Mental health: an essential part of our well-being, so well worth working on!

If you google “mental health” you can see what a huge topic it is. The recurring definition points out that it covers “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. And mental health is important at every stage of life.”

So, it’s no surprise to find that having our mental health in good shape is good for our overall health. Of course, however, just as with our physical health, our mental health can be good on some days and not so good on others. And, similarly, it’s important to reach out for support, such as speaking to our doctor or other mental health specialists, if we feel that the state of our mental health is interfering with our day-to-day life. One problem with that is that we might feel that there is a stigma to admitting to mental health difficulties, one which is not attached to physical conditions. It took me a while, for example, to acknowledge – in my mid-50s – that I was depressed, overwhelmed, and functioning poorly with all that I was dealing with at that time. They included grieving for a dead parent and finishing a higher degree while having family responsibilities and working in a demanding full-time job in which I had difficulties delegating activities to others, and – to top it off – sleeping little and badly. Finally getting the courage to seek professional help is what got me out of that slump, through a combination of several months off work to manage the complex emotions, effective medication and learning the importance of being able to delegate and share responsibility rather than overloading myself.

I would rather not have gone through all of that, but I returned to work revitalised, and got my degree, having learnt a lot through that experience. It certainly, also, made me more understanding and empathetic, and very aware of the importance of taking steps to maintain my good mental health, including preventive strategies such as pacing myself, and not overdoing things.

 And going back to the similarities between physical and mental health (as well as being aware of the circular links between them), there are strategies for both, that we can build into our routines, to maintain as good health as possible.

And when it comes to mental health, there is much on offer. There is, for example what Macquarie University is now providing: a free clinical mental health service, MindSpot, through which its staff have researched the sorts of activities that can keep our mental health on track, and have identified what they call “The Big 5”, which they describe as “the building blocks for good mental health”:

1.      Meaningful Activities: These give us a sense of accomplishment, or satisfaction or joy. They can be as simple as listening to a favourite song or watching a good show, and they are often fun and engaging.

2.      Healthy Thinking: This means having realistic thoughts about ourselves, the world, and the future. This also means keeping perspective and treating ourselves with respect, particularly when things are difficult.

3.      Goals and Plans: Having a goal or a plan helps us stay motivated and energised. Goals give us something to look forward to and stop us dwelling on past problems.

4.      Healthy Routines: Routines we do automatically like our sleep routine, eating well and being active, are critical for good mental health. These actions set us up for the day.

5.      Social Connections: Regular contact with people we love and respect, which may include our family, friends or tribe, help us to feel validated and give us a sense of belonging.

More details about that can be found on their website (www.mindspot.org.au). This not only has a very useful Self-Assessment Checklist for the Big 5, but also provides access to “confidential psychological assessments and clinically-proven treatments” via free mental health care online or via telephone.

The take-home messages? Do the work needed to stay as mentally healthy as possible. And don’t be afraid to ask for professional help if you feel that you need it.

Anne Ring ©2025