MENTAL HEALTH
What is mental health?
Mental Health is something we all have. Some people have described it as a feeling of contentment, well-being, being able to make decisions, being comfortable with ourselves and with others, being able to laugh, have fun and enjoy life. It is important to look after our mental health.
DEPRESSION
People with depression may cry often, feel hopeless, lose interest in things, have sleep or appetite changes, feel irritable, use alcohol or drugs, or struggle at school, work, or home.
ANXIETY
Everyone feels anxious sometimes — it can cause worry, racing heart, sweating, or jelly legs. If severe, it may lead to panic attacks. Anxiety is treatable, so talk to your doctor.
DRUGS & ALCOHOL
Drug use can cause short- and long-term issues like anxiety, memory problems, paranoia, depression, and legal trouble. Legal drugs like alcohol and cigarettes often pose the biggest risk to young people.
BULLYING & ABUSE
Abuse is when someone tries to control, hurt, or bully another person. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal. Abuse is never okay — talk to someone you trust.
RELATIONSHIPS & SEXUALITY
There are a broad range of sexual orientations including: heterosexual, bisexual, gay and lesbian. As part of exploring their sexuality, it is common for people to go through a range of feelings and experiences before their sexual identity emerges.
EATING DISORDERS
Eating disorders are not primarily about food, but can be seen as a way of coping with emotional distress or other underlying issues.
PSYCHOSIS
If someone becomes confused and appears out of touch with everyone else’s perception of the world, they may be experiencing a psychotic episode.
NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
Neurodevelopmental disorders are conditions that affect how the brain develops. They usually start in childhood and can make it harder for a person to learn, move, speak, or interact with others.
KEEPING A LOOKOUT
Spotting symptons of mental distress
Everyday stresses with work, school, family and friends can make you feel irritable, unmotivated or withdrawn. This is normal and these feelings usually pass.
However, if they don’t go away, or if you notice changes in your behaviour or the behaviour of someone you know, talk to someone about your concerns or call a confidential helpline such as the Samaritans on free phone 116123
If you notice such changes in yourself or others, it might feel a bit scary; don’t worry – help is available.
Talk to someone and ask them to help you find help.
Some things to look out for might include:
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Withdrawing from friends, family, school or work
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Change in mood or unusual response to situations
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Changes in sleep patterns – too much or too little
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Doing things that don’t make sense to others
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Seeing or hearing things that others don’t
MAINTAINING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
Practical ways to help maintain your mental health
Here are some things that help you to maintain good mental health, and which can help if you start to feel down:
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Get involved and try out new things
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Keep active & eat healthily
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Appreciate what you have
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Accept yourself for who you are
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Develop your creative side
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Stay in touch with friends and family
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Talk to someone you trust
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Find some time each day to relax
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Set little goals and work towards them
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Drink alcohol in moderation
GETTING HELP
ASK FOR HELP. ACCEPT HELP.
There are different ways to get help if you're struggling. This might include talking to a therapist, taking medication, or both. Your GP can help you figure out what’s best.
Talking therapy means meeting with a psychologist or counsellor. Lots of people find it really helpful. Don’t worry about the first session — you’ll just be asked a few questions about you, your family, and what’s been going on.
It’s a chance to talk things through and find ways to feel better, together with your therapist.