NSW Mental Health Month

Mental Health Month is celebrated each year in the month of October in NSW. This awareness month encourages all of us to think about our mental health and wellbeing, regardless of whether we may have a lived experience of mental illness or not. This month also gives us the opportunity to understand the importance of mental health in our everyday lives and encourages help seeking behaviours when needed.

You could try the headspace Mental Health plan below, for the month of October!! You can download your own calendar and track your "small steps", or discover headspace's seven tips for a healthy headspace.       

Day 1 - be kind to yourself

Day 2 - Take 5 minutes to read something fun - a chapter of a book, a comic or manga.

Day 3 - Have a zoom dinner party - cook the same meal at different houses.

Day 4 - Take the dog for a walk. Add another block each day.

 

Day 5 - Do some deep breathing when you get into bed.

 

Day 6 - Talk with someone you trust about how you feel.

 

Day 7 - Reduce or cut out alcohol and other drugs by organising things for early the next morning.

 

Day 8 - Do an act of kindness - compliment someone, offer to help someone or volunteer.

 

Day 9 - Dance every day. Create a new dance choreography.

 

Day 10 - Eat an apple a day - or whatever fruit you like. 

 

Day 11 - Stretch different parts of your body.

 

Day 12 - Switch to passive screen time within 1 hour of bedtime.

 

Day 13 - A phone call, email or text with a friend can help you feel connected and supported.

 

Day 14 - Schedule other activities in for times you find hard.

 

Day 15 - Breathe deeply; in and out for blocks of 10 or 20 breaths.

 

Day 16 - Play an instrument. Try a different song each day.

 

Day 17 - Make a meal with a friend.

 

Day 18 - Explore new parts of your community. It might be a park or lake nearby. 

 

Day 19 - Set the alarm at the same time every day.

 

Day 20 - Spend time with family doing a jigsaw.

 

Day 21 - Find screen free time each day.

 

Day 22 - Listen to a new song each day. Build a new playlist.

 

Day 23 - Try a nutritious snack each day - carrot sticks, nuts.

 

Day 24 - Dial into an online workout.

 

Day 25 - Try mindfulness before bed. Find an app to support this.

 

Day 26 - Send a text to a different person each day.

 

Day 27 - Digital Detox when you walk. Lose the phone and look at what's around you. 

 

Day 28 - Play with your pet. Teach them a new trick.

 

Day 29 - Have a meal with no processed foods. 

 

Day 30 - Choose one exercise - like squats or push ups and increase your repetitions by 5 each day.

 

Day 31 - Join a zoom/facetime chat with friends each week.