Mental distress – what you need to know

Key points about mental distress

The stress and strain of dealing with COVID-19, reading upsetting news stories or experiencing severe weather events are just some of the things that can cause mental distress and take a toll on your wellbeing and hauora in general.
If you already have a diagnosed mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, distressing events can sometimes have an even bigger impact on your wellbeing.
The information provided here is intended for people who are experiencing a normal stress reaction to a difficult time rather than those with an existing mental health condition.

Woman in orange sitting on a hilltop in New Zealand

Before COVID-19 arrived in the country, mental distress was already on the rise in Aotearoa New Zealand. Results of the Mental Health in Aotearoa(external link) survey in 2018 found the following results:

One in five adults aged 15 years and over are diagnosed with a mood and/or anxiety disorder.
Mental distress is highest among young people (15 to 24-year-olds).
People were more likely to be aware of mental distress in close friends than in neighbours, work colleagues or people they live with.
The proportion of New Zealanders with high levels of mental distress is trending upwards over time.
There’s a greater proportion of younger people in higher/more severe categories among anxiety and mental distress measures than older age groups (25 to 64-year-olds and 65+).
There’s a lower proportion of young people who report coping with everyday stresses, than older age groups.
15 to 17-year-olds and 18 to 24-year-olds are more likely to report having long-term psychological conditions that affect their everyday activities and socialising than older age groups.

Surveys done during the COVID-19 pandemic showed it’s had both negative and positive impacts for mental health. Financial stress has added to mental distress, and young people were prone to depression and anxiety during and after lockdown. However, most people (9 out of 10) reported at least one positive experience during lockdown. Positive experiences included feeling pride in the ability to cope, having more time for exercise and hobbies, a stronger sense of community and improved whanau resilience.

Emotional support, connections to others and relationships with people and pets were helpful in lessening mental distress. However, it was found that smoking and drinking alcohol were linked to increased anxiety and increased mental distress.

Woman sits at end of wharf looking to lake

Image credit: Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ

When you experience mental distress, you might feel isolated, overwhelmed, worried, upset, unmotivated, have difficulty sleeping or find it hard to concentrate.

How often you’re feeling distressed, how bad it gets and how long it lasts can help determine the seriousness of your situation. Some common signs of distress include:

Changes in your sleep – You may be sleeping more than usual or have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Changes in weight/eating patterns – You may have lost or gained a significant amount of weight or be preoccupied with food, weight or body image.

Unexplained physical symptoms – Things like headaches, stomach problems, dizziness or chronic pain can sometimes be a sign of mental or emotional distress. A check-up with you healthcare provder GP can help work out the cause.

Difficulty controlling your emotions – Having trouble controlling your emotions, including anger, could be a sign you are stressed out and under the pump.

Obsessive/compulsive behaviours – Performing tasks in a compulsive manner for no logical reason or constantly worrying that something bad is going to happen can be a sign of mental distress.

Feeling tired all the time – Extreme tiredness and fatigue can occur when your body can’t handle an emotional overload and simply shuts down.

Memory problems – Forgetfulness can sometimes be a sign of mental distress. It can also be caused by other things like Alzheimer’s disease, a lack of sleep or hormonal changes due to menopause. A check-up with your healthcare provider can help determine the cause.

Not doing pleasurable activities – Feeling like you don’t want to go out or socialise can be a sign of mental or emotional distress. No interest or enjoyment of sex can also be a sign – however, it pays to get a physical check-up to rule out other causes.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of harm, call 111 straight away.

If you’re feeling distressed or are worried about how you’re feeling emotionally or physically, reach out to friends or whānau and contact your GP or other healthcare provider for advice.

You can also contact the organisations below for help or to find extra support: