Video Transcription

Mental health and you

Mental health is really about having the ability to cope with whatever life throws at you.

It’s about having balance in all aspects of life—social, emotional, and physical.

It’s having a healthy mindset when going to school, going to work, or hanging out with friends—just doing whatever you do every day.

It’s also about how a person views themselves, their self-image, and how they see themselves deep down inside.

It’s having the motivation to go out, do the things you want to do, and get what you want out of life.

We’re all different, and that’s OK. It’s OK to be different and to have your own journey.

It’s normal to have ups and downs, but it’s about whether or not you can get yourself out of those lows. If they last forever, and it feels like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, that might be a sign that something isn’t right.

When you lose the ability to do the things that are part of your everyday routine—going to work, going to school, hanging out with friends—that can be a sign, too.

Or when you lose interest in things you used to enjoy or were really motivated to do.

Even simple tasks that used to be easy can start to feel overwhelming.

And it’s about how much it affects your life as a whole—if you stop seeing family and friends or talking to people.

It could also lead to things like alcohol and drug use or struggling to get out of bed each day.

But mental health struggles can look different for everyone. For some people, it might not be obvious to outsiders what’s going on in their head.

You might feel confused or lost about who you are, and that can make you frustrated or irritated.

It doesn’t have to be something serious—it could just be stress, and maybe you need some time out.

Physical health impacts mental health, too. Simple things like going for a walk or lifting weights can improve your sleep and mood.

Getting back to the basics is key to feeling better—getting enough sleep, eating properly, and taking care of yourself.

It’s important to have a strong support system, whether that’s close friends, family, or other people you trust.

There are lots of ways to take care of your mental health. You can read, draw, paint, meditate—whatever works for you.

Journaling can help because it lets you get everything off your chest.

Talking to someone about what’s bothering you can stop small problems from turning into big ones.

Try replacing negative thoughts with more realistic or positive ones.

Watch a movie, listen to music—just don’t let things spiral out of control.

When you’re feeling down, it’s easy to believe that’s the only way you’ll ever feel, like nothing will ever change.

But things do have the potential to get better—it’s not the end of the world. Things can change.

If you need help, reach out to:

• Your local headspace centre
• eHeadspace
• Your school counsellor
• Parents and friends
• Your local GP

When you go to one of these services, everything is confidential.

It can be scary the first time you talk to someone about such personal things, but it really does help.

Video by headspace