As 2020 draws to a close, are you hearing a collective sigh of relief?
It’s been a challenging year on so many levels and we’re not in the clear yet.
The thing I worry most about beyond these things is this. We are in a mental health crisis, the extent and severity of which has never been experienced before.

The World Health Organisation recently released a report that shared how in 130 countries surveyed, 93% reported mental health services had either been disrupted or halted as a result of the global pandemic – at a time when those services are needed more than ever.

Which is why I believe the time has come to REIMAGINE mental health and what that might look like.

For too long we’ve ignored the obvious. Our mental health system has been chronically underfunded and failing badly in providing timely and adequate mental health services to those in need.

Throwing more money into a broken system won’t fix it.

It’s time for a new approach.

Our approach to mental health is outdated and ineffective. In the face of a second epidemic of mental health challenges secondary to the global pandemic, we have an opportunity to step up and do things differently.

By making mental wellbeing the norm.

It’s R U OK? Day on September 10th, an important date that reminds us of the importance of looking out for each other, especially in the realm of mental wellbeing.
And it’s even more critical today because of the global pandemic which has resulted in a rapid increase in the level of psychological distress, anxiety and depression being reported.
With 45% of the adult Australian population experiencing some form of mental health problem at some point in their lives, it’s essential to look for ways of lowering the risk, managing mental distress more effectively and the reducing the cost of poor mental health to the individual, their families and the economy.

Early intervention is key.

At a time where the focus is very much about maintaining our mental wellbeing, it’s important to reflect on what you find helpful.

The latest reports indicate that many of us are finding it hard to deal with the ongoing challenge of continuing uncertainty, stress and anxiety brought about by the pandemic.

Sure, being sufficiently active, trying to eat healthily, getting enough sleep and looking for ways to stay connected are all great, but there’s something else that sometimes gets forgotten.

Making the time to have some fun.

I don’t know about you, but all this noise is driving me stir-crazy!
Which noise?

The incessant noise from the media.

While it’s important to remain informed about world and local events, the ‘news’ as it used to be called has increasingly become a channel for opinion and journalistic commentary. With so much anxiety and uncertainty around courtesy of the pandemic this relentless 24-hour merry-go-round of rehashed information has the potential to perpetuate conspiracy theories and accentuate the worst possible outcomes, which is unhelpful at best.

Enough of all this blah-de-blah-de-woof-woof!

It’s one thing to be appraised of our reality. It’s something else to become fearful and depressed as a consequence. Our mental wellbeing is being put to the test and those already vulnerable to anxiety and depression are the ones who will suffer the most.

When working as a GP some of my patients were those I called “the worried well.” Typically, they were well educated, health conscious folk concerned about some aspect of their health. Allaying their fears and concerns could take time but was always worth the investment to prevent unnecessary worry turning into something else.
But today there is a growing number in our society doing it tough; the worried unwell. One outcome of the pandemic has been the deluge of uncertainty and heightened stress. Some of my friends and clients have confessed to living with an undercurrent of constant tension that bubbles up to the surface in those times when their day or week didn’t go well, leaving them feeling like sh*t and wondering how long before any of us feel ‘normal’ again.
Even the most resilient are experiencing some days they wish they could forget.