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Taking care of your mental health is a difficult task. Sometimes you don’t even know you’re struggling until you are in the thick of it. Struggling with mental health can look different for everyone and the cause of it can be different for everyone. In the same way, dealing with or managing mental health looks different for us all. Even though we all respond to mental health differently, there are some common signs to look out for that we are struggling. There are also some commonly recommended things we can do to improve or manage our mental health.

Here are some common signs that you may be struggling: 

• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Feeling sad or down
• Not enjoying things you usually would
• Changes in eating habits
• Feeling anxious or worried constantly
• Mood swings
• Excessive drinking, taking drugs or violence

These feelings and behaviours can be onset by a variety of life events or stressors. There can be many life events that can impact our mental health such as; work-related stress, relationship troubles, finances, loss of a loved one, and many more. If we have been through a tough time or are aware that we aren’t feeling quite right there are some tools we can use that can improve our mental health. Using these tools to proactively manage our mental health is a great idea but it is also useful if you are currently struggling with your mental health.

Here are some common things people do to take care of mental health:

• Connect with people – Family, Friends, Workmates, Team Mates
• Be Active – Go for a walk or to the gym. Get out in nature
• Prioritise Sleep – Sleep has a big impact on mental health
• Talk to people you trust – Sharing the good and bad in life helps build a trusted community and support group around you.
• Take a break – Schedule in time to rest, recover or energise yourself. Find what helps make you feel like yourself.
• Eat well – A healthy diet and staying hydrated can help mental wellbeing

These tools and many more can all help you take care of your mental health. If you notice a friend is struggling or going through some tough life events, reach out to them and see how they are going. They could benefit from some of these tools or at very least a friend. Remember that taking care of yourself mentally is hard and you don’t need to do it on your own. Reach out to your family and friends or a doctor to talk about your mental health. If you are struggling there is help out there, below is a list of some places you can call if you need support.

• Lifeline – 0800 543 354
• Mental Health Foundation
• Healthline – 0800 611 116