COVID-19: Looking after your mental health
A guide for people living with lung disease and lung cancer.
View moreThe physical impacts of living with a lung disease, such as breathlessness and fatigue, may cause feelings of stress and anxiousness. You may experience temporary feelings such as sadness or irritability, but if these are persistent and last longer than a couple of weeks, it may be an indication of depression. People living with a chronic or progressive illness are at an increased risk of experiencing depression.
Depression is a complex condition and people experience depression in varying ways. Signs and symptoms of depression include negative changes to your thoughts, feelings, behaviour and physical wellbeing.
Beyond Blue outlines the common signs and symptoms of depression as:
Physical wellbeing – increased fatigue, sleeping problems, change or loss of appetite, weight gain or loss – not associated with treatment. If you have been experiencing any of the signs or symptoms of depression, and these persist for more than two weeks, it is important to contact your treating healthcare team of your GP to discuss your options.
Everyone experiences feelings of anxiousness from time to time and it usually relates to a specific situation – such as a job interview. Anxiety, the condition, refers to frequent or persistent anxiousness that is not connected to a particular event or situation Anxiety impacts quality of life and day-to-day function of the person living with the condition.
Similarly, to depression, everyone experiences anxiety differently and there are several types of anxiety, such as panic disorder and social anxiety. Beyond Blue outlines the common symptoms of anxiety as:
If you have been experiencing any of the symptoms of anxiety, it is important to discuss these with your treating healthcare team.
Beyond Blue provides 24-hour support to listen to how you are feeling and offer information and advice so you can seek further support.
Telephone: 1300 224 636
Mindspot is a service for people who are experiencing difficulties with anxiety, stress, depression and low mood. It provides assessment and treatment courses or can help to find local services for support.
Telephone: 1800 614 434
Head to Health provides help for you to find the right digital mental health resources for your needs or help to support somebody else.
Suicide Call Back Service provides 24-hour telephone support if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal.
Telephone: 1300 659 467
FriendLine is for anyone who needs to reconnect or just wants a chat.
All conversations with FriendLine are casual and anonymous with friendly volunteers ready to talk about anything and everything.
Telephone: 1800 424 287
Kids Helpline is an Australian free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
Telephone: 1800 55 1800