Tips for Positive Mental Health
- Talk about or express your feelings
- Exercise regularly
- Eat healthy meals
- Get enough sleep
- Spend time with friends and loved ones
- Develop new skills
- Relax and enjoy your hobbies
- Set realistic goals
- Talk to your GP or a health professional
Act-Belong-Commit
Keeping mentally healthy is just as important as staying physically healthy and it’s as easy as A-B-C: Act-Belong-Commit.
The City of Melville is a partner in the Mentally Healthy WA Act-Belong-Commit campaign! Act-Belong-Commit is a community based health promotion campaign that encourages people to take action to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
In Australia, one in five people will experience mental illness each year (ABS 2007) A survey of 2,200 West Australians in 2005 indicated that one in four people had visited a doctor, counsellor or psychologist because of a mental health problem and three in four people have known someone with a mental health problem.
Act-Belong-Commit encourages community members to be more mentally, physically and socially active, to join local clubs and organisations and help others.
The City supports positive mental health promotion in the community by:
- Providing opportunities for people to be mentally and socially active (ACT)
- Encouraging people to join and actively participate in the organisations activities and those of partner organisations (BELONG)
- Encouraging people to volunteer and get more broadly involved in community events and environments (COMMIT).
Youth Mental Health
Being mentally healthy relates to your emotional and social wellbeing. When our mental health is good, it is much easier to cope with the stresses in life such as exams, relationship difficulties, pressure from parents, work etc.
There are times in our lives when we aren't able to cope as well and mental health problems may occur. If this happens, there is plenty of help available to support you. A good starting point is the headspace website which provides lots of on-line information as well as people you can talk to. For more information have a look at:
- Headspace - Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation
- Reachout - help for young people on lots of issues.
When You Need Help
There is a range of support available in Western Australia, including from medical doctors, mental health nurses and allied health professionals. For more information about the different support available, visit the Mental Health Commission website.
Good mental health for children 3-8 years
What is children’s mental health?
Mental Health is the way children think or feel about themselves and the world around them. It’s related to how children cope with life’s challenges and stresses.
Important Points
- Good mental health helps your child develop socially, emotionally, mentally and physically.
- Loving relationships are key to children’s mental health
- Learning to manage feelings is important to mental health, as are rules and guidelines for behaviour
- Physical activity and health eating habits build your child’s mental health
When children have good mental health they:
- Feel happy and positive about themselves
- Enjoy life
- Learn well
- Have healthy relationships with family and friends
- Can manage sad, worrying or angry feelings
- Can bounce back from tough times
Pre-teens (9-11 years)
What is pre-teen and teenage good mental health?
Mental Health describes social and emotional wellbeing and children need good mental health to develop in a healthy way, build strong relationships, adapt to change and deal with life’s challenges.
Pre-teens and teenagers who have good mental health often:
- Feel happier and more positive about themselves and enjoy life
- Have healthier relationships with family and friends
- Do physical activity and eat a healthy diet
- Get involved in activities
- Have a sense of achievement
- Can relax and get a good night’s sleep
- Feel like they belong to their communities
Adolescence can be a risky period for mental health problems. Teenagers go through many changes and challenges in a short period of time whilst teenage brains are maturing.
Useful Links
For more information about mental health visit the following websites:
- LifeLine - crisis support and suicide prevention
- SANE Australia - a national charity working for a better life for people affected by mental illness
- BeyondBlue - independent, not-for-profit organisation working to increase awareness of depression anxiety and related disorders throughout Australia
- Act Belong-Commit - community based health promotion campaign which encourages people to take action to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
- Mensline - support for men with family and relationship concerns.
- Suicide Callback - support for people at risk of suicide, those concerned for someone and the bereaved.
- QLife - anonymous and free LGBTI support.
- Kids Helpline - counselling for 5-25 year olds.
- headspace - mental health help for 12-25 year olds.
- Reach Out Australia - online support for young people and help for parents of teens.