Newsroom

Now is the time to prioritise your mental health

Posted 21 Oct 2020

With levels of stress and anxiety at an all-time high, there has never been a more important time to look after your mental health and wellbeing.

To help Western Australians, Curtin University’s Mentally Healthy WA has unveiled an exciting new and evolved Act Belong Commit health promotion campaign to inspire and motivate everyone to prioritise their mental health.

“The world has changed and we’re operating on a new norm where baseline levels of anxiety and stress among Australian adults have more than doubled since COVID-19,”

Associate Professor Christina Pollard, Director of Mentally Healthy WA.

Evidence shows people are worried about the virus and worry for their friends and family. They feel uncertain about their future, many are experiencing loneliness and are concerned about their finances.

Even before the pandemic, the Australian Bureau of Statistics was reporting reduced levels of social connectedness, making it essential to activate and maintain social networks and communicate with family and friends.

“It’s a perfect storm which challenges our ability to maintain our mental health and wellbeing. This also makes it the perfect time to revitalise the highly-regarded, long running Act Belong Commit campaign to inspire, motivate and remind people that now more than ever, it’s time to take a proactive approach to their mental health,”

A/Prof Pollard. 

Mental health is described by the World Health Organization as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and contribute to their community.

The Healthway and Mental Health Commission-funded Act Belong Commit campaign champions mental health by reminding us to regularly:

• ACT: Do something to keep mentally, physically, spiritually and culturally active.
• BELONG: Do something with someone to keep connected to friends, family, community and culture.
• COMMIT: Do something meaningful – get involved in activities that provide meaning and purpose.

The new Act Belong Commit campaign starts Wednesday 21 October across media including major metropolitan and regional televisions stations, catch up TV, radio stations and Indigenous networks, digital and social media platforms.

In collaboration with more than 300 partner organisations state-wide, Act Belong Commit works to promote positive mental health strategies at the individual and community level.

You’ll find hundreds of simple, do-able and achievable activities you can do to improve your mental health on the Act Belong Commit’s Activity Finder.

“The refreshed Act Belong Commit campaign presents being mentally healthy in an aspirational and desirable way. You can start wherever you’re at. Every little thing you do each day builds your mental health but also feels good,”  says A/Prof Pollard.