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Practical first aid guidance from our trainers — free to read, updated regularly.
Mango Madness – When Mental Health Declines in the Tropics
Mental health can be influenced by every aspect of our lives, and the weather is no exception. In places closer to the equator with humid environments, like Darwin here in Australia, the onset of monsoon season can see people suffer from a tropical seasonal affective disorder known as ‘mango madness’.
Providing Mental Health Support Using the CARE Framework
Mental health crises can occur unexpectedly, and knowing how to respond effectively can make a significant difference. The CARE framework is an easy-to-remember guide for offering support during a mental health crisis. It is also applicable if you think you might be seeing signs and symptoms of low mental health in a loved one, friend, or colleague.
Postpartum Depression In The Non-Birthing Parent
New parents, both birthing and non-birthing, can develop postpartum depression. Birthing parents are easily recognized as being at risk for postpartum depression; however, it is important to acknowledge that non-birthing parents are equally susceptible to experiencing postpartum depression.
Risks of Incorrect Mental Health Crisis Intervention
In moments of mental health crises, offering support to those in distress is crucial. However, the way support is provided can impact the person's well-being and the outcome of the crisis. Incorrect support can exacerbate the situation, potentially leading to further distress and harm.
What is Mental Health First Aid
Mental health first aid involves providing initial support to someone experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as physical first aid is administered for physical health emergencies, the idea is to provide support in the moment, rather than attempt to ‘fix everything’.
Breaking the Silence: Postpartum Depression in Fathers
Postpartum depression in men is a very real and everyday reality. Though rarely discussed, 1 out of 10 fathers-to-be experience this dark cloud over what is such a beautiful life event.
Bipolar Affective Disorder: Everything You Need to Know
Millions of people suffer from bipolar affective disorder around the world. A bipolar patient experiences episodes of extreme highs and lows, which can negatively affect their normal life and relationships. Understanding this mental health condition helps you minimize its impact on your daily life.
Navigating the Emotional Waves of Secondary Trauma
Whether you've witnessed a shocking car accident, the distressing unfolding of a violent act, the heart-wrenching journey of caring for a sick loved one, or hearing horror stories, the deep impact of experiencing traumatic events is part of the complex fabric of human life.
When Anxiety Escalates: Understanding Panic Disorders
Panic disorder is a common yet often misdiagnosed mental illness that can significantly affect your life. The hallmarks of panic disorders are abrupt, severe bouts of anxiety and terror.
How to Foster Good Mental Health in Children
Fostering good mental health in your child is as important as helping them keep physically fit. Every child is different. You need to understand where normal behaviour ends and concerning symptoms start.
Ways to Improve Resilience
Many definitions of resilience exist, but one of our favourites is: Resilience is the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc. after being bent, compressed, or stretched. Simply put, it is the ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like. HOW we are able to process events, manage our emotions and self-talk goes a long way to maintaining resilience.
Substance Use Disorders: Everything You Need to Know
Substance use disorders are a set of complex mental health issues that affect millions of people worldwide. An SUD can have a devastating impact on all aspects of your life, but with the right approach and treatment, you can still recover and live a normal, healthy life.
Seeking Mental Health Support from Friends and Family: A First Aid Guide
Asking for mental health support from friends and family is an essential aspect of self-care. By approaching the conversation with honesty, openness, and a willingness to communicate, you can build a strong support system that aids in your mental health journey. Your loved ones are there for you, ready to provide the first aid your mind may need.
Nurturing the Mental Health of Youth
Adolescence is a critical phase in life. Teenagers experience rapid physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. It is important to provide support, understanding, and empowerment to ensure that young people thrive emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Understanding Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace: A Beginner's Guide
Workplaces can be a significant source of stress, and in turn cause psychological injuries. It is important to recognise and manage sources of psychological stress in the workplace.
How to Beat Work Burnout and Strike a Better Work-Life Balance
Work burnout is a condition in which a person struggles to manage daily activities due to a prolonged period of excessive workload and mental strain. Without management, work burnout can lead to severe physical and mental complications.
Mental Health and Heart Disease: The Connection
The relationship between mental health and physical health is reciprocal, and it is important to look after both to maintain overall wellbeing. For instance, certain mental health issues can increase the risk factors for heart disease.
The Impact of Mental Health Stigma on Society
Mental health stigma broadly refers to negative thoughts, beliefs, and actions about people with mental disorders. Mental health stigma exists for several reasons, and it can have several devastating impacts on people with mental disorders and society in general.
Depression: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatments
Depression is a type of mental health condition generally characterised by persistent low moods. Depression is more than just feeling sad - it can have a significant impact on people's livelihoods. However, there are several treatment options available.
Mental Health and Sleep: The Connection
The connection between mental health and sleep is reciprocal. Just as mental health conditions can impact the quality of sleep, poor sleep can trigger mental health conditions. However, there are ways to improve your sleep quality.
22 Tips for Coping with Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a type of clinical depression that can occur up to 12 months after childbirth . It can trigger feelings of worthlessness and persistent fatigue. However, there are numerous coping tips available to help you feel more like your old self.
