Everybody has mental health, just like we have physical health. The two can affect each other.
Our mental wellbeing is important because it influences not only how we think and feel about ourselves, but also how we think and feel about other people, affecting our outlook on a situation or the environment around us.
What affects mental health?
Every week, 1 in 6 adults experiences a common mental health problem. It's completely normal and you will have felt like this at some point in your life as a result of day-to-day problems, such as work stress, car troubles, caring responsibilities or arguing with friends or family.
Other times, these feelings can be triggered because of a more significant event, like someone close to you dying, relationship breakdowns, physical health issues or financial worries. Sometimes it's not clear what the cause is.
A range of support and advice can help you deal with these issues, including:
The main thing to remember is that feeling down about these events is completely normal and most of the time these feelings pass and can be helped by friends, family, a partner or work colleagues.
How to get help right now
If you, or someone you know is struggling, it’s important to ask for help and support. Talking might not always be the solution but it’s always the starting point.
If you’re having more extreme thoughts and feelings or you're considering taking your own life, you should speak to someone as soon as possible. Depending on how severe your symptoms are, your options include:
It's also worth talking to your employer, as free support and access to counselling may be available.
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