October brings focus to mental health awareness and advocacy as the world observes World Mental Health Day. In Australia, mental health organisations are doing their part to spotlight this pertinent matter via the annual National Mental Health Month, guided by this year’s theme of being “Building Resilience: Communities and Connections”.
The importance of mental health cannot be stressed enough, especially due to the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, with Australians reportedly experiencing psychological distress after having to deal with lockdowns, social distancing and isolation. Various mental health services under the Australian healthcare system have been receiving more calls from people seeking help and support as compared to pre-pandemic times.
As pandemic-related measures are being eased – and Australians are seeing their mental well-being improving with the resumption of social activities – many remain affected by the pandemic and are in critical need of mental health care. While the government has put in place many policies and actions to cultivate a strong mental health system in the country, it takes an ecosystem effort to improve the landscape to provide the needed care more holistically.
However, it is important to note that even as care and support workers are working hard to help people afflicted with mental health issues, healthcare workers are also human. This means they must also keep themselves in check for signs of burnout or stress, which could lead to mental health-related issues.
Reaching out for help for better mental well-being
To address mental health issues, it is important to recognise the types of mental illnesses so that adequate treatment, care and support can be arranged. The most prevalent mental illnesses in Australia include depression, anxiety and substance abuse, as well as psychological distress. These often stem from having negative views of the environment, other people or oneself – affecting one’s level of functioning and interfering with their daily living.
The impact of isolation and loneliness can also take a toll, especially on patients in need of medical care if their primary caregivers are too busy juggling their own personal commitments. This is where Homage is playing a role, with highly qualified professionals as care and support workers provide companionship for those requiring support services, in addition to tending to medical needs.
It is crucial that there exists a variety of activities to maintain an optimal balance for the patient’s mental well-being. While the daily care routine at home is important, so is the need for outings and being part of activities outside of their homes with the companionship of their support workers.
We at Homage Australia are also doing our part to ensure the mental well-being of our Care Professionals and staff. We recently participated in the R U OK? Day, which was aimed at checking in on family, friends and colleagues to see if their mental well-being is taken care of. This is to stress that, although we are a platform that provides care and support, we must never forget to support each other as well.
Dealing with and prioritising mental health is never a sign of weakness. It takes strength to know when we need help, so there should be no shame in asking for help and support during difficult times, and that includes healthcare workers as well. Only through help and support from others can those afflicted with mental health issues properly heal and enhance their well-being.
