Anxiety is a normal feeling and often helpful in dangerous situations. Anxiety can help us avoid danger, triggering our 'fight or flight' response. When we cross the road, it’s anxiety that makes us look both ways, when walking alone in the dark, it’s anxiety that makes us be cautious, and when having an exam, it’s anxiety that pushes us to study in order to pass. Anxiety only becomes problematic when someone feels anxious often and disproportionately to a threat, and it gets in the way of living life. In such cases, anxiety can turn into an anxiety disorder. 

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt your friend was speaking to you in a way that was humiliating you or putting you down, but you didn’t know what to say in case a fight would occur? or your boss was piling work on to you and you couldn’t say no even though you knew it would case you lots of stress, because what if he fires you, you may think? Being in situations like these are tricky, however, there’s always a time, place and way to have these kind of conversations for it to be communicated effectively and avoid the ‘drama’ that can come from it.

Hate the feeling of being tired all day and then when it’s actually time to go to sleep suddenly you’re not tired anymore? This happens to most of us at times! It’s like all day your brain is telling you that you’re tired, but once you get to bed that’s when all the thoughts and ideas begin and sleep is the last thing you’re able to do. Whether you find it hard to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake early feeling unrefreshed and have low energy, low mood and find it hard function - you probably have insomnia.

Working in multi-disciplinary teams has been found to be important in many industries, including mental health. This is common in office and community settings, but it’s becoming more popular in the private healthcare sector as well because of its value in troubleshooting problems and providing different perspectives to tackle the same issues.

Mental health is important for adults, but what about children? Last week was infant Mental Health Week, where the goal is to help give infants, young children and their families the best possible start in the important, early years of life. It is just as important as our physical health growing up. In fact, developing good mental health for a child will help them in life as an adult. 

Men's Health Week is celebrated every year around the world in mid June. The goal is to take the opportunity to highlight men's health and what it means to be healthy. During this week it’s important to think about and discuss what needs to be done to improve the lives and health of men and boys. This happens through a series of promotions, events and publicity around the country.