A practical guide about:

Promoting wellbeing – (ENGLISH)

A Division of the Diversity Health Institute

The aim of this booklet – ‘A Practical Guide About: Promoting

wellbeing’ is to assist individuals to recognise the importance of
obtaining and maintaining wellbeing.

The objective of the information contained within this booklet is

to assist individuals to be aware of the factors that affect people’s
health, quality of life and wellbeing by:

• explaining what it is to have good mental health.

• what on a personal level can be done to obtain and maintain

mental health.

This booklet is available in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese,

English, Farsi, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Other booklets available in ‘A Practical Guide’ series include:

• PROBLEM SOLVING AND GOAL SETTING.

• STRESS AND STRESS MANAGEMENT.

• A GOOD NIGHT'S
NIGHT’S SLEEP. This booklet
bookletisisonly available
available in the
in the
following languages:
following languages:Arabic,
Arabic,Chinese,
Chinese,English,
Croatian, English,
Greek, Italian
Farsi, Filipino, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Maltese, Polish,
and Maltese.
Spanish and Vietnamese.

Print date: July, 2005.

A P R A C T I C A L G U I D E A B O U T:

Promoting wellbeing
A Division of the Diversity Health Institute 2
 www.tmhc.nsw.gov.au
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Tel: 1800 648 911 Mental Health
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Acknowledgments
• always drink in moderation. www.health.nsw.gov.au
Multicultural Mental Health
(Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care,
The information contained within this booklet has been compiled from a number www.mmha.org.au
2000. p.3).
of published and unpublished sources. Local Health Districts and Specialty Networks are
• learn new skills.
NSW at www.health.nsw.gov.au/lhd
listedHealth Department
The Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) has received permission to use
information from the following publication. www.health.nsw.gov.au
Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (2000). Promotion, Prevention
and Early Intervention for Mental Health – A Monograph, Mental Health and Special Diversity Health Institute Clearinghouse
Programs Branch, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra. www.dhi.gov.au/clearinghouse

This publication is intended to provide general information only. It should not be used
as a substitute for seeking professional help. You may want to consider consulting
your local general practitioner on issues raised in this booklet. There are also a
number of telephone numbers, internet and websites on page 5 of this booklet
that you may find useful.
4 5
1
 www.tmhc.nsw.gov.au Promoting wellbeing

In summary,
© Copyright the promotion
Transcultural of mental
Mental Health Centre,health
2005.is about enabling What
Some is
useful
goodtelephone
mental health?
numbers If you are
This booklet
people was produced
to maximise by the
their Transcultural
wellbeing. Mental
Some of Health Centre.that
the things interested in
This and other booklets in the ‘A Practical Guide’ series may be reproduced It
Local
is not
Area
easyHealth
to define
Service
what
numbers
good mental
are listed
health
under
is. Add to attending
this, a course
influence our mental health are out of our direct control while
with an acknowledgement to the Transcultural Mental Health Centre and are complex
the ‘Healthissues such as our
Department language,
of NSW’ in theour culture,
‘White and our on
Pages’. migration
any one of the
others
availableare within our
for download fromcontrol. There are certain things that we can
www.tmhc.nsw.gov.au experience, then one can begin to appreciate the challenges‘A when Practical Guide’
all do to promote our own mental health. These actions include: Mental Health
discussing whatAssociation
constitutes NSW
good Inc.
mental health. series topic areas,
First published in 2005 by: Transcultural Mental Health Centre phone the
ISBN: 1 74080 0508 Tel: 1800 674 200
Transcultural
• set realistic goals. However, the achievement of good mental health is more than just
Mental Health
Copies of this and related booklets in the ‘A Practical Guide’ series If you are unable to speak English well, you can
(as well
an absence of mental illness. It is about a state of emotional and on
Centre
• eatasand
othersleep
resources)
well.are available from the: phone the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)
social wellbeing in which the individual can cope with the (02) normal9840 3800
Transcultural Mental Health Centre
on 131 450 (this is a free service) and ask them to to register
Locked Bag 7118 stresses of life and achieve our potential. It includes being able to
• exerciseBConNSW
PARRAMATTA a regularly
2150 basis. call the Transcultural Mental Health Centre (from your interest.
work productively and contribute to community life.
AUSTRALIA 8.30am to 5.00pm) on your behalf. If you live in rural
• talk to others to share our feelings and to talk about problems. and remote areas
Tel: 61 2 9840 3800 (during business hours) The World Health
Transcultural Organisation
Mental (1999) recognises good mental
Health Centre
Fax: 61 2 9840 3755 of NSW you can
• accept health
Tel: 02to9840
be a 3800
state of emotional and social wellbeing in which
Freecall: 1800ourselves
648 911 for who we are. call the TMHC
individuals: (free call) on
Email: general@tmhc.nsw.gov.au
• make
Website: time to relax in ways that we enjoy
www.tmhc.nsw.gov.au and find relaxing. 1800 64 8911
Some
• useful
realise theirwebsites
own abilities. to register
Designed and typeset by: Monica Flannery Design
• learn to be aCentre
goodPtylistener. Mental Health Association NSW Inc. your interest.
Printed by: Graphic Ltd
www.mentalhealth.asn.au
• can cope with the normal stresses of life.
• make the effort to keep in touch with friends.
Multicultural
• can workCommunication
productively or fruitfully.
• get involved in things that are of interest to us. www.mhcshealth.nsw.gov.au
• are able to make a contribution to their community
Acknowledgments
• always drink in moderation. Multicultural Mental Health
(Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care,
The information contained within this booklet has been compiled from a number www.mmha.org.au
2000. p.3).
of published and unpublished sources.
• learn new skills.
The Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC) has received permission to use NSW Health Department
information from the following publication. www.health.nsw.gov.au
Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (2000). Promotion, Prevention
and Early Intervention for Mental Health – A Monograph, Mental Health and Special Diversity Health Institute Clearinghouse
Programs Branch, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra. www.dhi.gov.au/clearinghouse

This publication is intended to provide general information only. It should not be used
as a substitute for seeking professional help. You may want to consider consulting
your local general practitioner on issues raised in this booklet. There are also a
number of telephone numbers, internet and websites on page 5 of this booklet
that you may find useful.
4 1
5
 Some of the most important environmental influences on mental
health are opportunities that enable us to exercise control over
our lives, to use our skills and to engage in supportive social
interactions. It is also important for us as individuals, groups
and communities to be able to set goals and experience a variety
of opportunities.
Also fundamental to mental health is:
• having a valued social position.
• an adequate income.
• physical security.
High levels of these promote emotional and social wellbeing,
while low levels may be harmful.
2 3
Positive mental health is a resource that enables us to manage our
lives successfully. It is underpinned by increasing our emotional
and social skills. Increasing our emotional resilience benefits
ourselves and that of the entire community. Psychological processes:
how we think, feel, interpret the world and communicate effect
interactions and experiences at all levels. The development of
personal skills to enhance emotional and social wellbeing is
therefore important to the development of our positive mental
health.
Personal skills such as the ability:
• to manage change.
• to recognise, acknowledge and communicate thoughts and
feelings (both positive and negative).
• to make and maintain relationships.
• to acquire and develop resources and skills to cope with stress
and adversity.
We need to have feelings of self-worth and empowerment, the belief
that we can control and influence our life experiences. However, it is
also important to accept that mental health problems and mental
disorders do occur, in both ourselves and other people, and that the
associated burdens can be overcome.