This information is about communicating about your mental health.

It has information about

• Communicating about your mental health

• Why communicating about your mental health is important

• The best way to communicate about your mental health

• How you can let health workers know how you like to communicate

• How you can use tools to help you communicate about your mental health

There are many ways to communicate about mental health.

To communicate is how you understand and share your feelings or information.

Mental health is about 

• How you think

• How you feel

You may want to communicate about your mental health to someone you trust.

There are many people you might trust.

For more information about who you might trust go to https://www.idmhconnect.health/
someone-trust

Below are examples of things you might want to communicate about to someone.

• Your feelings

• When you feel different to normal

For example if you are sad more often than usual.

• You notice a change in your activities

For example if you do not feel like seeing people you usually visit.

• If your daily tasks are becoming more difficult

For example if you find it harder to clean your house.

• Why you feel the way you do

• What might make you feel better

It is OK if you do not want to share everything.

Only tell someone things you are comfortable sharing.

Communicating with others about your mental health can help you

• Feel better

• Get help if you need it

It is OK if you do not know

• How you feel

• Why you feel this way

You could just tell the person you feel different to normal.

What you can do if you do not know how to communicate about your mental health

You may feel you need help with your mental health.

Below are some examples of ways you could communicate or ask someone you trust for support.

You could communicate

• I feel different to normal

• I need some help

• I would like to talk about how I am feeling

• I feel sad

• I feel down

• I feel worried

• I feel scared

• I feel angry

• Something has happened to me

• I am worried

• I have noticed changes in my life

For example

• I have trouble getting out of bed

• I do not feel like eating

• I do not want to see my friends

You do not have to communicate with someone if you do not want to.

Some people are not sure how to support someone with their mental health.

If the person you ask for support does not know how to help

• Try talking to another person you trust

• Ask them to find someone who can help

For more information about where to get help for your mental health go to https://www.idmhconnect.health/
where-start-get-help/ER

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