Mental wellbeing is built in ordinary days. The daily habits that support your mental wellbeing are small and repeatable, and they work because you keep coming back to them. This article covers the habits worth holding onto, what the national data says about how common mental health difficulties are, and what actually happens when you decide to talk to someone.
If you are in distress right now, call 000 in an emergency, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any hour.
What daily habits support mental wellbeing?
Movement you enjoy, contact with people you are close to, regular meals, protected sleep, time outdoors, and a break from your phone. None of it is dramatic. These habits work because they are repeatable on an average day, including the days when you do not feel like doing any of them.
Move in a way you will repeat
Movement and mood are closely linked. This does not have to mean a gym. A walk around the block, a stretch in the morning, or a dance in the kitchen all count. The movement that helps is the kind you will come back to next week.
Stay connected
Checking in with the people you are close to, even briefly, makes a difference. A short message, a phone call, or a shared cup of tea helps you feel less alone with whatever is sitting on your mind.
Keep the basics in place
- Eat at regular, unhurried times.
- Protect your sleep where you can.
- Take short breaks and get outdoors.
- Notice the things you are grateful for, however small.
Speak to yourself as you would to a friend
Some days are harder than others, and that is part of being human. Talking to yourself with the patience you would offer a friend is a habit worth practising, and it takes practice.
How common are mental health difficulties in Australia?
They are common. The Australian Bureau of Statistics found that 21.5% of Australians aged 16 to 85 had a mental disorder in the previous 12 months, and 42.9% had experienced one at some point in their life. Of those with a 12-month disorder, 45.1% consulted a health professional about it.
Source: ABS National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020 to 2022.
The second figure is the one worth sitting with. In any given year, more than half the people with a mental health difficulty did not speak to a health professional about it.
When is it worth speaking with a practitioner?
Speak with a practitioner when low mood, worry or stress has lasted more than a couple of weeks, when it is affecting your sleep, work, study or relationships, when you are leaning on alcohol or other substances to cope, or when you are tired of carrying it on your own. You do not need to be at a crisis point to book.
What happens in a mental health consultation?
It is a conversation, and you set the pace. A practitioner will usually ask:
- What has been going on, and how long it has been going on for.
- How it is affecting your sleep, appetite, energy and concentration.
- What is happening at work, at home and in your relationships.
- Alcohol, other substances, and any medicines you take.
- What support you have had before, and what helped.
- Whether you have had thoughts of harming yourself. This question gets asked routinely, and asking it is part of ordinary care.
You do not have to answer everything in the first appointment. Saying “I would rather not go into that today” is a complete answer.
Outcomes vary. A practitioner may talk through what could help, arrange follow-up, prepare a care plan where clinically appropriate, or write a referral to another practitioner such as a psychologist. Individual results vary, and the pace follows what you need.
When telehealth is not the right setting
Telehealth is not suitable for all mental health concerns. If you are at immediate risk, in crisis, or you need urgent assessment, a booked video appointment is the wrong place to start. Use the numbers below, or go to your nearest emergency department. Telehealth works alongside your regular GP and any other support you have.
Where to get help right now
- Emergency: call 000.
- Lifeline: 13 11 14, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Next step: when you are ready, book a mental health consultation by video with a qualified Australian practitioner.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice about your own situation. Everyone’s circumstances are different and individual results vary. We do not advertise specific prescription medicines to the public, in accordance with Australian regulatory requirements. Speak with a qualified practitioner about what is right for you.
