It is Mental Health Awareness – What are mental health problems?
Mental health is just the same as physical health, we all have it and it needs to be looked after.
How many people suffer from mental health problems?
Feeling unwell mentally is actually very common, 1 in 4 people will experience poor mental health in any given year. This could be caused by a stressful event, such as losing your job, relationship problems or bereavement. However, these feelings are often temporary and people will recover well.
What is good Mental Health?
Being mentally healthy means being generally able to think, feel and react in the ways that you need and want to live your life. If you’re in good mental health, you can:
- make the most of your potential
- cope with day to day life
- play a full part in your family, workplace, community and friendships.
Of course, we all have times when we feel down or stressed or frightened but most of the time those feelings pass. However, if you go through a period of poor mental health, you might find the ways you’re frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become difficult to cope with. This could gradually turn into a more serious problem and you may need to seek help.
Everyone’s mental health is different and how we deal with life is different for each of us. You may bounce back from a setback quite quickly, while someone else may struggle with it for a long time.
Remember, your mental health isn’t fixed; it doesn’t always stay the same. It can change as you go through life and as circumstances change.
There’s a stigma attached to mental health problems. It’s often seen as a sign of ‘weakness’ and therefore people don’t want to talk about it. But it’s healthy to say how you’re feeling and understand that it is a very common experience.