A person who has good mental health has good emotional and
social wellbeing and the capacity to cope with change and
challenges. Mental health problems can affect your feelings,
thoughts and actions, and cause difficulties in your everyday
activities, whether at school, at work, or in relationships.
Mental health problems
Feeling down, tense, angry or anxious are all normal emotions,
but when these feelings persist for long periods of time, or if
they begin to interfere with daily life, they may become mental
health problems.
Most mental health problems are not very severe or long-lasting.
However, it is important to get support from your friends and
family, and to ask for help early, for example by visiting your
local doctor (general practitioner - GP) or your local
headspace centre.
There are many signs that you might need to talk to someone about
what's going on in your life. They include:
- Not enjoying, or not wanting to be involved in, things that you
would normally enjoy
- Not sleeping as well as usual, or sleeping more than usual
- Not eating as much as usual, or eating more than usual
- Being easily irritated, or being angry with friends and family
for no reason
- Finding your grades at school, college or university are not as
good as they should be
- Being involved in risky behaviour that you would usually avoid,
like taking drugs or drinking too much alcohol
- Feeling tense or restless
- Crying for no apparent reason
- Feeling sad or 'down'
- Having trouble concentrating or remembering things
- Having lots of negative thoughts
- Feeling unusually stressed or worried
Mental illness
Mental illness can occur at any age, but anxiety disorders and
depression are quite common problems for young people.
Mental illness can affect your thoughts, feelings, actions and
memory. A mental illness is usually longer-lasting than mental
health problems, and causes more distress and disruption to life.
There are a number of mental illnesses, which include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Psychosis
- Self harm
- Excessive alcohol and other drug use
Causes of mental illness
There is no single 'cause' of mental illness. Instead, they
usually result from a number of overlapping factors. These can
include:
- Biological factors such as the genes inherited from your
parents
- Early life experiences such as abuse, neglect, or the loss of
someone close to you
- Individual factors such as your level of self-esteem, coping
skills and thinking styles
- Current circumstances, for example stress at school or work,
money problems, difficult personal relationships, or problems
within your family
Get help early
Getting help early makes a significant difference to how quickly
and how well someone recovers. People and places that can help
include GPs, counsellors, community mental health services, local
welfare teams, and headspace centres.
Getting help early means that you can benefit from treatment as
soon as possible, before the symptoms of the illness have become
disabling. It also helps you keep on track at school, study or
work, and in your personal and family relationships.
Seeing a mental health professional will help you develop the
skills you need to manage the problem, while you continue to
function in your everyday life. Early treatment focuses on the care
of the whole person - not just on treating the symptoms. This may
include support in areas like your study or your job.
Looking after your mental health
There are a number of things you can do to look after and
maintain your mental health and wellbeing. For example, many people
cope with stress by engaging with sports and exercise, meditation,
yoga or relaxation techniques. Others express
themselves through art such as poetry, writing or music. What you
eat might also affect your mood. A well-balanced diet will help
keep you both physically and mentally healthy. Building your skills
in assertiveness, developing your coping strategies, and positive
self-talk can also help maintain your mental health.
If you are concerned about your own or a friend's mental health
and wellbeing headspace is a great place to go for help.
headspace centres are for young people 12-25, and
offer a variety of different health services.