma
• ReachOut — support service for young people
• SANE Australia

Eating disorders

• National Eating Disorders Collaboration
• Butterfly Foundation

You can also call the Butterfly Foundation helpline on 1800 33 4673.

Additional resources

If you want general mental health support and information:

• Visit the Head to Health website, or call on 1800 595 212 from 8:30am to 5pm on weekdays (public holidays excluded), for advice, assessment and referral into local mental health services.
• Visit the Black Dog Institute website for resources, support and self-help tools.
• Visit the SANE Australia website, or call on 1800 18 7263.

Other languages

• Visit the Transcultural Mental Health Centre website for translated mental health resources in over 40 languages.

Young people

• ReachOut.com is a youth mental health service. Visit their website for online help.
• Headspace provides mental health support for ages 12-25. Visit their website, call them on 1800 650 890, or make an appointment at your nearest headspace centre.
• Kids Helpline is available for ages 5-25. Visit their website or call them on 1800 55 1800.

Parents or guardians

There are mental health resources for parents, carers, and guardians. You can:

• call PANDA on 1300 726 306
• visit the COPE website
• visit the Beyond Blue Relationship and family issues peer support forum

Older people

With ageing comes change in your life and physical health. This can impact your mental health. Mental health information and support for older adults can be found here:

• Beyond Blue
• SANE Australia

If you are caring for an older person with a mental health condition, you can visit My Aged Care for support and information.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

• Visit the 13YARN website, or call on 13 92 76, for mental health support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

LGBTIQA+

• Visit the Rainbow Door website.
• Visit the QLife Website to speak with someone online, or call on 1800 184 527.

People living with disability

• Visit the Disability Gateway website for mental health support for people living with disabilities.