Mental Health
Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behaviour could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
- Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
- Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
- A family history of mental health problems is common, but help is available.
People with mental health problems can get better, and many recover completely. Positive mental health allows people to:
- Realize their full potential
- Cope with the stresses of life
- Work productively
- Make meaningful contributions to their communities
Ways to maintain positive mental health include:
- Getting professional help if you need it
- Connecting with others
- Staying positive
- Getting physically active
- Helping others
- Getting enough sleep
- Developing coping skills
Depression
Most of us feel sad, lonely, or depressed at times, but when these feelings become overwhelming, cause physical symptoms, and last for long periods of time, they can keep you from leading a normal, active life. The symptoms can persist for weeks or months and are bad enough to interfere with your work, social life and family life. If this is the case, it is important to speak with a GP and get medical advice. A counsellor will listen to you without judging you, and they can help you explore your feelings, acknowledge them and accept them. They can also support you in finding your own ways to cope with what you are going through and suggest different strategies and self-care techniques.
Symptoms of depression, please visit (www.nhs.uk/mental-health)
Anxiety
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, both adults and children. For most people, feelings of anxiety come and go. Some moments of anxiety are briefer than others, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. But for some people, these feelings of anxiety are more than just passing worries or a stressful day at work. Your anxiety may not go away for many weeks, months, or years. It can worsen over time and can become so severe that it interferes with your daily life. Talking to a qualified counsellor can help reduce anxiety levels and give you helpful ways of managing and coping with your anxiety.
