Feeling safe and secure
“It doesn’t always have to be a health professional that you speak to, because you can get a lot from just talking to a family member or a good friend. I think sometimes it’s just someone being there and listening so you can get whatever you’re thinking about off your chest. That can be really helpful.”
Feeling safe, stable, and secure is central to our health and wellbeing. How safe we feel can influence our social habits and feeling of freedom. When we feel safe, we find it easier to relax, do all the things that comfort us, and focus on our relationships and the work or study we need to do.
Feeling safe at home
Home is where you might spend a large amount of time, so it is important to feel secure and safe there. Connecting with the community in which you live is also important. Taking part in social events or group exercise or even going for a walk can add to your feeling of stability.
Being surrounded by people you trust and having supportive friends and family are all strongly linked with wellbeing. Having healthy and respectful relationships can help you to feel safe and valued. If something is feeling not quite right in your relationship with a loved one, or you begin to feel unsafe, it’s important to reach out for help.
For more relationship information and guidance, visit Family Relationships Online or 1800RESPECT.
Financial safety
Feeling financially safe and job security are major contributors to your mental health. Financial safety can bring security and the peace of mind to enjoy other aspects of your life. Struggling to make ends meet or having temporary or casual employment can result in increased levels of stress and worry.
Some signs that financial stress may be affecting your wellbeing include:
- arguing with the people closest to you about money
- constantly thinking about or worrying about finances
- having trouble sleeping
- feeling angry or fearful
- mood swings
- tiredness
- loss of appetite
- withdrawing from others.
Learning how to manage and plan your finances can benefit you in the long term. Addressing financial problems early on can help reduce their impact on your mental health.
Visit the Moneysmart website for useful information, hints, tips, and tools to help you manage your money. You can also find information on other services that can help in an emergency.
You may also be eligible for financial support. Visit the Services Australia website to find out what you may be entitled to.
Coping with unexpected events
Multiple extreme weather events, COVID-19, the rising cost of living, and financial stress have affected all of us in different ways. Over the last few years, we’ve all had to learn how to live with constant change and uncertainty. There is support available to help you cope with stressful events and their long-term impacts.