Mental Health
Mental health refers to someone's emotional and social wellbeing. With good mental health we manage the normal ups and downs of life but if our mental health declines it can affect our feelings, thoughts and actions. Sometimes these changes in our mental health can also affect how we do our day to day activites, such as school, work and relationships.
Feeling down, tense, angry or anxious are all normal emotions. When these feelings persist for long periods of time or if they begin to interfere with our daily business, then they may become mental health problems. Mental health problems may not be severe or long lasting. Some mental health problems fade with time, while others can be managed with support from friends and family, and sometimes a little counselling might also be helpful.
Mental illness
When mental health problems last for long periods of time and begin to significantly change a person's daily life, it is possible that a mental illness is developing. At this point it is good to talk to someone about the issues or seek help from a GP or a counsellor.
Mental illness refers to a range of issues which may affect someone's thoughts, feelings, actions and/or memory. These issues are longer lasting than mental health problems and cause more distress and disruption to life. Although mental illness can occur at any age, anxiety disorders and depression are quite common problems for young people.
There are a number of mental illnesses including:
Causes of mental illness
Most mental illnesses are thought to be caused by a variety of factors including:
- Biological factors - inherited or environmental
- Negative early life experiences - for example: abuse, neglect, death of a relative or other losses and trauma
- Individual factors - for example: self-esteem or way of thinking
- Current social circumstances - school, work, financial, relationship or family stress, or negative life events
Getting help
If you have concerns about your mental health or that of a friend or family member there are a number of ways you can get help, including visiting a headspace service. Go to the Getting Help section for more information.
This information was produced in conjunction with Orygen Youth Health