What is Mental Health and Well-being?
Good mental health means being generally able to think, feel and react in the ways that you need and want to live your life. But if you go through a period of poor mental health you might find the ways you’re frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become difficult, or even impossible, to cope with. This can feel just as bad as a physical illness, or even worse.
Mental health problems affect around one in four people in any given year.
Check out this video that explains what mental health problems are and how they can affect us:
There are many types of mental health problems, and some can share similar symptoms. Some of the more common types are:
Anxiety and Panic Attacks. It is a natural human response when we perceive that we are under threat, but it can happen unexpectedly and feel overwhelming.
Bipolar Disorder. Everyone feels a variety of emotions, but people with this disorder feel that their high and low moods are extreme, and that swings in their moods are distressing.
Depression. In its mildest form, depression can mean just being in low spirits. At its most severe, depression can be life-threatening because it can make you feel suicidal.
Eating Problems. This is any relationship with food that you find difficult, whether it is over-eating or under-eating. This can be dangerous to your physical health.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This is an anxiety disorder, and can involve: unwelcome thoughts, obsessions, and the need to perform repetitive activities.
Phobias. It is an extreme form of fear or anxiety triggered by a particular situation (such as going outside) or object (such as spiders), even when there is no danger.
Schizophrenia. Some symptoms include: disconnection from your feelings, difficulty concentrating, hallucinations, delusions, and a disorganised thinking and speech.
It is important to maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle; this involves your mental and physical health. If you want to know more about living a healthier lifestyle, check out this page on WiciD.tv
If you want to find out more about mental health, you can check out or partner organisations:
