I first saw these words on a billboard in Sydney’s Pitt Street Mall a few years ago. I stopped, snapped a photo (pictured) and remember thinking that this was a fantastic prescription for anyone going through a tough time (still do).
A few months after I took that photo, I found myself navigating a really hard time. I felt depressed, anxious, fragile and vulnerable. It’s around then that I saw a psychologist for the first time, which was without a doubt, one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
There is still such a stigma around mental health and to be honest, it frustrates me. 100% of us have mental health. It matters to all of us.
Did you know that suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages of 15-44?
Or that one in five Australians will experience a mental illness each year? These are simple facts and yet we, as a collective, are often ill-equipped at supporting others through hard times.
I get it.
Talking about mental health issues or mental illness can be difficult, awkward and scary, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re not sure where to start, here are two tips:
Educate yourself. Doing a mental health first-aid course is a great place to start.
If there’s someone in your life that needs your support, listen without judgement.
They do not need you to ‘fix’ them or to solve their problems.
They are not broken. They do not need to be fixed.
Do not project your lack of understanding or shame around mental illness onto them. They can’t and shouldn’t carry that weight.
They need your unconditional love, support and care.
Words in both images by author and mental health advocate, Matt Haig, from his book ‘Reasons to Stay Alive.’ If I could only recommend one book on mental health, it’d be this one.
For resources on mental wellbeing, take a look at my Wellbeing Toolkit.