A couple of weeks ago I did a keynote at a New Horizons Conference on mental health in Byron Bay. The other keynote speaker was an inspiring man by the name of Professor Robert Donovan who funnily enough actually researched what people thought of the words ‘Mental Health’. The findings came back surprisingly negative there were many associations with mental illness, depression, anxiety, stigma etc, etc.
Then he thought, what if we were to change the words to ‘Mentally Healthy’ ?
He then researched that and the response was genuinely positive; people read it as looking after your mental health, mindfulness, meditation, a positive outlook, doing exercise, being involved with the community and so forth. Such a wonderfully simple solution, I for one shall now be using the term ‘Mentally Healthy’ where ever possible.
Prof Donovan and his team then set about finding solutions to inspire people to become ‘Mentally Healthy’.
Act.Belong.Commit. was born in Western Australia, the response has been wonderfully positive and like all great ideas I’m sure it will travel.
So often we have the excuse of ‘little time’ or ‘too busy’, to do something which can reward us with being ‘Mentally Healthy’.
Please check it out the website and see if it inspires you to do the ABC’s.
http://www.actbelongcommit.org.au
