Thanks for moderating guys, it was a great session! Night all xx ... View more

I'll take away the great ideas about identifying signs of stress, and ways to make sure you look after yourself, even when you're not able to manage your thoughts.  ... View more

@Magga  I'm a bit of a multi-instrumentalist: I play flute, saxophone, and sing.  (I also play piano but I'm definitely not good enough to perform on that!)  You? ... View more

For me it's actually playing music (especially performing).  I get such an adrenaline rush.   But my "cheer me up" songs are: Never Gonna Give You Up - Rick Astley Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks Broken Leg - Bluejuice   ... View more

Night @florenceforever ! ... View more

Sometimes it's hard to tell with other people, but changes in mood from down, to sensitive, argumentative, antisocial.  The best thing I think you can do is to let them know that you're there for them, (if it's particularly bad entice them out of their solitude/moods with promises of food goodies etc.) be emotionally available and aware, and make sure they have some form of support (even if it isn't you).   ... View more

@florenceforever That's such a good idea! When I get bad I forget to take care of myself (shower, brush teeth, cook).  I'm definitely using lists to remind me from now on :) ... View more

Stress and anxiety can cause damage to every aspect of your life.  It can affect your work, educatoin and relationships.  Having a stable support network, and constantly talking your problems out and identifying the early signs of stress and anxiety to find a solution before it gets bad is what helps me.  (Although I usually don't know I'm stressed until I'm halfway through a mini-breakdown haha)  ... View more

I think when things don't go as planned is when it can get hard. People like me have had our life planned out since we were 12 years old, and when things go wrong, it can be hard to accept your situation, let alone tell everyone else who asks. For my example, I haven't gone to the uni I wanted to, have dropped out of the one I did, and am very, very broke. The hardest part is talking to people who have such high expectations for you and telling them that it isn't working out, and you feel like you've let them down. The upside is that I have an amazing job (the one I was at uni to get anyway), and I just need my friends to remind me that just because things don't go as planned doesn't mean that you've failed: sometimes something better comes along. I'm lucky because my best friend is one of those amazing people that makes you feel better just with her presence, so when life gets tough I head over to hers, her mum cooks comfort food and we watch girly movies and binge on junk food. Sometimes all you need to feel better is a friend (or two) who truly knows you and to just chill out and have a break from the stress and troubles, and figure out how to face them when you're in a safe, stress-free environment. ... View more

@Perspicacious    I would vote for you for MH Minister ;-P ... View more

I think it should be an open system with a large increase in online assistance, and much more emphasis on education and prevention.  It should be something that everyone is aware and informed of.  Hopefully more people working in the industry: trained and tested for commitment and competence.    Oh, and education in schools both primary and secondary (teachers and students alike) ... View more

If it's just a tough time, and talking to friends doesn't help, either seek help online or just have a session or two with a counsellor; but if it's serious I encourage them to seek out a counsellor or GP and go from there.  Where I'm from, there is no shortage of mental health services, so I know that they can find something that will work for them.     ... View more

I would:   1) Make sure that everyone had cheap, accessible access to the professionals in their area and launch a campaign informing people of these services.   2) Hold various campaigns and workshops to remove the stigma from the media and in general society.   ... View more

I think the big one is stigma.  Lots of people still associate seeing a doctor as meaning you're crazy.  This comes from being uneducated about mental illness.  Some may also see a doctor as too far of a step forward.  If they were made aware of the various online services (self-help or counselled), they might find it more appealing to seek help. But also, some people might not want to see a doctor.  In small towns this can mean confessing things to someone who might know your parents or friends, and can be off-putting.   Again, awareness is a key issue in identifying if you even need help.  Some assume the feelings they're going through are normal teenage angst, and may not find out until later that they don't have to feel like that. ... View more

Intervention is so important.  Letting youths know what services are out there for them, and providing them with the tools they need to overcome everyday (and sometimes the more serious)  obstacles could prevent a large percentage of mental illness. Also teaching people to recognise the early signs can help.  If it's noticed early it can be mended much sooner than if identified months, or even years, after the problem arose.     ... View more

The help we receive varies.  From social workers and counsellors (I find), it's a lot less formal and the offer someone to talk to and sort problems out, while psychologists are for more intense feelings, and when you feel that you need more than just someone to talk to.  I think that having these different levels and formalities are important, as everyone is different, but that needs to be easier to access. Time spent in these sessoins should vary from person to persn, as they need and feel comfortable with. I think that these sessions should include lots of information and help the person can find and seek themselves, and provide them with resources so they are able to help themselves when they feel like they need a hand. I think professionals need to be more affordable.  Not everyone can afford to pay $120 an hour on a weekly or fortnightly basis, and cost can be something that prevents people seeking help, especially in youth.  What young adult has an extra $100 lying around to spend on counselling? ... View more

@delicatedreamer  I agree.  Lots of people only think of psychologists or psychiatrists, which may be too full-on for them.  Knowing that there are other services and professionals for less intense sessions can be what makes people get help earlier.   ... View more

I am not really surprised by the number of people who aren't seekng help (so many are not aware of the services available, and some are diagnosed when it's too serious), but I am surprised by the lack of professionals provided.   I had access to a few in my area, which is coastal country, so I assumed everywhere would be similar.  But to need that many is insane!  If funding were put into early intervention and prevention, and increasing awareness of services such as Reach Out and Beyond Blue, it would help mightily.       ... View more

@mischiefmanaged    I completely agree! Once you use up the ten free sessions, it costs over $100 an hour to see a psycholgist.  And if you're still seeing them, it's usually on a regular basis.  I think they need to put funding in early awareness, to prevent it fromgetting this serious, and also help subsidise the costs.   ... View more

Hey guys,   I love the different types of help you can access for the different levels of mental health.  I know these aren't accessible to everyone, but every little bit helps.   ... View more