What is mental health and why does it matter?

 

We all have mental health,  it's just that some people struggle with it more than others. So what is mental health? It '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.' It is just as important as physical health and can be inextricably linked with it. 

Mental illness is more common than you would think. Did you know that in the last week, 1 in 6 people experienced a common mental health problem? And that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England? Mental illness is all around us, even if we can't see it.

So what is mental illness? Mental illness covers a 'broad range of problems, with different symptoms. However, [it is] generally characterized by some combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others.' Some examples are anxiety, depression, anorexia, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. 

So why do some people experience mental illness and not others? There is not one definitive answer, but a range of factors contribute, whether these be biological factors, such as genes and brain chemistry, or life experiences, such as trauma and abuse. 

What are some early warning signs of mental I'll health?

*Eating or sleeping a lot or very little

*Having little to no energy, or having boundless energy despite not sleeping much

*No longer enjoying activities that you usually do or spending time with loved ones 

*Wanting to harm yourself or others

*Feeling helpless or hopeless

*Being unusually aggressive

*Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared

*Smoking, drinking or using drugs more than usual

*Having unexplained aches and pains

*Experiencing severe mood swings that disrupt your life

*Being unable to perform daily tasks like going to work or looking after your kids

*Hearing voices or believing things that aren't true 

*Having persistent thoughts and memories that you are unable to get out of your head

If you experience a few of these symptoms combined for more than a few days you should consult your GP.

What is mental wellness? Mental wellness is the opposite of mental illness in a way, though someone who has a mental illness can also experience mental wellness (myself being a prime example, as I've been mostly mentally well for a whole year). It is not being happy all the time, as that is unnatural, but it is being able to have an appropriate emotional reaction to life events. When you are mentally well you are able to realise your full potential, cope with stressful life events, work productively, and make meaningful contributions to your community.

So how do you maintain positive mental health, or recover from mental illness? The key things are the same ones that doctors are always going on about: getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising regularly. It is also important to fulfill your need for meaningful relationships by connecting with other people and helping others. For people who are hoping to recover from mental illness, medication and talking therapy are often key, as is developing coping strategies.

The route to good mental health can be difficult and ridden with setbacks, but it's worth the effort. 

Sources:

https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-uk-and-worldwide

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/

https://www.who.int/mental_health/management/en/