4 Mental Health lessons from Australia’s healthiest communities

ARTICLE

1 March 2025

3 min read

Mental health habits of the healthiest, oldest Aussies.

Heard of the AIA Vitality Zones? They’re 45 of the healthiest communities in Australia, where residents live up to 8 years longer than the rest of the country.

Their secret isn’t extreme or even expensive, in fact it’s simple: they take small steps every day to support their mind as much as their body. So, what can we learn from some of our most mentally fit citizens?

Your physical space affects your brain space

For better or worse, our environment can greatly influence our mental health. Take Queensland, where the AIA Vitality Zones residents experience some of the lowest stress levels in the country—just 11%! This could be influenced by myriad factors, but when we consider their lifestyle, where time in nature, outdoor activities, and socialising are prioritised, it’s fair to assume that their surroundings support their mental wellbeing. And while we can’t control every element of our environment, we do have the power to choose how we spend our time in it.

We need community

Whatever the day, my friends are a constant source of comfort and support—and for good reason. Research consistently shows us that meaningful relationships are key to our overall mental wellbeing, helping to combat feelings of loneliness and build emotional resilience.

AIA Vitality Zones in Western Australia—where 71% of residents say that their connections are vital to their mental health—and in New South Wales, with their low rate of loneliness (6%), reaffirm that investing in our relationships and fostering inclusive, supportive environments helps us feel emotionally safe, personally valued, and mentally strong.

Healthy body, healthy mind

We cannot better our mental wellbeing without equal investment in the physical. Health is holistic after all. Eating nutritious foods, moving our body, and getting enough sleep supports our mind as much as our body.

South Australians know this better than most. Residents in SA AIA Vitality Zones get more rest (65%) than the national average (57%). We know a well-rested mind is crucial for emotional regulation, cognitive function, and overall wellbeing—which may explain why these Aussies experience more overall satisfaction, strong mental health and lead in volunteering, a practice known to improve both social connectedness and personal satisfaction. In other words, our minds and bodies rely on each other to thrive, not just function.

Mindfulness is more than a buzzword

Ever found yourself lost in flow while doing something you love? Any activity that promotes mindfulness and positive expression, from art to sport, can improve our psychological wellbeing and emotional resilience, particularly when negative emotions rear their head. This is evident in Tasmania, where 44% of AIA Vitality Zone residents express contentment with their lives, suggesting these Aussies actively invest in activities that support their wellbeing.

Our relationship with mental health will always be a personal and nuanced thing. But like any aspect of our wellbeing, there are many actions we take, both large and small, to improve our experience of it and support our overall wellbeing now and in the long-term.

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Dr. Jaime Lee

Dr. Jaime Lee is the Founder and CEO of Health Quotient, a company dedicated to transforming workplaces around the world by inspiring individual health and whole organisational renewal through leadership keynotes, workshops and mentoring. With experience as a medical doctor, public health specialist, corporate strategist, speaker and facilitator, Dr. Jaime works with global companies to help them sustain high performance teams in an integrated and healthy way.

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