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Mental Health

Our mental health is just as important as our physical health - it impacts every aspect of our life Whether you’d like to get a better understanding of a mental health condition, learn about self-care tips or even how to improve your social and emotional wellbeing, we’re here to help.

Food and Mood - The Role of Diet in Depression and Low Mood

Food and Mood - The Role of Diet in Depression and Low Mood

Jaime Rose Chambers
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Many factors are involved and can contribute to depression or low mood, some out of our control. Research has confirmed there is a strong link between what we eat and our risk of depression. There isn’t necessarily a ‘diet’ for mental health, rather a dietary pattern that involves eating more foods associated with a decreased risk of depression and eating less foods associated with an increased risk of depression. The dietary pattern most commonly associated with reducing the risk of depression is the Mediterranean Diet. 
Category:Nutrition, Mental Health
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Hospital Cover

No one wants to go to hospital, but if the worst happens, having Hospital cover can make a stressful experience easier and more comfortable. You may be thinking, “But why do I need private health insurance when we can have the public health system, Medicare?” Well, there’s a number of reasons why private hospital insurance is a better option than relying solely on the public system – one of the most important one being that your policy allows you to choose your own hospital and treating doctor. Plus, you’ll typically have a much shorter wait time for any elective surgeries that you may need in the future.

Find out more

How to Stop Self-doubt

How to Stop Self-doubt

Dr. Happy
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At one point or another, we all question whether or not we are doing enough or doing the right thing. Self-doubt is common; self-doubt is normal; self-doubt might even serve a useful purpose…at certain times and in certain contexts. According to mental health professional, Dr. Happy, "Our goal should not necessarily be to stop self-doubt but rather, to minimise it and/or to use if effectively and constructively. We certainly don’t want doubt to paralyse or to cripple us, but we do want to find ways we can use it to our advantage." So how might we achieve this? Check out Dr. Happy's top 10 tips for turning self-doubt in to self-confidence.
Category:Mental Health
World Mental Health Day – Do You See What I See?

World Mental Health Day – Do You See What I See?

Dr. Happy
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Did you know that one in five Australians will experience an episode of mental illness in any one year? According to mental health professional, Dr. Happy, "Too many people still don’t seek help because they’re afraid of being judged; because of the perceived shame and embarrassment associated with being labelled. With this in mind, Mental Health Australia has adopted a theme that aims to tackle some of this head on – and it’s great. Their “Do you see what I see?” campaign targets the overly negative images of mental ill-health by inviting everyone to view mental illness from a different perspective; the perspective of someone suffering OR the perspective of someone coping and functioning well! In this article, Dr. Happy encourages us all to make an effort to see mental ill-health in a more positive light and also invites us to “Make a (mental health) Promise”. Click through to the article to read his advice. 
Category:Mental Health
Spotting the Signs of an Eating Disorder

Spotting the Signs of an Eating Disorder

Dr. Happy
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Did you know eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are on the rise in children and adolescents? According to mental health professional, Dr. Happy, "Body dissatisfaction and/or some degree of dieting is extremely common in young women (and increasingly in young men). But not all of these have or will ever have a formal eating disorder so two common and important questions from parents and friends are – how do I know when “normal” becomes “abnormal”? And what do I do if I notice any warning signs?" With this in mind, we chatted to Dr. Happy to get his advice on everything you need to know about eating disorders. Including the red flags to look out for and what to do if you spot any of the symptoms. 
Category:Mental Health
How Kindness Can Improve Your Mental Health and Happiness

How Kindness Can Improve Your Mental Health and Happiness

Dr. Happy
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Did you know that being kind is associated with being happier; having a healthier heart; ageing more slowly and having better quality relationships? According to Dr. Happy, "The positive emotion we experience as a result of just selfishly pursuing what’s best for us doesn’t go deep and it doesn’t last long. In contrast, one of the most significant contributors to genuine, lasting happiness is connecting with others. The quality (and to a lesser extent the number) of our relationships indubitably reflects the quality of our lives; including the extent to which we enjoy satisfaction and contentment." In this post, Dr. Happy explains why loneliness and isolation are major contributors to poor mental health and offers his top tips on how to enjoy a healthier and happier life.

