All about Mental Health
ALL ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH
What is mental health?
We all have mental health. It affects how we think, feel and behave, and determines how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Our mental health can change over time. Some people call mental health 'emotional health' or 'wellbeing'. In the same way that sometimes we get physically sick with a cold or flu, sometimes we get mentally ill too.
What are mental health problems?
Changes in mental health are very common, for example with the stresses and strains of life. But if these changes don’t go away, and start to affect our everyday life, this can lead to problems with our mental health and can lead to mental illness. Over the course of your life, if you have mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behaviour could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including our genes and life experiences.
What is mental illness?
The term mental illness is used to describe diagnosable mental health problems. This is when you experience problems with your mental health that interfere with your life and meet criteria set out by health professionals.
How common are mental health problems?
Anyone can experience problems with their mental health from mild stress to diagnosable mental health problems, and it is thought that at any one time at least 1 person in 6 is experiencing a mental health condition. Half of all mental health problems are thought to start to before the age of 14.
Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely.
Epic Friends is all about helping you to help your friends who might be struggling to cope emotionally. It has information on common mental health problems, self-help and an online quiz. Learn how to help your friends and yourself now.
BBC Radio 1 has some great information on Mental Health especially aimed at Young People....take a look!
There are some other great websites out there that have loads of information on mental health too. Have a look at:
On My Mind has been set up by the Anna Freud Centre for Children and families and is aimed at raising awareness for young people around all areas to do with mental health.
| The Time to Change leaflet for parents: |
The Time to Change leaflet for young people: |
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The Mental Health Foundation 'What is mental health?' section provides lots of useful information.
The Mind website has lots of information on the different mental health problems and have an A-Z of mental health.
Source: Mental Health Foundation.
What is stigma and discrimination?
People don’t always talk about mental health problems. Some people find them difficult to understand and are sometimes fearful of them. It may be hard to talk about your mental health and to seek help, but it is increasingly becoming ok to be open about your mental health. Mental health difficulties can happen to anyone regardless of their age, gender or ethnic background. It is not your fault and there is always hope for recovery.
Image source (top of the page) : http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/mental-health-services-explained/Pages/accessing%20services.aspx