This week has been QLD Mental Health Week, an annual awareness week that aims to shine a spotlight on individual and community mental health and wellbeing. QMHW encourages all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have a lived experience of mental illness or not. The week also gives us the opportunity to understand the importance of mental health in our everyday lives and encourages help seeking behaviours when needed. This year’s theme is Take time — for mental health. 

'Take time' is about the simple yet proven things everyone can do to boost mental wellbeing. It is also about breaking down the stigma associated with mental illness and reaching out to people in our communities who need support.

While a specific week to promote the importance of taking time to boost mental health and wellbeing is beneficial, this is something we MUST maintain awareness of, and proactively work towards, every day of the year. Remember, wellness is not a state of being, but a state of action - we need to be proactive and engage in strategies and activities to maintain optimal wellbeing. 
Research shows there are six simple actions we can take to improve our moods, build resilience, and boost wellbeing. These include:

• Take time to get healthy — being active and eating well is good for your mind as well as your body
• Take time to keep learning — learning new things can make you more confident as well as being fun
• Take time to show kindness — practising small acts of kindness, volunteering time, or simply helping a friend in need can help you feel more satisfied with life
• Take time to connect — spending time with other people is important to everyone’s mental wellbeing
• Take time to take notice — paying more attention to the present and the world around you helps relieve stress and enjoy the moment
• Take time to embrace nature — connecting with the outdoors and taking care of the planet is the best recipe for world wellbeing.

Ensuring you speak with your children and broader family unit about mental health and wellbeing is vital. This creates a safe space for your children to share and ask questions, and assists to normalise and encourage a narrative around the indicators of positive mental health and wellbeing, and signs or experiences of difficulty. 

Additionally, we know that the mental health and wellbeing of others is intricately linked to that of our own. So by taking time for self-care and self-regulation you will also be supporting those around you to be more regulated and mentally healthier.

What can you do today to take time for your mental health?

Information sourced from www.qldmentalhealthweek.org.au