Category:Mental Health
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Dr. Happy
By
How often do you hear the phrase, "I'm a bit OCD"? According to Dr Happy, "It's a common term and the reality us, that most people do "have a bit" of OCD. But there is a big difference difference between having some (in the majority of cases, minor) obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and having a full-blown obsessive-compulsive disorder. In this article Dr Happy discusses both and offers his advice on how we can understand this difference. 
Category:Mental Health
Why we jump to conclusions – and how to stop!

Why we jump to conclusions – and how to stop!

Dr. Happy
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Do you have a habit of jumping to conclusions quickly? According to Dr. Happy, "One of the greatest misperceptions of human functioning and especially, human thinking, is that we are, by and large, rational creatures. Although there’s no doubt we can and do think logically at times, there’s also no doubt that much of our thinking, much of the time, is nowhere near as rational or as accurate as we assume it to be." In this article, Dr Happy discusses some of the more common 'distortions' or 'thinking mistakes' we make and offers his advice on what we can do to combat these unhelpful and often unrealistic thoughts.

Category:Mental Health
How to Declutter Your Mind

How to Declutter Your Mind

Dr. Happy
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Do you feel overwhelmed with your thoughts? Feel stressed out from too much going on in your life? If you've answered yes then it might mean it's time to declutter your mind. According to mental health expert, Dr. Happy, "It’s the commonly held belief that “more is better”! This is most definitely not true when it comes to wealth and possessions; and it’s just as not true when it comes to what goes on within our minds. So be happy thinking less; because you may well find that when it comes to happiness, less is more!" In his latest article, Dr. Happy provides his Manifesto for Simple Living.
Category:Mental Health
Coping With a Loss

Coping With a Loss

Dr. Happy
By
When you suffer a loss whether it’s the (hopefully) occasional loss of a loved one; or the (typically) more frequent loss of an opportunity experienced as a minor disappointment, the emotions can be overwhelming and something with which we will all be faced and something we all need to learn how to manage. According to our mental health expert, Dr. Tim Sharp, The good news is that we can cope with loss. As humans, we are remarkably strong most of the time. Knowing loss and disappointment will come at some stage, knowing what to expect and having some idea about what you can do to actively ameliorate the distressing emotions, are all important components of living a healthy and resilient life." In this article Tim provides his advice on how to help us understand our emotions, take care ourselves, seek support, and look to a positive future.
Category:Mental Health, Grief and Loss
June 23 – Let it Go Day

June 23 – Let it Go Day

Dr. Happy
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Did you know that June 23 marks "Let It Go Day"? Let it Go Day was established with the intent of encouraging people to let go of their regrets and to forgive themselves for actions taken in the past. After all, the past cannot be changed and only the present and the future are within our control. So how can one deal with regret and move forward? If this is a question you’ve asked or are asking, then you might find these practical strategies from Mental Health Expert, Dr. Happy very helpful. 
Category:Mental Health
How To Deal With Social Anxiety

How To Deal With Social Anxiety

Dr. Happy
By

Do you fear that you will be judged by others in social situations? Do your fears cause you to avoid groups of people or group events because you think you might embarrass yourself? If you answered yes to these questions, then you're probably experiencing social anxiety. According to mental health expert and psychologist, Dr. Happy, "The most common example of social anxiety is a fear of public speaking; but it can also be experienced as extreme anxiety associated with eating or drinking in public, signing one’s name under scrutiny, and even using public toilet facilities. At the heart of social anxiety for everyone, however, is a fear of negative evaluation." The good news is that treatments for social anxiety are relatively effective for most people, most of the time, and relatively quickly. In this article, Dr. Happy discusses social phobia and provides his advice on how to manage these fears.  

Category:Mental Health, Stress and Anxiety
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