12 minute read
Mental Health Awareness October 2019
mental health week MENTAL HEALTH WEEK Model has a mind to
tackle mental health
Pursuing a career in modelling had always been something that had interested Naomi Holt. It wasn’t until people started telling her that she should try it that she took a step towards the runway. At 15, her first validation occurred after finishing runner-up in a model search competition. From here, modelling was on and off, but she was forever striving ahead. Naomi has now modelled for Bonds, Cotton On, Target, Ozmozis, and Wanted Shoes, to list a few. The latter was an international campaign, which was a highlight for the 26-year-old.
The Mornington Peninsula-born and raised model has lived in Amsterdam and in Melbourne but always comes back to the Peninsula. A degree in marketing didn’t sit too well with Naomi because she knew it just wasn’t for her. It was time to soul-search. For a year and a half she fully embraced modelling. After reflecting that she enjoyed her psychology classes during high school, Naomi stepped into a university course in psychology. Having dyslexia, she knew it would be difficult with her learning disability — but Naomi believes “hard isn’t an excuse”.
Photographer: Ed Purnomo
Issue 95, OCTOBER 2019 The course saw her study in Amsterdam for five months and graduate earlier this year. Before returning for her master’s degree, Naomi’s been traveling and combining her two worlds in an Instagram page and blog called Mind the Model. It’s a space where mental health, self-care and body celebration thrive. Psychology and modelling seem like very different fields, yet she’s amalgamated them perfectly to share not only her story but other women’s stories, from models to strong women sharing their mental health experiences. She’s a stunning woman with the kindest heart. Naomi’s giving back even more by volunteering at Jesuit Social Services as she completes one-on-one mentoring with kids leaving the statutory protection system. You’ll also find her working with the Leaving Care Program as she assists young adults to enter adulthood as they leave the system. As a survivor of domestic violence as a child, she’s flattered that she was asked to be an ambassador for the Polished Man Campaign this year. This movement is all about men and women painting one of their fingernails with nail polish to raise awareness of violence against children and to highlight that one child dies every five minutes as a result of domestic violence. You won’t be surprised when we tell you she’s got a five-year plan. Not only will she be a practising psychologist, but she’s envisions that Mind the Model will be a popular platform where people can speak openly about mental health and self-care. Planning to run workshops on self-care at schools is also high on the list because it’s something that isn’t taught in schools. “Modelling has been amazing as it’s also allowed me to have a platform to have a voice and to use that voice in an interesting way,” Naomi says. “I don’t want it to stop. I’d love to become an ambassador for self-care, celebrating our bodies and caring for our mental health. Modelling is an exciting career, yet it doesn’t feed my soul enough.” With a freshly relaunched website, Naomi is offering a free seven-day challenge focused on celebrating your body and accepting who you are in an effort to reframe how you think. Visit www.mindthemodel.com and follow Naomi on Instagram @naomikholt and Mind the Model @mind_the_model
KATE SEARS
$5 from each copy of Thirteen and Underwater sold at the Mornington Peninsula Writers Festival 2019 will be donated to Headspace Frankston. Working together to replace the I in illness to We, turns Mental Illness into Mental Wellness
“...written in a voice that is candid and engrossing, it is spellbinding and filled with emotional moments. Readers will also discover powerful lessons in dealing with anxiety and creating a healthy environment where their kids can evolve in selfconfidence and trust. This memoir deftly handles themes of family, anxiety, love, hope, and healing.” www.mmhpress.com www.mickeymartinauthor.com.au
challenges head-on
Mental health and mental health challenges are part of the story of most Australian families. Be it our parents, our siblings, our extended families or even ourselves, mental health challenges can happen to anyone in our community.
