Advice on hand at Headspace
Headspace Horsham is using Mental Health Week and national Headspace Day tomorrow to encourage young people in the Wimmera to learn about simple tips to help them build and manage their mental health and wellbeing.
Youth engagement and community development co-ordinator Louise Barnett said Headspace Day recognised the challenges of life but also the potential of young people to cope with the many issues they might confront.
“On this day we acknowledge that life has its challenges, but young people are resilient, and with the right support and tools they can build and manage their mental health and wellbeing,” she said.
“This year, we want to encourage young people to learn some simple tips to help them maintain a healthy headspace.
“The theme this year is ‘Add a little colour to your day. Put mental health in the picture’.
“We are using ‘mindful colouring’ to bring our seven tips for a healthy headspace to life and we are encouraging people to share the small things they do to support their mental health.”
As part of tomorrow’s program, the organisation is calling artists aged between 12 and 25 to express their interpretation of the seven tips to a healthy headspace on canvas, to be featured at headspace Horsham in Hamilton Street. Organisers have also encouraged young people to go to the centre to colour a large wall sticker.
Ms Barnett said headspace Horsham had been in operation for almost 18 months in the Wimmera.
“Mental Health Week and Headspace Day gives us another opportunity to address the need for young people to feel supported and that it’s okay to talk with someone if they are not feeling in a good space,” she said.
“Even though days and themed weeks pass us by, it is the knowledge we learn and stigmas we break down that is import.”
Ms Barnett said during Mental Health Week, which started on Sunday, people should keep an eye out for developments on social media through Facebook, @headspacehorsham and Instagram.
“We would love to see people using the hashtag #headspacehorsham to show us how they are adopting their seven tips to a healthy headspace,” she said.
An art version of the seven tips to a healthy headspace is available online at headspace.org.au.
The seven tips to a healthy headspace are – • Swap snaps for chats – Build close and connected relationships. Feeling connected to others is an essential part of being human. Spending time with friends, family and people in your community can really strengthen your mental health and wellbeing. • Lose your fog. Lay off gear and grog – Cut back on alcohol and other drugs. Curbing the amount of alcohol and other drugs you use will help you manage your emotions better and improve your wellbeing. • Find your passion – Get into life and do things that are important to you. Keep doing the stuff you love to do and the things that are important to you. It can help keep the fun in your life, give you a sense of accomplishment and purpose. • Feed your mind – Learn new ways to handle tough times. There are many different strategies that help manage difficult thoughts and feelings. Things such as meditation, a digital detox or listening to music are just a few ways that can help you handle challenging times.
• Welcome to Z town – Get enough sleep. Sleep improves your mood, sharpens your concentration and increases resilience. Reducing things that keep you from restful sleep, like noise or light, will help you improve your sleep. • Make your play active – Staying active can help you to sleep better, manage stress and boost your mood. Find a way to keep active that you enjoy and incorporate this into your regular routine. • Get a taste for the good stuff – Eat well. There is a strong link between what we eat and how we feel. A poor diet can make you feel sluggish and increase symptoms of anxiety. But staying hydrated and having a healthy diet can improve mental health.