You may have heard that mental health is just as important as physical health – and that’s true. Mental health is something that we all have and it’s something that can have a big impact on our lives, and the lives of those around us.
We all have mental health – and it exists on a scale of good to poor, just like our physical health. A person who is considered ‘mentally healthy’ is able to make the most of their potential, deal with the stresses of life, and function personally, socially, and at work.
It is important to understand your mental health can change as circumstances change and as you move through different chapters of your life. It is not a static thing – it can change throughout our life.
On this page we provide a basic overview of the causes of mental health issues, the stigma that still surounds mental health and how we can look after our mental health and of those around us – Which is particularly important in the workplace or a team environment.
It’s believed that as many as one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem at some point. You may see mental health problems referred to as mental illnesses, mental health conditions, or something similar.
Some people prefer for different terms to be used – so if you know that someone prefers to talk about their problem in a certain way, try to support them with this and be mindful of your language choices.
Mental health problems can vary from more short-term to more long-term and severe psychological issues, and can include:
Yes. It is possible to recover from mental health problems – although recovery can mean different things to different people. For some people, recovery might mean overcoming or reducing certain symptoms. For others, it can mean learning to manage symptoms and gaining back more control over life.
There are a number of treatment and support options that can help people on their recovery journey. The most common types of treatment people receive in the UK are talking therapies (like psychotherapy and counselling) and medication.
The causes of mental health problems can include things like:
Although life can throw us challenges, we can help to look after our own mental health by doing things like:
We should also look out for those around us. The signs of poor mental health can include:
Fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch, usually within 24 hours.
