A Curtin University study involving over 600 adults in Western Australia found that simple, everyday behaviours can significantly enhance mental well-being. Participants who engaged in daily conversations scored 10 points higher on a standard mental well-being scale compared to those who socialised less than once a week. Similarly, daily exposure to nature was linked to a five-point increase.

Other activities such as regular social meetups, physical exercise, helping others, and spiritual practices also showed positive associations with mental health.

Lead author Professor Christina Pollard from Curtin’s School of Population Health emphasised that these low-cost, accessible behaviours can play a key role in supporting mental health.

“These are not expensive interventions,” Professor Pollard explained. “They are everyday actions that can be promoted through public health messaging. Even simple habits like a daily chat or spending time outdoors can have a measurable impact. Activities that stimulate the mind like reading, crosswords, or learning something new also offer valuable mental resets.”

The research assessed 15 behaviours encouraged by the Act Belong Commit campaign and found a clear link between frequency of participation and mental well-being. Awareness of the campaign was high, with 86% of respondents recognising it, and nearly all agreeing that mental health deserves equal attention to physical health.

Despite being conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when social interaction was limited, 93% of participants reported no psychological distress, and average well-being levels aligned with global pre-pandemic standards.

Professor Pollard said the findings make a compelling case for ongoing, community-wide mental health promotion efforts.

“This study demonstrates that when people are encouraged and supported to adopt mentally healthy behaviours, the positive effects extend across the broader community,” she said.

Source: https://www.curtin.edu.au/news/media-release/everyday-actions-and-behaviours-linked-to-better-mental-well-being-study