What is mental health?

At Ozford, we understand mental health to be a general state of a person’s emotional wellbeing. Mental health can affect how individuals think, feel and respond to others.  

Ultimately, we all want to aspire to be in good mental health all the time but, like with physical health, sometimes we’re not as fit as we would like to be and we can fall into a state of mental ill-health.  

The extremes of this can vary from person to person and can be triggered by a number of factors. For many, mental ill-health can come after a series of misfortunes, such as; flunking a test, having an altercation with a loved one, drugs, alcohol, or just being overwhelmed by the amount of work that you have to do.  

For others, mental ill-health can come from an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain that regulate moods and emotions. 

Whatever that situation is for you, it is perfectly normal to experience fluctuations in your mental health and unlike the olden days, you have immeasurable support, from not only us here at Ozford, but the myriad of helplines that are available to you, which are listed below. 

Remember, at Ozford, we are always here for you and regardless of how busy things get, we will be more than happy to chat or refer you to the best professional support. Ozford’s Student Services, when they are on campus, will guide you through this. 

If you or someone you care about needs support, please contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636. In an emergency, call 000. 

  • 1300 224 636 – Beyond Blue – provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live. 
  • 13 14 44 – To report a crime or for general advice about local security and safety issues in your community, call your local police on 
  • 1800 737 732 – 1800RESPECT – National sexual assault and domestic family violence counselling service 
  • 13 11 14 – Lifeline – https://www.lifeline.org.au/ – Suicide and crisis support line 
  • 1300 555 788 – Mental Health Emergency Response Line –  (WA Only) 
  • 1800 199 008 – Crisis Care Line 
  • 1300 659 467 – Suicide call back line 
  • 1300 78 99 78 – MensLine Australia – Supporting men’s mental health and wellbeing 
  • 1800 18 7263 – SANE Helpline or SANE Helpline Online (to find a support group in your area) 
  • 1800 184 527 –QLife – QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. 
  • 1800 551 800 – Kids Helpline – Offering 24/7 support to the youth of Australia 
  • 1800 650 890 – Headspace – Mental health resources and support 
  • Relationships Australia