For nurses and midwives, asking patients, residents, and colleagues how they’re really doing is part of the job, every single day. 

This Mental Health Month, it’s worth asking ourselves the same question. Nurses and midwives aren’t immune to mental health challenges – the pace, responsibility and unpredictability of the work can wear on anyone. The same instincts that make us good at caring for others can also make us slow to notice when we need help ourselves. 

You’re not alone in this 

Mental health isn’t just the absence of a diagnosis. It’s about how we think, feel and cope day to day – how we manage stress, stay connected and get through what’s in front of us. One in five Australians will experience symptoms of mental illness in any given year, and almost half of us will experience a mental illness at some point in our lives. Many people never seek support, and in caring professions those barriers can be even higher – we’re just not used to being on the receiving end of care. 

Where are you on the continuum? 

Mental health moves. At one end we’re flourishing – feeling positive, connected and able to manage what comes our way. At the other, we can feel drained, disconnected or unable to cope. Most of us move back and forth along this continuum depending on what’s happening in our lives and work. Noticing where you currently sit is the first, and often hardest, step – especially when you’re used to being the one who checks on everyone else. 

Build joy into the everyday 

Protecting your mental health isn’t only about managing what’s hard. Small, deliberate moments of joy – time with people you love, a hobby, a walk, a laugh – genuinely buffer against stress and build emotional resilience. It’s easy to let these slip when work is demanding, but they’re not indulgent extras. They’re part of how we stay well enough to keep doing work that matters. 

If you’re struggling more than that 

Some of us are coping with low mood, dark thoughts, or just not feeling like ourselves for a while. That’s more common among nurses and midwives than many realise, and it isn’t a sign of weakness. 

Please reach out if this is you. 

Talking to someone doesn’t put your career at risk – staying silent only adds to the weight. You are not unprofessional for needing help. 

Not sure where you stand? 

This Mental Health Month, try our self-health check to see how you’re really doing. 

Feeling drained more often than not, or struggling to switch off? These might be signs worth paying attention to, and reaching out can be the first step to doing something about them. 

Need to talk to someone? 

NMHPA: 1800 001 060
www.nursemidwifehpa.org.au 

If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For 24/7 crisis support, call Nurse and Midwife Support on 1800 667 877, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.