Looking after your mental health

We’re all becoming more and more aware of just how important mental health is to living a happy and healthy life.

For older Australians, good mental health is crucial to overall health and wellbeing, so if you look after your mental health you will be able to live at home for longer.

An estimated 10 to 15 percent of older people who live in the community experience depression and about 10 percent experience anxiety.

This could be something a person is feeling for the first time, or something they have struggled with on and off throughout their life.

It is also common for older people to experience more of the contributing factors of depression than young people, including physical illness and personal loss.

If you do experience any signs of poor mental health, reach out and get help, because the earlier you address these feelings the better your chances are of dealing with them before hitting a crisis point.

Know the signs

Knowing what the signs are when you are struggling with your mental health will equip you with the tools you need to seek the right treatment and start your path to recovery.

Common signs that you may need to focus on your mental health or seek support include:

◆ Confusion, disorientation or unusual thinking

◆ Significant changes in mood or emotional outbursts

◆ Feeling guilty or worthless, restless, agitated, or sad for long periods of time

◆ Excessive fears, worries and anxieties

◆ Sleep problems

◆ Changes in behaviour

◆ Weight or appetite changes

◆ Suicidal thoughts or acts of self- harm

◆ Substance abuse

Many older people have symptoms of depression or anxiety due to health issues, loss - of your career, loved ones, independence or physical ability, financial problems and family conflict.

Understanding how these causes might affect you can also steer the direction of your treatment when you do seek help and assist with your recovery.

Be truthful about how you are feeling and realistic about why.

Help is available

Although older people, and their regular health professionals, may have a tendency to brush off the symptoms of mental health conditions as ‘normal’ for people who are ageing, ignoring the signs can lead to really serious consequences.

Living with an untreated mental health condition can shorten your life, lead to poorer physical health and increase your risk of dementia.

This is why it is so important to seek help by visiting your General Practitioner (GP) for advice.

Your doctor can connect you to any specialists you might need, like a psychologist or counselling service, and work with you to create a mental health treatment plan.

The mental health treatment plan will detail the issues you are experiencing, potential treatment options, and support services.

Your GP will also provide a letter of referral to your mental health expert of choice.

This referral will allow for several mental health appointments with the professional to be subsidised by the Government.

You don’t have to have a referral from a doctor to visit a mental health specialist, but you won’t receive Government-subsidised appointments without a referral and it could be difficult to get on the waiting list for an appointment.

Additionally, you can contact helplines, support groups and other health professionals through community services who are able to listen to you and assist with your mental health.

Crisis support through Lifeline is also available, call 13 11 14.

The path to recovery

A mental health specialist can assist you in recovering from a state of mental ill health to be happy and enjoy life.

Different mental health professionals can help with your path to recovery in different ways.

◆ Psychiatrists diagnose and treat mental health conditions with a combination of medication, treatment plans and therapies. They work with you, your family and any other specialists you are seeing to ensure you understand the symptoms of your condition and can manage them effectively.

◆ Psychologists cannot prescribe medication, so they use various treatment strategies and help you to make changes in your life in order to resolve issues you have. They will help you to understand how you’re feeling and make sure the changes you make improve your quality of life.

◆ Counsellors will listen to your feelings and talk about the possible causes of your stress, anxiety or depression, so that they can help you form a plan of how to manage your mental health.

◆ Social workers similarly will discuss what issues you are facing and recommend how you can make positive changes in your life to tackle the root of the problem.

◆ Mental health nurses work in the community to provide education, counselling and support, as well as helping with medication and linking you to other services that can help. Each of these professionals might have a positive impact on your pathway to recovery and good mental health.

Boosting mental health

Part of looking after your mental health is being proactive by doing daily tasks that will boost positivity and reduce any negative feelings you may have.

Socialising and connecting with other people is one of the biggest ways to combat loneliness and is crucial for keeping your mind happy and healthy.

It can be as simple as catching up with a close friend for a coffee, or visiting your grandchildren for a regular family dinner.

If you’re not sure who to socialise with you can join a community social group to meet other people your age and connect with them on outings.

For more specific social support there are groups targeted at supporting you in areas of your life that may be linked to mental health conditions. For example there are support groups for people experiencing grief, loss, boredom, loneliness or isolation that meet in person, online or over the phone.

Regular exercise and staying active are another activity that boosts mental health. You could try walking daily, pilates or yoga classes or age - modified exercise and sports.

Fellowship and fun

The Probus Club of Melbourne is a men’s social club of some 200 members, mostly retirees, looking for social interaction and who all share one thing in common – a love for the opportunities the club provides.

Members attend meetings to socialise with friends and hear from speakers, go on day trips around Melbourne or longer trips across Australia, with their partners if they choose, and can join smaller groups for sports such as tennis, golf and bowls.

Club President Rick Ladbury says the fellowship of the Club is one of the top reasons people join.

“I think the main reasons they join are twofold; it’s the camaraderie and the fellowship, and the quality of the speakers at the general meetings,” he says.

“Most people agree that camaraderie and fellowship are a key part of this organisation.”

By building connections with a “great cross section” of people their own age, Mr Ladbury says his members get the social interaction they need to maintain their wellbeing.

“A lot of them even get to a 10 o’clock meeting at 9.30 so they can have a coffee and a chat before we sit down for the formal business,” he says. Whether it’s being part of the bridge group, a discussion group where members cover a range of topics, or one of the five finance groups competing against each other by ‘investing’ a hypothetical one million dollars for the highest returns, they all encourage members to learn new knowledge and keep their minds active. And some groups are so popular they have a waiting list to join!

But aside from all the activities on offer, the Club has a real focus on wellbeing. Friends and acquaintances ask after each other’s health, there’s a newsletter that keeps those who can’t attend involved with their social network and the Club even has a Wellbeing Officer to follow up with members who are unwell to show support for them.

Increasing enjoyment in your life through hobbies and interests can also have a positive effect on mental health, as can keeping your mind active through board or card games, crosswords, or reading books, magazines or newspapers.

Reach out to your local council to find the right activity or group for you.

“I suppose if you’re looking at retirement a lot of people would say what you need is intellectual stimulation and social stimulation, and when you look at our members you can see they’re engaged in both,” says Mr Ladbury.

There are all-male, all-female and mixed Probus Clubs right across Australia, as well as others such as the Rotary and Lions clubs, offering similar social opportunities and supporting the wellbeing of retirees.

You can find your local club by visiting probussouthpacific.org or asking your council about the clubs in your area.