Thrive & Flourish

Benevenuto!

It's Mental Health Month - a reminder to check in with yourself and your mental and emotional wellbeing.

In recent years, there has been increasing acknowledgement of the important role mental health plays in achieving global development goals, as illustrated by the inclusion of mental health in the Sustainable Development Goals. Depression is one of the leading causes of disability. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. People with severe mental health conditions die prematurely – as much as two decades early – due to preventable physical conditions.

Despite progress in some countries, people with mental health conditions often experience severe human rights violations, discrimination, and stigma.

Many mental health conditions can be effectively treated at relatively low cost, yet the gap between people needing care and those with access to care remains substantial. Effective treatment coverage remains extremely low.

In order to thrive, and show up for our kids, we need to ensure we have our mental health in check. Just like we look after our physical health, mental health is just as important!

It's normal to have 'off' days and experience feelings of sadness, anger, stress or even anxiety. However, if you find this persists on an ongoing basis, it's important to seek support.

Modelling this to your kids and teaching them to prioritise mental health will also allow them to understand and express their emotions too!

Mental health refers to our psychological emotional and social wellbeing - it is all about how we think, feel, and behave. Good mental health and wellbeing allows you to live your life in a positive and meaningful way and cope with life’s changes and challenges.

Mental health problems or conditions can refer to depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and others. Feeling down, tense, angry or anxious are all normal emotions and it’s normal to experience them. But when these feelings persist for long periods of time, they may be part of a mental health problem.

Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
Life experiences, such as stressors or trauma
Family history of mental health problems

As well as being healthy, physically, good mental health is very important in helping you be the best dad you can be for your kids.

For optimum mental health, it is important for you to be able to prevent the development of down or depressed moods as well as manage your moods during times of stress or adversity. The aim is to be able to maintain a balance.

Have a broad range of interests (work, family, sport, hobbies) and spend time on the things you enjoy.
Develop skills to help you cope better in stressful situations – e.g. anger management or relaxation techniques.
Recognise and accept the things you can’t change.
Develop a support group of people you feel comfortable to talk to and can trust and nurture these relationships.
Don’t think you have to do it alone – share issues with an empathetic listener and ask for help sooner rather than later.

If you are struggling, call Lifeline on 131 114, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

If children are struggling, they can call Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or Youth Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

FMHSS InfoSheet Shepparton - CatholicCare Victoria - Feb2022 - v1.pdf