A pathway to a healthier you
Search
1800 001 060

Mental health – we all have it

Our mental health is about how we think, feel and cope. It includes how we manage stress, connect with others, and get through the demands of our day. It is not only conditions like depression or anxiety.

As health professionals, we know our health has many linked layers and that our mental health is essential to wellbeing and our quality of life. But it can still be confronting when we find ourselves struggling.

The fast-paced and unpredictable nature of nursing and midwifery, the responsibility of caring for people with complex needs, and stressful or chaotic workplaces can all put added stress on our mental health. For students, the demands of placements, assignments, exams, and balancing family or financial responsibilities can create similar pressure. 

Not alone – national statistics

1 in 5 Australians will experience symptoms of mental illness in any given year. Almost half of all Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Many won’t seek support. 

Always changing – the mental health continuum

Our mental health changes over time. Sometimes we’re feeling strong and balanced. At other times stressed, fatigued or life pressures make us struggle or unsettled. This movement back and forth is often described as the mental health continuum.

At one end of the continuum people may be flourishing - feeling positive, connected, and able to manage challenges. At the other end, people may be languishing or in crisis - feeling drained, disconnected, or unable to cope. Most of us move between these points depending on what’s happening in our lives (Westerhof & Keyes, 2009).

Beyond Blue describes the continuum as stages:

  • Healthy – feeling capable, hopeful, connected.
  • Healing – taking steps to recover, building supports, finding strategies that work.
  • Unsettled – feeling off, irritable, or having trouble concentrating.
  • Struggling – mood swings, withdrawing from people or activities, ongoing distress.
  • In crisis – feeling hopeless, unable to cope, needing urgent support.

Recognise where you are on this continuum

Knowing where you are on this continuum helps you decide what to do next — whether that’s keeping up healthy routines, reaching out to a mate, taking time to reset, or seeking professional support.

Signs to pay attention to

  • Changes in mood, sleep, appetite or energy
  • Feeling detached, numb or withdrawn
  • Trouble concentrating or making decisions
  • Feeling hopeless, worthless or constantly on edge

These are signs your mental health needs attention. You need to take measures, just as you would look after a physical injury.

Try this for your mental health 

  • Check in with yourself: Notice where you are along the continuum each day.
  • Stay connected: Talk with friends, family, or colleagues you trust.
  • Look after basics: Sleep, hydration, nutrition, and giving yourself time to recharge – all of these make a positive difference.
  • Reach out early: If things aren’t improving talk to your GP, a mental health professional, or call us

See where you are on the continuum

Check-in on how you’ve been feeling. Take the quick, anonymous This Way Up Wellbeing Test to detect signs of stress, anxiety and depression, and understand what’s going on in your life. You’ll get suggestions and practical next steps. Take the This Way Up – Wellbeing Test

Use services and supports

We’re here for you

It can be confronting when we find ourselves struggling. But you don’t need to go through it alone. Speak to an experienced nurse or midwife.

Contact us

References

See also