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Just like we all want to feel comfortable, happy and healthy, we all have days or weeks when we feel tired, low or off-balance. Wellbeing can help us stay resilient in difficult times and bounce back from challenges.

“Wellbeing, like health and fitness, is a continuous journey,” says Christine Carey, Clinical Psychologist and Clinic Manager at Northfields Psychology Clinic. “It’s important for us to look after our wellbeing in order to sustain ourselves and our communities, and to be able to respond in constructive ways to challenges that are out of our control.”

Mental Health Month 2025’s theme – – invites us to celebrate growth, progress and ongoing self-improvement.

What is wellbeing?

While wellbeing will mean different things to different people, depending on your culture, age and personal beliefs, it is generally described as the state of feeling healthy, happy and content with your life. The as a positive state of wellbeing where people feel capable, able to cope with day-to-day stressors, can work productively and contribute to the community. , health refers to the wellbeing of the whole community.

As a combination of our physical, mental, emotional and social health, , such as culture, spirituality, life experiences, communities, finances, relationships, connection to Country, and getting enough exercise, sleep and nutrition.

While we often think of wellbeing as the absence of illness or always feeling happy, it’s normal to have ups and downs. It’s also possible to feel healthy and positive while having a diagnosed physical or mental illness. 

Ryan Frazer, a qualified counsellor with the UOW Counselling Service, explains that feeling down is part of being human. “Feeling sad, nervous, or unsure is a sign you’re engaged with life. Taking care of your wellbeing means allowing those experiences without getting trapped in them – staying curious, compassionate, and kind with yourself.”

“Wellbeing isn’t just about fixing what’s broken,” Ryan continues. “It’s about tending to what keeps us alive and connected. You don’t wait until your car breaks down to put fuel in it or wait for your teeth to start falling out before brushing them. The same goes for looking after yourself.”

Maintaining your wellbeing

With so much going on in our everyday lives, it can feel like an impossible challenge to improve your mental health or wellbeing. It can be helpful to remember that wellbeing is an ongoing journey.

“We can’t ‘arrive’ at wellbeing,” says Christine. “It’s a state we’re working towards. We can achieve wellbeing goals, such as joining a new social group or developing a helpful habit, though they will need to be continued if we want to maintain benefits.”

Taking simple steps each day to maintain your wellbeing can make a big impact, and setting goals can be helpful for acknowledging your progress.

“Start with the basics,” says Ryan. “They sound boring, but they’re magic. Sleep. Movement. Good food. Time outside. This is the groundwork of a steady mind.”

: connect with others, get active, take notice of your feelings and surroundings, keep learning, and give back to your community.

“Being well connected with family, friends and community is a great way to look after ourselves and look out for each other,” says Christine.

“Think about what makes you feel alive,” adds Ryan. “Play a sport, learn the drums, walk dogs, start a Dungeons and Dragons group – whatever makes you forget to check your phone. These are not luxuries; they’re medicine for the modern mind.”

is a great way to connect with others, get active and maintain your wellbeing. Photo credit: Michael Gray.

Awareness and acknowledgement

“It can be common to experience a range of emotions and have fluctuations in daily functioning over the course of a semester or the year,” says Christine. “For example, many of us experience increased stress and find it difficult to maintain routines or social contact at peak periods, like exam time. If we can get back on track when things settle, that’s helpful.”

A key step in improving your overall wellbeing is being aware that you’re not feeling yourself and simply noticing that something has changed.

“It’s good to know your own signs of flourishing vs languishing, or when you’re struggling,” says Christine.

Regular reflection on wellbeing – such as a long chat with a friend or scheduled time to sit down and think about how you’re going – can help you to recognise when you might need help or extra support.

“Most students reach out when life feels heavier than usual,” says Ryan. “When the normal challenges of study or relationships start to feel a bit much. That might be because of social pressure, perfectionism, loneliness, being away from home, or uncertainty about the future. These experiences are far more common than people think.”

“People might find it helpful to talk to a professional if they have experienced a shift in feelings or activities that are having a negative impact on daily life,” says Christine. “Such as increased anxiety leading to poorer sleep, reduced appetite, and withdrawal from social supports.”

Get help and support

Both Ryan and Christine encourage those who are feeling lost or overwhelmed to reach out for help.

“Talking to someone is often helpful, and there are lots of compassionate support services available if you want feedback or ideas,” says Christine.

“Counselling isn’t just for people in crisis,” explains Ryan. “It can also help you get unstuck, clarify what matters, and reconnect with your values. Counselling offers space to pause, reflect, and make sense of things. The goal isn’t to feel ‘good’ all the time; it’s to build a life that’s rich enough to hold both the good and the hard days.”

For students, UOW Counselling Service provides free, short-term confidential sessions with a qualified mental health professional who has experience supporting students through the ups and downs of uni life.

“We’re not only here to 'fix problems’,” says Ryan. “Sometimes we help students figure out what they need. That might be counselling, but not everyone who’s struggling needs therapy; they might benefit from joining a club, getting more sleep, or spending less time alone with their thoughts. There are lots of ways to feel better, and sometimes talking to someone is just the first step toward finding them.

“Sometimes what helps most is reconnecting with ordinary life. I’ve seen students feel much better after adding something more to their life: joining a soccer team, learning to paint, or volunteering somewhere that gives them a sense of purpose. One student told me that helping at a community garden did more for their anxiety than any amount of talking – it reminded them that life still goes on outside their own mind.”

“Everyone needs help from time to time,” says Christine. “There are a range of professional support services available.”

Resources

• UOW provides a range of free and confidential support and wellbeing services to students including counselling and a 24-hour crisis support line.
• Explore online community support resources, such as which provides helpful tips for maintaining wellbeing and for getting back on track.
• Northfields Psychology Clinic offers individual and group therapy or you can near you.