Looking after your mental health and wellbeing is as important as your physical health.
We can all struggle with mental health
Struggles with your mental health are nothing to be ashamed of. Most of us will experience significant episodes of stress, distress or poor mental wellbeing during our life. Over 25% of New Zealanders have poor mental wellbeing, according to the latest report from Stats NZ.
A mental health condition is when we experience distress that significantly impacts our ability to function as we normally would. When our mental health is impacted, we have changes in our mood, thoughts, behaviour and body and we struggle to navigate the natural ups and downs in life. If your mental health has declined and has started to affect your work, relationships and quality of life, we recommend seeking professional help. Often the first step is seeing a GP.
Poor mental health signs
Poor mental health can present itself in a variety of ways and differs between people. Usually, there’s not one definitive sign that someone is struggling, but several signs or symptoms. Struggling with mental health is often triggered by big life events or by a build-up of life stressors.
Here are the most common signs to look out for within yourself, and others:
- Sudden or gradual behaviour changes
- Constantly feeling worried or anxious
- Feeling depressed, unhappy or numb
- Emotional outbursts that are out of the norm
- Weight or appetite changes, especially rapid loss or gain of weight
- Sleep problems, such as insomnia or sleeping more than normal
- Unhealthy use of alcohol or drugs. It’s important to note that alcohol and drugs can also cause mental illness
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Constantly feeling worthless or guilty
- Bizarre or paranoid thoughts, such as someone is controlling you, or you see or hear things that others can’t
- Neglect in daily tasks and personal hygiene
- Drop in work or school performance
Poor mental health will often present as physical symptoms, including:
- Heart palpitations
- Chest tightness
- Headaches
- Excessive sweating
- Vomiting
- Feeling dizzy
- Diarrhoea
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
Mental health services and support
We support all types of mental health conditions, such as:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress management
- Grief and loss
- Postpartum depression
- Child and youth mental health
- Addiction support
Accessing mental health services
Identifying that you’re struggling with your mental health can feel overwhelming. Knowing where and how to access support is important.
A great first step is booking an appointment with your GP, who can talk through the options available, and refer you to the right support.
What to expect at a GP appointment
Your consultation with us will be confidential and private, per our obligations.
In your appointment be honest with how you’re feeling, and the way it’s affecting your daily life. Your GP can then recommend the right pathways and refer you to the best support. They will discuss the options available with you, offering their expertise and advice so that you can make an informed decision.
Mental health support may be appointments with a Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) or Health Coach (HC). They work closely with our GPs at many of our medical centres. Sessions are free of charge, and they can usually meet with you on the same day or week that you visit your GP. Our GPs can also refer you to specialist organisations that support mental health and professional diagnosis if required. Our team collaborates with other specialists and community-based services to ensure a holistic approach to your health and wellbeing. Other options may include prescription medication to ease your symptoms. Our goal is to support your journey so that you can get back to enjoying quality of life.
If visiting your medical centre in person feels too overwhelming, we encourage you to bring along a support person, orbook to see a GP virtually.
It’s important to remember that you are not alone, and there is a wealth of resources available that you can access.
Accessing mental health support for a loved one
You may suspect a loved one has poor mental health. They may not realise it or have trouble accepting that they’re struggling. In this situation, the best approach is to check in regularly and offer to listen while they share their concerns. Ensure you don’t make them feel isolated, so a non-confrontational approach often works best. Gently suggest how they can access mental health support services and offer to accompany them.
Crisis support and helplines
If it’s an emergency, dial 111. Contact the Tautoko Suicide Crisis Helpline if you think you or someone you know may be thinking of suicide on 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 828 865).
For free, confidential helpline and text services 24/7, contact 0800 LIFELINE (0508 543 354) or text on 4357. Lifeline is supported by highly trained staff and volunteers to provide immediate help if you need it.
How to Access Our Services
Book an Appointment
Appointments can be booked online or by calling your chosen medical centre.
Book a GP appointment today
Resources and education
There are some great resources and tools available online. Here are our top recommendations: