Student Well-being @ Central 2014 Symposium

Presenters Amy Jenkins (Community Mental Health Worker )

Meagan Shand (Manager Health Promotion & Community Development)

An initiative of www.ruah.com.au

What does wellbeing look and feel like to you?

Discovery Tour • 5 towns in regional WA

Dowerin, Newdegate, Northam, Narrogin, Katanning

• 18 Days • 3000 KM’s• At least 30 hours driving

time • Talked to over 1000

people

Survey demographics• 97 responses• 72% female, 28% male• 36% metro, 56% regional• Key age groups: 41-60 (43%), 25-40 (27%)

Our Wellbeing • When asked how would you rate your

wellbeing on a scale of one to ten, most respondents (53%) rated their wellbeing as an eight or higher. The average rating was 7.22.

Our Wellbeing • People from regional areas were more likely to

rate their wellbeing as low• Men were more likely to rate their wellbeing

as higher, making up 40% of respondents who rated their wellbeing 8 or over.

Our Wellbeing • When asked what wellbeing means to you, the

most common word cited was ‘health’, mental, happy and balance.

• Body, mind and soul in a positive balance; Feeling well, happy.

Our Wellbeing • When asked what contributes to wellbeing the

response was broader, incorporating aspects of family and social health and wellbeing: family, friends, exercise, diet, relationships and lifestyle.

Mental Health & Mental illness

• Sometimes they get confused.• Mental health is a ‘positive sense of well-being’ • It is not the opposite of mental illness.• Mental illness is a medically diagnosed disorder or

syndrome that significantly interferes with a person’s thinking, emotions and interactions with others; and causes major distress and disability.

There are 3 important things

1. Mental illness is like any other illness – the symptoms can be managed.

2. Mental illness can be prevented- the important thing is to ‘Get Help Early’.

3. Recovery from mental illness is possible – with the right support and treatment most people recover from mental illness.

3 things you can do

1. Talk to someone you know and trust about your mental health concerns; a family member, friend, teacher, Ed support, chaplain or school health nurse.

2. See a Doctor or GP. A GP can often offer you support or refer you to other services.

3. Connect online or mobile to dedicated websites, help lines and mobile apps. (see more resources over page)

http://youtu.be/fb86u-3ag9g

Watch a Video – Clint

How to tell if you or a friend may not be coping….

We all have good days and bad days. However... • Changes in mood, feelings, thinking or behaviour• Thinking very negative, pessimistic thoughts• Thinking about harming yourself • Thinking and seeing bizarre things and experiencing

strange sensations• Feeling tense, restless, irritable or quick to become

aggressive

How to tell if you or a friend may not be coping….

• Feeling unable to cope, helpless or useless• Isolating self from others, not wanting to go outside • Increased risk taking/ dangerous behaviour (e.g.

alcohol or illicit drug use) • Increase in emotional outbursts (e.g. crying, laughing

or yelling) • Reduced energy levels and motivation to participate

in activities and interests • Difficulty looking after personal appearance and living

environment

How to Help• Approach the person, assess and assist with

any crisis• Listen non-judgementally• Give support and information• Encourage the person to get appropriate

professional help• Encourage other supports

Mental Health First Aid Manual (2010)

How to cope when stress becomes distressing!

Wellbeing Safety Plan!• A wellbeing safety plan is a list of activities that a

person can choose when feeling overwhelmed so that they can avoid engaging in unsafe behaviour.

• Safety plans keep people safe by helping to regulate emotions

• Covers physical, psychological, social and moral domains

Creating Your Safety Plan

Step 1• Identify which emotions are most difficult to

manage for you (Remember that there are often other emotions underneath what looks like anger; sadness, shame, frustration, etc.)

Creating Your Safety Plan

Step 2• Identify what types of situations are likely to

trigger the emotion(s) you identified in step 1 (i.e.: being ignored, being asked to do more than your share, etc).

Creating Your Safety Plan

Step 3• Identify the signs that you or those around

you might notice when your emotions are becoming overwhelming (i.e.: crying, pacing, fidgeting, scribbling, etc).

Creating Your Safety PlanStep 4• Identify 5 things that you can do to help keep

yourself and those around you physically, emotionally, socially safe.

• Transfer these 5 things to your safety plan card, which you will use as a physical reminder of coping skills that work for you in challenging times.

Finding the Right Support

Family & Friends

Recovery Support

Peer Support & Self Help

Doctor or GPClinical Care

Specialist Services

Community Linking

Contacts • For emergencies call Lifeline phone: 13 11 14 • Or eheadspace can help phone 1800 650 890 or

visit www.eheadspace.org.au • www.youthbeyondblue.com• www.ourwellbeingwa.com.au • Ruah Mental Health

www.ruah.com.au Phone: 08 9485 3939Email: mentalhealth@ruah.com.au