Mental Health Issues vs. Mental Illness: Signs, Symptoms and Response
Mental health issues refer to any kind of problem with how we think, feel, or behave, while mental illness refers to diagnosable health conditions. There are numerous differences between the two, including their symptoms and treatments.
17 Tips for Managing the Holiday Blues
During the holidays, some people can experience feelings of stress, loneliness, and depression. This condition is colloquially termed the 'holiday blues'. However, there are several coping tips available to help you enjoy the holiday season.
The Baby Blues: A Comprehensive Guide to Postpartum Depression
<dfn>Postpartum depression</dfn> (PPD) is a form of clinical depression that can occur in women after they give birth. PPD can lead to feelings of worthlessness and persistent fatigue. However, there are treatment options available to help women get back to their normal selves.
5 Common Mind Health Issues in Women: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Mind health is vital to our overall wellbeing. Good mind health allows to us cope with everyday activities and stresses. Poor mind health can plague anyone. However, some mind health conditions are more common among women.
Anxiety Disorders: Causes and Symptoms
Anxiety is an umbrella term for a variety of disorders that are characterised by excessive fear or anxiety. It is important to know the symptoms, causes, and treatments of these disorders, as they can impair a person's work, health, and relationships.
4 Healthy Coping Strategies for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is a mental health disorder in which a person who has seen or experienced a traumatic event continues to have disturbing thoughts or feelings about the event. Though PTSD can be crippling, coping mechanisms and treatment options are available for sufferers.
Geriatric Depression: Not a Normal Part of Growing Old
Geriatric depression is a mental health condition in which elderly people experience persistently low moods. It is important to know the causes and symptoms of geriatric depression, as it can lead to other problems like social isolation.
14 Foods that Boost Mental Health
Just as it can help improve our physical health, food can help improve our mental health and cognitive function. In this article, we take a look at 14 food choices that can help boost mental health.
Understanding Depression in Men
Depression is a mental health condition that can affect anyone. However, it often presents differently in men, due in part to internal and external feelings of shame. It is important to understand depression in men, to help them safeguard their wellbeing.
15 Common Triggers of Depression
Depression is a serious mental health issue that can affect anyone. It is characterised by profound feelings of sadness and apathy. Though depression has no one definitive cause, it can be caused or worsened by a variety of triggers.
20 Ways to Beat Mental Stress
When someone is experiencing mental stress or poor mental health, they often feel helpless, sad, or irritable. It is important to know how to beat mental stress, as it can have a detrimental impact on a person's work, health, and relationships.
How to access mental health care plans in Australia
A mental health care plan is a document that outlines the treatment and support a person will receive to manage their mental health issues. It is important to know how to access mental health care plans, as they can help you reclaim your sense of wellbeing.
Mental Health: A Growing Threat to Our Young People
Mental health issues are rife among young people, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. It is important for young people to know how to stave off mental illness, as it can drastically impact their studies and relationships.
How to Build Mental Health and Wellness in Teenagers
Just like our physical health, our mental health can deteriorate if we don't look after it. It's important to help teenagers develop the skills to build their mental wellness, so that they can handle stress and life's many challenges.
Eating disorders and mental health: What you need to know
Eating disorders are a type of mental illness wherein the sufferer has distorted ideas about eating and gaining weight. They are most common among young women. It is important to know the causes and symptoms, as eating disorders can be fatal.
The Reality of Mental Health in the Workplace
Mental health issues are common in the Australian workplace, due to stressful working conditions and other contributing factors. Mental health issues can lead to workplace accidents and loss of productivity, so it's important to build mental strength in the workplace.
The Effects of Remote Work on Mental Health
Remote working exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it now allows people to work more flexibly. However, remote working can also lead to mental health issues like increased stressed. As such, it is important to know how to nurture your mental health in a remote work setting.
The Top 5 Mental Health Issues in the Workplace
Mental health is common in the Australian workplace, as long hours and lack of support can lead to anxiety, depression, and burnout. It is important to build mental resilience at work, as mental health costs the economy billions of dollars annually.
Mental Health and Athletes
Mental health concerns are common among athletes. This is because athletes can feel explicit and implicit pressure to always perform well. It is important for athletes to manage their mental health, as ongoing mental health concerns can cause burnout.
Mental Health in Children
Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness. Just like our muscles, our minds need to be exercised in order to stay healthy. Mental fitness is important for children because it can help them to cope with difficulties in their lives.
Mental Health After COVID: What You Need to Know
It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone’s mental health. The constant stress of the virus has left many people feeling anxious. However, there are things you can do to improve your mental health after COVID-19.
Mental fitness: a complete guide of learning the basics and how to apply it to your life.
Mental health and mental fitness are two important topics that are often confused with one another. However, there are also some key differences between the two. It is important to look after our mental fitness so we can handle adversity.
Understanding Nutrition, Depression and Mental Illnesses
Good food has been shown to support the growth of good bacteria in the gut, which helps improve mental health. Processed and refined foods, meanwhile, have been shown to contribute to mood fluctuations and chronic conditions.
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