MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH: Australia, Let's Talk (October 2023)

[tyme]

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the theme this year is:

“Australia, Let's Talk" 🗣️

Complex mental health conversations are important in connecting us all, inspiring hope, breaking down stigma, and creating social change.

Throughout the month, SANE has a range of activities, events and insightful discussions for you to engage in, including:

🤝        Participate in community conversations – right here, on this Forums thread!

📖        Be inspired by personal experiences and insights

💬        Hear from mental health experts and advocates

🗣️        Have your say in what matters to you 

🧘‍♀️     Explore a range of self-care practices

So stay tuned to this thread and SANE’s social channels across the month of October to join these conversations, gain knowledge and strategies, and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. 

Together, we can make a difference. 

@hanami @Jupiter @Jynx @amber22 @fluffylight @PizzaMondo @Bon_courage @Ilovepenguins @MissLil @Blackbird11 @Shaz51 @outlander @Eve7 @Zoe7 @Faith-and-Hope @MDT @Anastasia @NatureLover @Judi9877 @wellwellwellnez @RiverSeal @BPDSurvivor 

[tyme]

Welcome to the first day of Mental Health Awareness Month:

Australia, Let's Talk!

We will be posting a topic/question every few days. Hope you will be able to join us in talking all things Mental Health!

Our first question:

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self

about mental health, what would it be?

@hanami @Jupiter @Jynx @amber22 @fluffylight @PizzaMondo @Bon_courage @Ilovepenguins @MissLil @Blackbird11 @Shaz51 @outlander @Eve7 @Zoe7 @Faith-and-Hope @Flying_Hams @Anastasia @NatureLover @Judi9877 @wellwellwellnez @RiverSeal @BPDSurvivor 

@Meowmy @TAB @StuF @SmilingGecko @Bill16 @WIP @Appleblossom @EternalFlower @Birdofparadise8 @Former-Member @magpie4 @StanD @creative_writer @Captain24 @Snowie 

[Captain24]

To seek help in my high school years and don’t accept ‘it’s just depression’ as a diagnosis as I go through life. 

[Meowmy]

@tyme hey tyme, thank you for tagging me. I think mental health took such a long time. May be encourage my younger self there will be better life in time.

[tyme]

Thanks for sharing @Captain24 ,

For me, a piece of advice I'd give to my younger self is that there is not such thing as a 'good' or 'bad' emotion - it's okay to feel all emotions. Mental health has its ups and downs - learn to ride the wave. There's great things ahead 🙂

[tyme]

Very true @Meowmy . As a young person, I wanted things to be 'fixed' straightaway. However, life has taught me it doesn't work that way.

[Meowmy]

@tyme hey tyme, I probably try to tell my younger self that mental health is an ongoing thing. Probably never going to have perfect mental health.

[tyme]

Interesting idea "Perfect Mental Health" 🙂 LOL.

I never thought to put it that way that that's what some people strive towards - which isn't possible I guess. @Meowmy 

[StuF]

@tyme 

"Don't do drugs" would be my advice to a younger self...

I wouldn't have avoided all my mental health issues, but I might have at least dealt better with them

[tyme]

Thanks for sharing that piece of wisdom @StuF . It sounds like you've had your fair share of experiences.