Mental health is defined by the dictionary as "a person's condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being".
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Unfortunately, recent studies show that one in seven young Australians aged from 4-17 has experienced a mental health disorder in the last 12 months.
Mental health does not discriminate against age, gender, race or culture.
It is a serious issue that affects everyone. With suicide being the leading cause of young Australian death it is time for Australians of all ages to take action and start worrying about our nation's mental health.
Mission Australia's Youth mental health report (2012-2016), has found that despite the recent efforts, the numbers of young people experiencing psychological distress is rising.
Mental illness is a very serious issue and people need to be aware that it can happen to anyone.
Recent facts from Sane Australia show that 70 per cent of people who experience a mental health disorder have it before the age of 25.
This makes the youth of Australia the most susceptible to mental health illnesses.
According to the Black Dog institutes report about 54 per cent of Australians with a mental health illness does not seek help.
It is important to reach out to anyone who shows signs of having a mental illness. Or to reach out if you think you have a mental illness.
A problem that arises is that it is very difficult to spot a mental health problem and only a professional can diagnose one.
You can always watch out for symptoms of a mental health disorder, whether it be in your friend or yourself. Some symptoms of mental illness include:
- eating too much or too little
- sleeping too much or too little
- pulling away from friends or usual activities
- becoming closed off
- emotional swings and outbursts
- feeling constantly exhausted
- continual negative emotion.
It is very important to do something if you notice someone, or yourself, with a mental health disorder. If someone you know seems to be showing signs of having a mental illness there are ways you can help.
One thing you can do is talk. Be a good listener and talk to them about what they are going through, make sure to treat them with respect and dignity. And suggest speaking with a professional.
This is simply because only a professional may diagnose a mental health illness.
If you are suffering from the symptoms listed you may have a mental health disorder.
If you think you do a good idea would be to contact a helpline. They are always there to help. A good example is Lifeline, they provide 24 hr crisis counselling, support groups and suicide prevention.
Keeping your mind mentally healthy is very beneficial to your life.
Some benefits of being mentally healthy include:
- being able to think clearly; being able to think clearly boosts concentration on a particular task and helps make the right decisions
- being able to concentrate;
- being able to concentrate well gives us better focus
However, that is not all, it also boosts our willpower and gives us the ability to decide quickly and efficiently.
Being able to cope with pressure; being able to cope with pressure is a skill that is very valuable in life. Having this skill helps you perform well in jobs later on in life.
Interacting well with others (e.g. family, friends); being able to interact well with others is something that every living person on the planet needs. After all, there are 7.53 billion people living on the planet.
Looking after your mental health has huge benefits. They include:
- Reduced absenteeism; not skipping days from work or school is important. It shows how much you are invested in what you do.
- Being more productive at what you do; being more productive is a skill that is always valuable.
- Being productive is useful in whatever you do, whether it be school, work or household chores.
While it may seem easy to do these tasks it gets increasingly harder if you are suffering from a mental health illness.
Which is a very important reason to keep our minds mentally healthy. There are simple tasks that you can do to make your mind healthy.
Mental illness is something everyone can experience. It does not discriminate and is very dangerous.
Especially since suicide is the main cause of death to the youth of Australia. It is something that our nation, as a whole, must try to stop. After all, our nation's goal should be to save the lives of whom we can.
If you need help contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Resources for those who need help, or their families, can also be found at Beyond Blue's website.
- Blake Leguis is a student at Deloraine High School.