Mental Wellbeing

New Year, New Plans; make sure you look at your mind as well as your waistline. It can be important to stock of our own mental wellbeing, find five minutes and ask yourself what is going on, where are we going, and what are we doing.

Not all serious health concerns revolve around broken bones, missing limbs, and obvious symptoms. Our mental wellbeing, that of you and I, is as important as any blood pressure check or racing heartbeat. I know I make sure I take time out (quite often) to ask myself how I’m going and to make sure I’ve two feet flat on the floor. I’ve taken the below from Beyond Blue, their website is linked below. Locally help is available from NIHRACS on 22091, or in an emergency, dial 000 (triple zero). Lifeline provides all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to online, phone crisis supports and suicide prevention services. Call 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au to chat online to a counsellor, these services are provided free of charge.

The Benefits of Staying Well

Research shows that high levels of mental health are associated with increased learning, creativity and productivity, more pro-social behaviour and positive social relationships, and with improved physical health and life expectancy. In contrast, mental health conditions can cause distress, impact on day-to-day functioning and relationships, are associated with poor physical health and premature death from a range of chronic, sometimes preventable, illnesses.

It is important to remember that mental health is complex. The fact that someone is not experiencing a mental health condition doesn’t necessarily mean their mental health is flourishing. Likewise, it’s possible to be diagnosed with a mental health condition while feeling well in many aspects of life.

Ultimately, mental health is about being cognitively, emotionally, and socially healthy in the way we think, feel, and develop relationships.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/what-is-mental-health

Our next skill drill will be held 11 Feb, 6:30 at the St John shed on Grassy Road.

If you are interested in becoming a St John volunteer or, for more information about first aid classes, please email norfolk.island@stjohnnsw.com.au or james.garden@stjohnnsw.com.au