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First Mental Health Month During Covid-19

Unusual Circumstances

By Jonathon DeakinsPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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First Mental Health Month During Covid-19
Photo by Emma Simpson on Unsplash

October is Mental Health Month, and in many ways, this has never been as important as it is in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has had huge impacts on people’s mental health in Australia and around the world. It is now essential that we find ways of helping each other through these difficult times.

Here we take a look at Mental Health Month and what it means, as well as looking at the ways we can support each other through the pandemic.

What is Mental Health Month?

In Australia, National Mental Health Month takes place in October each year. It is a month dedicated to helping Australians learn more about mental health and raising awareness of the many factors that impact our mental well-being.

Different states and territories organise their own events programmes for Mental Health Month each year. However, it has largely been celebrated all over Australia since 2010. The month of October was chosen so that the events could coincide with World Mental Health Day, which takes place on October 10th each year.

While many countries have their own mental health weeks or months, these are not always held in October. For example, the UK holds its annual Mental Health Awareness Week in May, the same month dedicated to mental health awareness in the USA.

Why mental health matters more than ever in 2020

Each year, Mental Health Month focuses on a different theme surrounding the issue of mental health awareness. The theme for 2020 is Mental Health Matters — and this could not be more appropriate due to the unprecedented situation we are all currently going through.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health, causing people in many countries to experience increased anxiety episodes and it is no different here in Australia. Social restrictions and the need to work from home have led to feelings of loneliness and isolation. In some cases, people also had the added stress of job uncertainty or even lost their jobs altogether. The Australian government has allocated an estimated extra $500 million for mental health services this year to try and mitigate the effects of the pandemic on our well-being.

However, COVID-19 has also brought us together in many ways. We all have the sense of a shared experience, creating stronger family and community links. In addition, it has made us focus on those who may be struggling, and many of us have helped our communities wherever we can. Mental Health Month this year can strengthen our focus and make us more aware of what some people may be going through, as well as showing us the ways that we can help.

How to look after each other’s mental health

The pandemic has made us more aware of people who are alone. It’s important to check on your neighbours, particularly if they’re older or living on their own — a friendly phone call can make all the difference to someone’s day.

Also, although we may not be able to see family and friends in person at the moment, remember that there are still ways of keeping in touch. Video calling software like Zoom or Skype can be a great way of making you feel as if you’re together.

There are also leading mental health organisations such as Beyond Blue, Black Dog Institute and Stride to name a few that can really help.

Even though the world feels it has changed beyond all recognition this year, some things are still the same. Our relationships with our families, friends, and communities don’t have to suffer — by staying in regular contact, we can make our ties stronger and help each other to feel better.

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Jonathon Deakins

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