IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH: TWO SIDES OF THE SAME BRAIN

By Gerard Tan

Mental health is often thought of as representing the opposite of mental illness. In that respect, mental health is more than the mere absence of mental illness. It is a positive state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well and contribute to their community.

Where we sit on the continuum of mental health and mental illness is not fixed. It is almost a certainty that we will have ups and downs in our lives – at work, at home, within ourselves, in our relationships and in what is going on about us. These changes pull us towards one end of the continuum or the other: a little more this way today, a bit more that way tomorrow.

A good proportion of us – two out of every five people – will experience a big enough shift during our lives that we find ourselves on the unwell end of the continuum. One out of every five would have had that experience in the last twelve months. Despite mental health problems being so common, there is still stigma attached to having a mental illness.

In one study, more than one third of respondents said they would not want anyone to know if they were experiencing depression or anxiety. Just under one third believed it best to not disclose the same when applying for a new job. More than a quarter expected that a colleague with depression or anxiety would be unpredictable and unlikely to perform adequately at their job.

Everyone has a part to play in destigmatising mental illness. Educating ourselves about mental illness can dispel stereotypes and reshape ideas and attitudes about mental illness and people who experience them. Discussing mental health/illness openly encourages openness and understanding. Choosing our language with care normalises respect that most take for granted.

People can and do recover from mental illness and go on to live rich and meaningful lives. Recovery can be framed in clinical terms, with a focus on reducing symptoms, increasing functioning and getting “back to normal”. It can also be thought of as a personal journey of change to achieve wellness, even in the presence of symptoms and functional impairments. Personal recovery sits very well with the positive construction of mental health described above. The CHIME model of personal recovery outlines five essential elements for life: » Connectedness » Hope and optimism » Identity » Meaning » Empowerment

These elements are eminently compatible with the attributes of mental health: coping, learning, working, self-actualising and contributing to the community.

The CHIME model also finds resonance in the Five Ways to Wellbeing framework, which encourages people to “do the five”: » Connect

» Be Active

» Keep Learning » Be Aware

» Help Others

We can all contribute to building mental health – starting with ourselves, including those around us, and extending to our communities. Visit https://5waystowellbeing.org.au to find out more about simple everyday practices to improve psychological and emotional health.

More information

If this article raises any concerns, help is available. Lifeline provides a 24-hour telephone crisis support at 13 11 14.

Gerard is NGIV’s dedicated mental health clinician/consultant. NGIV members can book an appointment by scanning the QR code.