Maintaining our mental health is just as important as keeping physically fit. Professor Rob Donovan from Curtin University in WA has developed a health promotion campaign called Act-Belong-Commit (A-B-C) based on extensive research.
This comprehensive campaign encourages individuals to take action to protect and promote their own mental wellbeing as well as organisations to provide mentally healthy activities to promote participation in those activities. The A-B-C guidelines for positive mental health provide an approach that we can easily adopt:
Act:
“Do something”
Maintain or increase levels of physical, cognitive and social activity.
Belong:
“Do something with someone”
Maintain or increase level of participation in groups if already a member, or join a group. Maintain or increase participation in community events and with family or friends. For example, become a volunteer.
Commit:
“Do something meaningful”
Set goals, learn a new skill, challenge yourself, help a needy person. This may involve joining a committee.
