Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood through to adulthood.

Just like our physical health, we all need to work on our mental health so that we are able to be productive, manage the stresses of life, make a meaningful contribution to our community, and realise our full protentional.

Ways to manage positive mental health include:

• Reach out and ask for help
• Take action and put a plan in place
• Focus on your strengths
• Eat a healthy diet
• Exercise
• Get enough sleep and rest
• Practice gratitude and helping others
• Spend time with people who make you feel good

The way we manage our money plays a big role when it comes to our mental health. In order to enjoy good financial health, we need to get good financial education.

How do you get good financial education? There are loads of resources out there. Read books, listen to podcasts, attend webinars, and sign up for courses to learn from the experts. Then, take these key learnings and apply them. Not using the knowledge is like buying a bicycle and never riding it.

REMEMBER: Focus on your financial health rather than the social pressures of wanting to fit in and look cool. Saving money now means you will be richer in the future. Taking out debt now to expand your lifestyle means you will be poorer in the future.

Resources for emotional and mental support:

Lifeline
Tel: 0861 322 322 (National Counselling line)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheLifelineSouthAfrica/

SADAG
Tel: 0800 212 223 (24hr helpline)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheSADAG/

Resources for financial education:

Money Savvy Generation
Website: www.moneysavvygeneration.co.za/
Facebook: Money savvy generation
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/money-savvy-kids/

What's all the fuss about mental health?

Check out the recording of our Finances & Mental Health webinar to learn even more about this important financial topic here.

We have some great radio clips about this topic which can help you understand your relationship with money, how it affects your state of mind, and how you can change it for the better: click here to listen to them.