Mental health resources for me

4-minute read

Do you ever feel alone? Do you worry a lot or feel like life’s too hard? If you do, you are not the only one.

Many people struggle with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.

But just like physical illnesses, most mental health issues can be managed or treated.

What is mental health and why is it important?

The term mental health refers to your state of mind. Good mental health is about feeling a general sense of wellbeing, confidence and a healthy self-esteem.

Good mental health is important. This is not just so you can get through the day, but so you can form healthy relationships with others, and enjoy and appreciate life.

Mental health deserves to be taken seriously. If you feel like you’re not coping, the best thing you can do is ask for help. Just doing this might help you to start feeling better.

Not sure what to do next?

If you or someone you know are finding it difficult to manage mental health issues, try healthdirect’s Symptom Checker and get advice on when to seek professional help.

The Symptom Checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare steps, whether it’s self care, talking to a health professional, going to a hospital or calling triple zero (000).

You’re not alone

Many of us have mental health issues at one point or another in our lives. For example, we may experience problems to do with relationships, drugs and alcohol or sexual abuse.

But while we all have our ups and downs, ongoing mental health issues can be a sign of a mental illness. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety disorders, have a bigger impact on thoughts, feelings and behaviour than mental health issues, and can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, mental illnesses can usually be effectively treated or managed.

Some of the most common mental illnesses are:

Wellbeing

Mental health is a very important part of your overall wellbeing, which can be described as judging life positively and feeling good. There are plenty of things you can do to improve your mental health and wellbeing. These include:

exercising regularly
eating well
getting enough sleep
spending time with friends
sharing your feelings
doing things you enjoy
learning relaxation techniques
practising mindfulness

Where to get help

If you need help, talking to your doctor is a good place to start. If you'd like to find out more or talk to someone else, here are some organisations that can help:

Head to Health - for advice, assessment and referral into local mental health services - call 1800 595 212 from 8:30am to 5pm on weekdays (public holidays excluded)
Beyond Blue (anyone feeling depressed or anxious) — call 1300 22 4636 or chat online
Black Dog Institute (people affected by mood disorders) — online help
headspace (online tools for young people)
Mensline Australia — call 1300 78 99 78
Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) — call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14 or chat online

If you need more information and support, visit Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) for resources, helplines, apps, online programs and forums.