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While we focus on maintaining our physical health through exercise and nutrition, we sometimes forget to maintain our mental health.

According to a recent government report entitled “Australia’s health 2010“, 20% of Australians suffer from some form of mental disorder every year. More disturbing is that this statistic increases to 25% for those aged 16 to 24 years old.

Anxiety based disorders such as panic disorders, agoraphobia and social phobias account for 72% of this number, with affective disorders like depression and bi-polar accounting for 31%.

These numbers are based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’s 2007 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (SMHWB). Even more alarming was the discovery that 7,286,600 Australians, or 45% of the population, will suffer from a mental disorder during their lifetime

So what can we do to improve our mental health?

1. Change your negative thoughts
We need to identify those negative notions swirling around our mind and replace them with positive thoughts.

2. Get a good nights sleep
Achieving 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep will go a long way to improving how you feel.

3. Healthy eating
A diet of fresh fruit, vegetables and less processed food will enrich your body with good nutrients.
This leads to improved alertness, increased energy and general wellbeing.

4. Maintaining quality relationships with friends and family.
As a society we are becoming more isolated from the world around us. Having good friends and family members to talk things through is very therapeutic. Spending quality time with those you care about can be as simple as catching up for coffee or going for a walk.

5. Keep exercising
Regular exercise helps reduce muscular tension and improve the flow of oxygen, chemicals and nutrients through the body.

For further information contact your local GP or Beyond Blue
www.beyondblue.org.au

There are great benefits to exercise, some may be not so obvious at the time.
To get to level 1 and 2, you can either take the lift and queue for hours or take the stairs and wal right through.

So you’re thinking that 347 steps to the first level and 674 steps to the second level seems a lot, well if you can manage to walk briskly for 30 minutes a day 4-5 times a week you will make the climb.

So next time the path of least resistance may be the car rather than walking, think about how much better you will feel by taking part in some regular form of exercise.
Climbing up 1021 steps is very achievable with less couch time and more movements with the legs.