Similar to the healthy eating and regular exercise you need in order to take care of your physical health, taking care of your mental health requires the use of strategies to help reduce stress levels and help you to function well in the world.

There's no one obvious sign or behavioural change that people exhibit when they're struggling with their mental health. It varies from person to person and is usually a combination of things, including:

As Mental Health Australia is celebrating World Mental Health Day 2022 with the theme, "Look after your mental health, Australia”, we're going to take some inspo from this simple yet powerful theme by sharing some tips for mental health.

Just remember that if you need support or someone to talk to, our Sonder support team is available 24/7 to chat whenever you need it.

Endless research shows that exercise is beneficial for your sleep, mood and general wellbeing, as well as reducing stress and anxiety. If you need help starting an exercise routine, we've got you covered right here.

Staying active is just one part of the equation when it comes to wellbeing. Your diet and lifestyle is an important part as well. Maintaining a healthy diet, cutting back on alcohol and non-prescription drugs, getting a good night's sleep, and regular checkups with the doctor can all help. If you need help to kickstart a healthy diet, head over here.

With the amount of information, news, and content these days, it can be quite overwhelming to properly process everything, especially with the amount of misinformation that's out there. Try and limit how often you engage with news and social media, and make sure that the news sources you do read are trustworthy and factual.

While it's important to keep up with news and events, and with friends over social media, excessive consumption of media can lead to increased stress and anxiety. If you need some advice on getting your relationship with social media to a healthy place, we've got you covered right here.

Having positive relationships with other people is important for our satisfaction with life and general wellbeing. Whether it's family, friends, workmates, or a community you feel comfortable in (such as a sports team or hobby group), establishing a good social connection with people can help your mental health in several ways, such as lower rates of anxiety and depression, better self-esteem, and greater empathy.

These are weird times! So it's important to keep a clear perspective and view changes with an open mind. Remind yourself of the things that you're grateful for and journaling them down each day is a good way to stay grounded.

Just remember that life is uncertain and sometimes there's no right or wrong reaction. Cut yourself some slack if you've been feeling less productive or motivated lately due to worrying events. Some things are out of your control, so there's no need to take it out on yourself.

If you are struggling with your mental health and your usual support system isn't enough, seek professional help. There's no shame in getting help and support from doctors or mental health professionals. If you do need to talk to someone, just remember that our Sonder support team is available 24/7 to help you.

If you have any questions or need extra support, we're here to help you anytime in any language. Simply start a chat with us via the home screen of the Sonder app.

Information from: Better Health Channel, Beyond Blue, Headspace, Heads Up, Health Direct #1, Health Direct #2, and Mental Health Australia

Image credit: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional.