How you are feeling mentally is just as important as how you are feeling physically. Here's where you can find out more about mental health, and what you can do to help you.
Mental health is 'the emotional and spiritual resilience which allows us to enjoy life and survive pain, disappointment and sadness. It is a positive sense of well-being and an underlying belief in our own, and others’, dignity and worth.' (Health Education Authority - 1997).
Mental health can mean different things to different people and we often tend to think of there being something wrong when we use the term. However, mental health can include mental well- being. Mental well-being is about how you think and feel about yourself and life. It's about how much you are able to enjoy life and how you handle challenges that you face in life and how satisfied you are with your life. In the same way that we always have physical health we also always have mental health. Just as we keep fit to stay physically healthy, we all need to pay attention to keeping emotionally and mentally well.
Mental illness refers to a condition or illness, diagnosed by a doctor, which interferes with the way you function mentally and emotionally. It can also affect other aspects of your life, for example, if you are depressed you might not feel like going out with your friends, or if you are feeling extremely anxious you might have physical symptoms such as diziness, because you are breathing so fast.
Many aspects of our lives can affect our mental health, and it’s also normal to feel sad, upset or low when certain things happen. But when these feelings persist and are affecting your every day like it may be time to seek help. Things that can affect our mental health include:
Often you find ways to cope with this, but if it gets too much, there are people out there who can help.
Mental Health Foundation Podcasts: Listen to podcasts about relaxation, overcoming anxiety and much more.
Living Life to the Full- This is a free online course to help you deal with different sorts of problems like not being able to sleep, low mood, anxiety.
Breathing Space- Breathing Space is a free, confidential phone-line you can call when you're feeling down. Call 0800 83 85 87. Their website has lots of useful information too.
Well Scotland- Find out what the Scottish Government says about mental health.
Published on 06/07/2010
Last modified on 04/01/2012
© 2010 Young Scot Enterprise and its suppliers. All rights reserved.