It is estimated that one in five people in Australia experience a common mental disorder each year. Nearly half of the Australian population will experience mental illness at some point in their lives, but less than half will access treatment. Delivering the world’s best mental health system — stigma-free and focused on prevention, starting with children under 12 — is the major focus of the Australian Government’s Long-Term National Health Plan. Here on the Peninsula, we are taking proactive and positive steps to give locals access to mental health services in their own community. The Australian
Government has delivered close to $5 million to improve mental health services on the Mornington Peninsula, including: $1.5 million for the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Southern Peninsula Youth Services Hub; $300,000 for the construction of the Rosebud Secondary College Wellness Pavilion; $1.5 million for Headspace satellite services in Rosebud and Hastings; $300,000 for the Western Port Secondary College Wellness Centre; and, $1 million for Hope Assistance Local Tradies (HALT) to fund suicide prevention community workers in southeast Melbourne. As a government, and through the nation’s leaders, organisations, schools and the community, we will continue to work to ensure there will be no shame — in particular, no shame in our own mental health challenges — when we reach out for help.
GREG HUNT — Federal Health Minister
Holistic mental health care, closer to home
Pinelodge Clinic offers you the support you need in a holistic, relaxed and respectful environment that promotes wellbeing and recovery.
Providing expert psychiatric care and treatment for conditions including depression, anxiety, addiction and psychosis; Pinelodge Clinic offers holistic mental health care that’s closer to home.
• Inpatient services • General psychiatry • Addictions - Alcohol and other drugs
• rTMS & ECT • Day therapy programs • Community outreach support
• Outpatient psychiatry appointments
Losing a job. The passing of a loved one. Or the end of a relationship. Life is filled with many highs . . . and also many lows. But as the famous saying goes: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that really matters.” In other words, it’s all about resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from tough times, overcome adversity and find the courage to continue. And the best part is anyone can achieve it. It’s a behaviour, a blend of thought and action that rests within all of us. So if you’re struggling to cope in a challenging time, here are four ways to help you become more resilient . . . and conquer from within.
1. Practise acceptance Let’s face it, prolonged denial does more harm than good. It can cause anxiety and prevent you from seeking help. It can also drive you to neglect your emotions entirely – leaving you feeling empty and unsettled. But through acceptance, you will naturally: • Find more compassion for yourself and others • Stop negative emotions from consuming you • Mature as a person • Cope better with current and future hardships
If you’re thinking to yourself “easier said than done”, you’re absolutely right. Acceptance takes time, patience — and often the support of a professional. However, here are some ideas to get you on the right track: • Letting go of control can help you understand that you can’t alter the past • Identifying what you can change will help you develop realistic plans moving forward • Confronting your fears, stress or grief will help you recognise what’s true • Meditating can help you relax your mind and normalise your feelings Remember, when you accept your current situation, you’re not surrendering. Rather, you’re allowing yourself to feel more, free your mind and step closer to greater happiness.
self-worth and lessen your mental load. Here are some ways you can create a stronger support network: • Spend more time with people who make you feel good about yourself • Try to open up and express yourself to others more often • Join classes or groups based on your interests to connect with like-minded people • Set aside social media and have more face-to-face conversations
3. Opt for optimism Developing a positive outlook brings more than just a smile. It can also: • Improve your confidence and problem-solving skills • Reduce feelings of helplessness and encourage more constructive actions • Strengthen your personal relationships • Reduce the risk of poor health and illness • Shift you toward more positive thinking Although it’s not easy, one of the key ways to become more optimistic is to be realistic. That means putting your troubles into a broader context and identifying pessimistic thoughts that have been blown out of proportion. Once you uncover what’s unreasonable, you can dispute and correct them with more rational thinking.
4. Take care of yourself This might sound simple, but during a challenging time it can be one of the hardest things to do. Nurturing your mind and body is an investment in yourself. By maintaining your well-being, you’ll be able to better cope with stressful situations and build greater resilience in the long run. Some strategies for self-care include: • Snoozing for longer • Spending more time with loved ones • Pursuing your favourite hobbies or interests • Taking time away from your phone • Exercising regularly • Setting realistic and achievable goals
“At some stage in our life, we all struggle with personal challenges….. some big…some small. Friends and family can be helpful… but if its professional support you need…and, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help, turn to our caring team at Positive Psychology. Our highly qualified Psychologists help you work through your challenges and offer strategies to assist you towards positive change. So, if it’s time to heal and time for change – it’s time for Positive Psychology.”
