What is Mental Health?

Stress

Stress is the emotional or physical tension that you feel when you face a challenge, or your body is reacting to a demand. Acute stress refers to the short bursts of stress that can help you in situations, such as avoiding danger or meeting deadlines. It is a normal part of our daily lives. On the other hand, stress that lasts for weeks or months is called chronic stress, and may occur in situations, such as having financial issues, or relationships problems. If chronic stress is not managed properly, it can cause harmful mental and even physical health problems.⁴

Depression & Anxiety

Being sad or downlow is a normal feeling that everyone experiences. However, depression is the state of being in a constant low mood to the point where it can negatively affect your daily activities.⁵ This is one of the most common mental health problems in the world, with over 264 million people affected.⁶

Anxiety is an emotion that is natural for your body in response to stress. It is the feeling of being worried or afraid about an anticipated situation.⁷ In normal circumstances, the feelings of anxiety would go away once the ‘stressor’ is removed. However, long-term feelings of anxiety, having those feelings without any reason, or extreme feelings that impact an individual’s daily life may indicate an anxiety disorder.⁸

Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in Australia, where it is predicted that ¼ of Australians will experience an anxiety condition in their lifetime. In 2017-18, 3.2 million Australians were recorded having anxiety-related conditions.⁹

Journaling

Journaling is the practice of putting thoughts and emotions into words. The main benefit of journaling is that by keeping a consistent record of feelings and behaviours, it makes it easier to identify patterns, set goals, track progress, and solve general and personal problems.¹⁰ It also helps take control of worries and fears, no matter how big or small they may be, by externalising them and creating a platform where they can be revisited with a fresh mindset at another time. Journaling can also be a positive experience. The simple act of writing something good, such as ‘something I’m thankful for’, can help shift one’s mindset to feel a sense of accomplishment, control, and better in general.¹¹

There is no one way to journal. Some people prefer to write things down with a pen and paper, others prefer to type out their thoughts digitally. Some people prefer to write or draw out their thoughts freely, while others prefer to fill out something that’s predefined. No matter how you prefer to journal, it’s just important to do it regularly for it to really benefit your mental health.¹⁰

COVID-19

Research and surveys during the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has found that a significant number of individuals reported low mental health wellbeing, who did not previously have a history of mental health treatment.¹² The impact of COVID-19 and the implementation of lockdown has shown to evoke a range of negative emotions, such as stress, fear, panic, depression, insomnia, frustration, and boredom.¹³ These responses may be normal reactions to the current situation, however it’s important to be proactive and treat your mental health accordingly if they are affecting you. Journaling, meditation, and getting support are still effective ways to help regulate and improve your mental health, even during a global pandemic.

Getting Support

Often, mental health problems can present themselves more severely. When it gets worse, practices like meditation are not going to be enough. At this point we recommend that you talk to a mental health professional and seek their advice. It is important to take of your mental as much as your physical health.