Mental health - a deeper conversation

Nearly 1 in 2 of us will experience a mental health challenge. So why do so many of us put off asking for support?

Research tells us that in 2020-2022 almost 43% of people aged 16-85 had experienced mental health challenges. A separate study that looked at nurses' mental health found that we were at a significantly higher risk of experiencing poor mental health compared to the general Australian population. 

We are exposed to unique stressors, including long hours, emotional labour, and frequent exposure to trauma and suffering. These factors may contribute to mental health challenges. 

Barriers – why we don’t ask for help

Stigma (from others and from ourselves) is the most common barrier to seeking support for mental health challenges. This is followed by a poor understanding of mental health and experiences that push us beyond our normal stress threshold.

Talk about mental health - RUOK Day

RUOK Day is a National Day of Action that encourages meaningful conversations about mental health and checking in on those around us. 

RUOK Day challenges the ongoing stigma surrounding mental health by normalising open conversations, encouraging empathy, and helping people recognise that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Simply asking, "Are you OK?" and being prepared to listen could save lives. Although RUOK Day falls on the second Thursday of September every year, it's important to remember that you can ask someone if they are ok any day.

For more information go to RUOK: how to ask someone if they are ok. 

Support and its role 

Listening to someone without judgment and connecting can sometimes be all that a person needs. It’s important to ask those around us if they are ok, but sometimes professional support may be the best course of action. 

Encourage people to seek professional help when experiencing symptoms that impact their ability to do their everyday tasks. This might present as persistent symptoms of psychological distress, insomnia, changes in behaviour, or the use of substances, including alcohol, to manage these experiences. 

Support is available wherever you are on the mental health continuum.

Understanding mental health 

Just like physical health, we all have mental health. Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. Although mental health affects how we think, feel, and act, it does not define us as people. 

Mental health is often described as a continuum. We can go from feeling mentally well to experiencing psychological distress, feelings of anxiety or changes in our mood. 

For some of us, this may be due to a situation and may be short-lived. For others, the experience of these symptoms may persist or happen regularly. Some of us will get a diagnosis, and some of us won't. 

Resources: 

• Beyond Blue: anxiety and depression test
• Phoenix Australia: treatment and support for recovery from trauma