headspace Port Macquarie say balancing mental health is as important as physical health

Lisa Hogan, clinical lead at headspace Port Macquarie, said a proactive approach is necessary to keeping on top of your mental health.

“Just like people take physical health seriously, Mental Health Month is a great opportunity for young people in particular to stop and assess if everything is going okay,” Ms Hogan said.

“We have certainly seen a change in the last few years where young people are more accepting of talking about mental health issues but there still is a lot of stigma around seeking help.

“No-one says you shouldn’t go see a doctor if you are feeling sick, so there should absolutely be no shame in seeking out help for your mental health as well.”

Ms Hogan said those young people who seek out the services of headspace come from varied backgrounds and have different life experiences.

“We have parents or friends come to us and say they are wanting some advice to help their child or friend but we also have people who just walk in off the street and need help immediately,” she said.

“When someone comes to us we sit down and have a chat to them to find out what is going on and how it got to this point.

“We take a whole of person approach in helping to understand and offering help to people who come to us.

“We are a judgement free space and have access to a number of allied health services which we can assist people getting in touch with.

“We can help with everything from simple strategies to help manage stress to helping get referrals for a mental health plan or connecting people with homelessness services.”

Donna Judge, community engagement lead at headspace Port Macquarie said good mental health was about keeping a good life balance.

“Our office is accessible to the public and we are always more than welcoming of people coming in to see what we are all about,” Ms Judge said.

“Keeping your life in balance is so important. It is all about ensuring you are having good conversations about your mental health and seeking help when needed.

“At the moment we have been responding to lots of young people who are struggling with the mental health due to exams and finishing school.

“But on the whole we have people who come and see us about stresses in their relationships, social anxiety – you name we have helped people.”

READ MORE: headspace Port Macquarie encourages young people to add colour to their day

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