2. Connect and confide Close relationships with friends and family can boost your resilience. That’s because the care and affection from loved ones can ease your stress, strengthen your
Positive Change. Growth. Wellbeing.
Helping you manage life’s challenges.
www.positivepsychology.net.au
Healing with horses at Racing Hearts
Lisa Coffey, from Racing Hearts in Moorooduc, talks about equine-assisted therapy and its many benefits.
What is equine-assisted therapy? Equine-assisted therapy is a combination of experiential therapy and talk therapy. Horses are integrated in the session to act as a co-facilitator. Clients are offered safe experiences with the horses to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions. This can assist in developing awareness, learning life skills, exploring how they are and what they experience in relationships, and building awareness of behavioural, emotional, and thought patterns that no longer serve them well. But how do the horses help the client? Horses live in the present moment and are non-judgemental. The horses can offer our clients a unique experience of change in many ways, including unique feedback to each individual, emotional safety and trust, authentic physical contact and unconditional positive regard/respect leading to feelings of love, support and acceptance; feelings that are often missing but desired at times in people’s lives. Who can benefit from equine-assisted therapy? Put simply, anybody who wants to experience a change. Many current clients are finding that equine-assisted sessions are improving their mood, relieving symptoms of stress and anxiety, assisting in developing healthier behaviour patterns, improving attendance at school, helping develop healthier relationships with loved ones, increasing resilience, compassion for self, self-care and confidence. Many clients also attend sessions for relaxation and time out from their busy schedules to wind down. What is so special about Racing Hearts? At Racing Hearts, I work with a team of rehabilitated and retired racehorses. Many of these horses have been purchased from livestock auctions, rehabilitated from physical and psychological injuries and illness and given a new lease on life. Many clients take the opportunity to connect with an individual horse and travel on their healing journeys together. What does Racing Hearts offer and how do I book? Racing Hearts offers individual sessions, which can be booked at a time convenient to the client. Programs can also be tailored for various groups ranging from half-day workshops to day retreats or weekly sessions. I am also always happy to work alongside your current psychologist, counsellor, GP etc to complement current treatment plans. RACING HEARTS A: 180 Coolart Rd, Moorooduc M: 0400 519 483 W: www.racinghearts.com.au FB: racingheartsint INSTA: racing_hearts_therapy Carrawatha Park 180 Coolart Rd, Moorooduc.
PATRICIA REILLY
Masters in Educational Psychology - Family Counselling
MENTAL HEALTH WEEK mental health week
Patricia Reilly brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her clients, whether individuals, couples or families. A highly qualified and recognised leader in the areas of:
• Art Therapy • Anger Management • Early Childhood Development • Emotional Resilience • Expressive Therapy • Family Counselling • Grief Counselling • Mindfulness, Meditation and Yoga • Sandplay Therapy
Patricia is the counsellor with an unconventional approach to healing individuals, couples and families.
The foundation of Patricia’s work is Expressive Therapies - a blend of personal growth, counselling and psychotherapy methods - which supports emotional healing, personal wellbeing and skill development.
In doing so, she has assisted children and families to develop various coping strategies to assist in navigating today’s turbulent world. Her approach is empathetic, practical and insightful.
Patricia provides her clients with a combination of personal growth, counselling, and psychotherapeutic methods including her unique use of Sandplay therapy, to facilitate emotional healing. She strongly believes that a happy and healthy mind/body connection is essential for life skills.
Given that we all have mental and physical health, the optimum wellness of both is of prime importance and Patricia is deeply committed to helping each individual, whether child or adult achieve the very best version of themselves possible!
Beyond the Masks Counselling and Psychotherapy M: 0401 963 099 E: patricia@beyondthemasks.com W: www.beyondthemasks.com
Dip. Tch, B.Sp Ed, M.Ed.Psych.Family Counselling, Cert. Expressive Therapies, Cert. Sandplay Therapy Dip. Transpersonal Art Therapy - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Member - Society of Australian Sexologists Mindfulness Coach - ACA Counselling Supervisor Lived Experience Member of Roses in the Ocean and Suicide Prevention Australia NDIS - Provider No. 4050032011 Private Health Cover rebates offered
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