Mind Health Happiness

08/07/2026

This has been a busy year for Mental Health First Aid. More people are wanting to know how to help those around them ... which is great! The next public MHFA course is coming up on 28 & 29 July in Goonellabah. (See details on my website below).

The times we are in are pretty hectic and it's easy to feel stressed, down, or running low on hope. If this is you ... REMEMBER to do the things that really touch your heart and make you feel like you again. Make time to nurture and nourish yourself with whatever it is that makes you glad to be alive ... and start filling that cup of yours again!!

If you wish to equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to recognise when someone is not going too well and know how to support them get some help consider a MHFA course.

16/10/2025

This month is mental health month and it's a good chance to reflect on how mental health affects a person's quality of life. For the many people who are living with mental health issues life tasks can be incredibly challenging. Just to turn up for the responsibilities of work, school, raising a family and everything else in life can be difficult and exhausting with added layers of stress from mental health distress. Many people are doing the best they can and the toll it takes is often unseen and unappreciated. It can be a lonely place to be. Getting help can make such a difference but many people don't know how to reach out for it. Mental Health First Aid training is designed to teach people how to recognise when someone they know is experiencing a mental health issue, and how to be supportive and more knowledgeable in assisting them to get the help they need. It also helps to de-stigmatises mental health. The next Mental Health First Aid course is on Thur 20 & Fri 21 November at the Salvation Army, Goonellabah. For details go to https://mindhealthhappiness.com/calendar/.

We would like to acknowledge the First Peoples of Australia who are the Traditional Custodians of this land on which we live and work. We particularly acknowledge the Widjabul Wia-bul people of the Bundjalung nation as the custodians of the land on which our business is based. We recognise the the l...

11/08/2025

I like this ....

31/07/2025

Mental health, like physical health, is something that we can slowly erode and not realise it's happening until things feel serious. Stress and anxiety building little by little through sidelining our own needs and minimising the constant 'creep' of boundaries. How many times have I said 'yes' to doing something even though my energy was a bit low ... and rationalised it by thinking it's just a 'small stretch' of energy. These constant small stretches pile up. They also embed a habit of not paying attention to, or doing something about, my own body and mind signals. It's a bit too easy to just rush on with life and make a habit of compromising. Self care is a real thing - and caring for ourselves is not indulgent .... it's sensible!
I’ve now drawn the line in the sand and it feels great!

11/07/2025

For anyone in Melbourne....

On Tuesday 19 August, we will be honouring and celebrating the work of Mental Health First Aid founders – Betty Kitchener AM and Emeritus Professor Anthony Jorm – at the Inaugural Gala Dinner held in Melbourne.

Their vision has sparked a global movement that’s trained millions and created circles of support across the globe. Now, 25 years on, we’re coming together to celebrate their legacy and the community that made it possible.

Tickets are selling fast, so make sure to secure yours today: www.mhfa.com.au/get-involved/inaugural-mhfa-gala-dinner-2025/

Discover how it all began and the journey to 25 years of impact here: www.mhfa.com.au/a-quiet-revolution-in-mental-health-early-intervention-and-prevention/

11/07/2025

Just a heads up that the next Mental Health First Aid course in Lismore is on 31 July & 1 August, for anyone who wants to know how to support someone experiencing a mental health issue.

26/06/2025

Winter is a time of hibernation and doesn't my system know it. I've been low in outward energy and focusing on inner reflection. It's been a good chance to reassess how I spend my time and use my energy.

Lately I've found myself feeling pretty depleted. This has impacted my whole wellbeing including my mental health.

I recognise that I tend to give a huge effort to my work and prioritise getting all work tasks done while my own personal needs get put nearer to the bottom of the list. Some things don't even make the list!! I've realised that just because I can go the extra mile for work doesn't mean I should.

So some healthy inner pondering has been good. I realised that I need some real self-care to top up my cup.

So lately I've taken a couple of weekends away camping, which has been great. But it didn't make the difference I was hoping for. If anything, I felt more pressured about the home tasks that didn't get done.

I realised that the issue is deeper than I thought. It's a mindset issue. It's about how to properly balance personal and professional needs. And how to keep my vitality for both. It's not about snatching bits of time to do the things I enjoy, to put me back together, and to top up just enough energy to spend again at work. It's about being completely invested and grounded in my own wellbeing .... every day!

What that will look like .... I'm not completely sure yet. What I do know is that being mindful is the key.

So today I commit to being completely present .... with the decisions I make, checking in with myself before I say 'yes' to things I'd rather say 'no' to and that don't use my energy well; in prioritising self-connection at the beginning of every day before giving to others; in listening to my needs ... and taking them seriously; in finding ways to live well with myself and my work.

Winter can be a fruitful time! :). Look after YOUR health.

23/05/2025

Just a reminder that the last Mental Health First Aid course for this financial year is coming up in June.

Why this course is important .... Statistics show that early help-seeking for a mental health issue can lead to faster recovery, reduce symptom severity, and lower the risk of long-term complications.

In the workplace Psychological injury claims in NSW have escalated by 30% in the last four years. Shifting the emphasis from compensation to prevention and early intervention is a much better outcome for everyone.

Mental Health First Aid teaches people how to recognise when someone may be experiencing a mental health issue, how to approach having a conversation with that person, and where to guide them to help. These are critical skills for anyone.

The next 12hr Mental Health First Aid course in Lismore is on
Thur 19 & Fri 20 June
at the Salvation Army room in Goonellabah

For more information go to https://mindhealthhappiness.com/courses/ or to go straight to bookings go to https://mindhealthhappiness.com/calendar/

We would like to acknowledge the First Peoples of Australia who are the Traditional Custodians of this land on which we live and work. We particularly acknowledge the Widjabul Wia-bul people of the Bundjalung nation as the custodians of the land on which our business is based. We recognise the the l...