Funny Hat and Odd Socks?
Let’s talk about mental health.
October is mental health month. The theme is ‘let’s talk about it.’
In Australia, one in five adults are affected by a mental health issue at any time according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
What is mental health?
The World Health Organisation says mental health is “a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”
This leads us to the question:
What is mental illness?
A mental illness is a health issue. It can affect your thoughts, mood, and behaviour. It can impact the way you perceive the world around you. It should be treated as a health issue in the same way a physical injury or sickness is treated.
Having a mental illness can cause distress. If it is mild, it may last for a short period of time, such as a few days or weeks. In other cases, it may last for many years or be life-long.
There should be no stigma and no blame. We’re all human and it’s normal to feel life’s ups and downs. To understand whether our mental health challenge is mild or major, we should feel safe to reach out.
Young people and mental health
The 2024 Australian Youth Barometer found that 98 percent of young Australians reported having feelings of anxiety or depression at least once in the past year. Their top three issues being affordable housing (73 percent), employment (58 percent), and climate change (40 percent).
Alarmingly, the barometer also found one in five young Australians received mental health support in the past year. Ten percent sought help with their mental health but did not receive it.
Mia’s Story
NORTH SYDNEY, MONDAY
Mia sat at her desk in the fabric design studio, fingers trembling over her sketchbook. Last time, an error in the fabric pattern caused her to miss the deadline and had cost the company time and money.
She felt frantic and started berating herself.
Customers couldn’t see where the pattern stopped and started! It had to be seamless! But it also had to be done fast!
Mia was usually a perfectionist but this had morphed into a prison of self-doubt. Each buzzing notification of the deadline amplified her anxiety.
It was taking too long, like last time. She was going to miss the deadline. Her heart raced and she felt herself entering a dark tunnel. . . (continued)
Common mental health issues
Some of the more common mental health disorders in Australia include:
- Depression (and mood disorders like bipolar)
- Generalised anxiety disorders
- Substance-use disorders
- Personality disorders (such as borderline personality disorder)
- Psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
What are the signs or symptoms of mental health issues?
Some of these things might be common and go away by themselves. If these mental health signs last longer than a week or two, it’s best to seek some help.
- Anxiety and worry
- Feeling depressed or glum
- Sleep problems
- Emotional outbursts
- Strange or bizarre thoughts
- Risky behaviour
- Unusual appetite, feeling ‘high’
- Substance use
- Suicidal thoughts
- Withdrawing from others
If someone you know appears to be suicidal or at risk of self-harm, including through social media, please contact them or emergency services Triple 0. They are at risk.
How to be a mental health ally
Shame, stigma, and prejudice can make reaching out for help difficult.
By being an ally, we can help the world be safer and more supportive for people experiencing mental health challenges.
- Listen
Active listening and being aware of non-verbal communication makes space for people to experience a range of emotions.
Practice listening to understand, not react. It can help to repeat things back if someone is in distress and communication is difficult for them. You don’t have to know all the answers or provide any solutions. Listening in itself may be enormously helpful for the person.
- Ask
Check the person’s boundaries and whether they’d be more comfortable walking together, sitting face to face, or speaking to someone else.
- Language matters
Avoid using stigmatising words like ‘crazy,’ ‘mad’, ‘manic’ ‘psycho’, ‘psychotic’, ‘schizo’. These terms are used to discriminate against people.
Medicalised terms shouldn’t ever be used to describe ‘behaviour’. There are always better, more accurate words.
For example, a person may be ‘distressed’ or ‘angry’, ‘chaotic’ or a situation could be ‘hectic’.
Likewise, people often describe themselves as ‘being very OCD’ when it would be better to say ‘very organised’ or ‘prefer things to be tidy’.
- Demonstrate your support
Speak up for them if they need help advocating for themselves.
Create a safe environment. Think about the noise or radio in the background and posters and messages on the walls which could be upsetting or insensitive.
Codesign some inclusive messages and spaces where you work. There are plenty of resources available to download..
Consider signing up to a fundraising awareness event like the ones below to show you’re an ally.
Ah, you finally asked!
What does this have to do with Funny Hats and Odd Socks?
We know that October is mental health month. It is also Hat Day, Odd Socks Day, World Smile Day, and Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Day. Firstly, we need to check our own mental health. Secondly, it’s a chance to start a conversation.
That means it’s your chance to be a mental health ally.
Hat Day
Hat Day is 10 October every year. This is your chance to wear a funny, silly, or spectacular hat for a good cause. It is Australian Rotary Health Research fundraising and awareness day.
Register your Hat Day event on ‘lift the lid’ Lift The Lid on Mental Website and raise funds for health research.
Odd Socks Day
Odd Socks Day is 4 October. Odd Socks Day was initiated by GROW mental wellbeing programs.
‘Sock it to stigma’. GROW began when a priest suffered a mental health crisis and found the mutual support and personal development of Alcoholics Anonymous helpful, even though he didn’t identify as an alcoholic. The GROW program uses a 12-step approach of mutual support and practical advice from peers with lived experience.
Mia’s story continued…
Mia’s coworker Lucy noticed her distress that day. “Hey, you okay?”
“No,” said Mia looking up. “I’m doing it again.”
She explained how the mistake with the seam had caused a major delay.
“I’m incompetent.”
“You know, it’s all in your head,” Lucy said. She described how cognitive behavioral therapy could help her reframe her thoughts and navigate her anxiety.
“Take the symptom checker quiz as a starting point, ” said Lucy. “And be kind to yourself.”
Over the coming weeks, Mia learned to challenge her self-critical thoughts and her anxiety began to lift. Soon, she rediscovered her creativity and the joy in designing fabrics.
She also decided to speak to management about getting an assistant. Despite the chaos and confusion, one thing became very clear. The deadlines weren’t reasonable for one person.
Where can you get help?
Whether it is for yourself, or someone else, mental health help is available.
Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. The Mental Health Line links people to the most appropriate part of the Central Coast Mental Health Service or provides information about other specialised health and community services to better meet the person’s clinical needs.
Emergency Departments (ED)
The Mental Health ED Team provides assessments at Wyong and Gosford Emergency Departments after presenting to triage. Please don’t visit the hospital emergency department except in the case of emergency.
An acute care team provides face-to-face assessments for people experiencing acute symptoms of mental illness, including those at risk of suicide.
The Australian Government has an excellent symptom checker you can use for your own symptoms, or someone else you know.
Other services include:
- Head to Health — for advice and to get connected to local mental health services, you can call 1800 595 212.
- Beyond Blue — call 1300 22 4636
- ReachOut (mental health support for young people online)
- SANE Australia — call 1800 187 263 This is for people over 18. It is free of charge and run by people with lived experience who will understand.
This article is general and shouldn’t be considered medical advice. Always contact your Narara Valley doctor for any personal health questions or concerns.
You don’t have to figure out mental health on your own. Nothing beats a consultation with a good doctor.
