In any given year one in five Australians (20%) will experience mental health difficulties with reports that Australian University students are more than one in four. A lot of us are also experiencing increased levels of anxiety, stress and loneliness due to the global pandemic and the radical changes that have happened to life as we know it.??
Many of us are just not doing that great right now and that's ok.???
It can often be difficult to talk about how you’re feeling with the people in your life or know how to help a friend, family member or colleague who’s struggling.?That’s why the Guild is launching the ‘not great, thanks for asking’ mental health awareness and resource-based campaign. We will be working with the University throughout the rest of the semester, to ensure that more students and staff members know how to have a conversation about their mental health and where to access support both at QUT and beyond.
USEFUL Contacts
Unsure who to contact? Here are a number of important contacts to get in touch if you’re not feeling great:
- beyondblue
is an organisation working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related substance misuse disorders in Australia
- Black Dog Institute
is a translational research institute that aims to reduce the incidence of mental illness and the stigma around it, to actively reduce suicide rates and empower everyone to live the most mentally healthy lives possible.
- Bite Back
is a new and ever-changing space where you can discover ways to amplify the good stuff in life, share real and personal stories with others, check out videos, blogs and interviews of interesting people, check and track your mental fitness, and get your teeth stuck into a bunch of activities!
- Depression.com.au
operates around the clock improving the mental health and well-being of people impacted by mild to moderate depression throughThe professional services are delivered by qualified staff and registered Psychologists, Counsellors and trained volunteers. Depression.com.au aims to assist clients, families, friends and carers impacted by depression in a collaborative, safe and non-judgemental way.
- free counselling, peer support and assistance for people dealing with depression
- a working well peer support service specifically for people dealing with depression in the workplace
- the information service, which provides people with the right tools to locate information on resources, causes of depression and treatment options
- E-couchprovides information about emotional problems - what causes them, how to prevent them and how to treat them. It includes exercises to help you understand yourself and others better. Even better, it provides you with a set of strategies that might help you to improve your life.
- eheadspace
is a confidential, free and secure space where young people 12-25 or their family can chat, email or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional.
- headspace
is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation. They help young people who are going through a tough time. Looking for someone to talk to? If you're 12-25, you can get health advice, support and information from headspace. With centres all around Australia, maybe headspace can help you.
- Lifeline
provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services. Phone 13 11 14
- MensLine Australia
is a professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men. Phone 1300 789 978
- Mental Health in Multicultural Australia
provides a national focus for advice and support to providers and governments on mental health and suicide prevention for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
- moodgym
is like an interactive self-help book which helps you to learn and practice skills which can help to prevent and manage symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- OnTrack
aims to support the Australian community to achieve mental and physical health and wellbeing. This is achieved in several unique ways. Quizzes, information, referrals and programs. It is a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation.
- QLife - Living Proud
is Australia's first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people. The project will provide nation-wide, early intervention, peer supported telephone and web based services to diverse people of all ages experiencing poor mental health, psychological distress, social isolation, discrimination, experiences of being misgendered and/or other social determinants that impact on their health and wellbeing.
- Rape & Domestic Violence
Rape & Domestic Violence Services Australia provides 24/7 telephone and online crisis counselling for anyone - women and men - in Australia who has experienced or is at risk of sexual assault, family or domestic violence and their non offending supporters. Phone 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
- ReachOut.com
is Australia's leading online youth mental health service. It's the perfect place to start if you're not sure where to look. Every year it helps hundreds of thousands of young Australians with information support and stories on everything from finding your motivation, through to getting through really tough times.
- Relationships Australia
Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities.
- Sleep Hygiene
We all need it but sometimes we short-change oursleves when it comes to sleep, yet a lack of sleep affects our memory, mood and general cognition.