WHAT IS
MENTAL HEALTH?
Understanding mental health
Mental Health...
Involves effective functioning in daily activities resulting in
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Productive activities (work, school, care giving)
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Healthy relationships
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Ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity
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Your mental health is affected by various different factors such as:
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Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
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Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
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Family history of mental health problems
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And the stresses we are under
“WHO Defines Mental health as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”
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“The American Psychiatry Association says mental health is the foundation for emotions, thinking, communication, learning, resilience and self-esteem. Mental health is also key to relationships, personal and emotional well-being and contributing to community or society.”
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So then what is Mental Health?
Just like we have physical health we have mental health. Mental health is not just about mental illnesses or distress it is how we act, think, feel and react to our environment on a daily basis. It includes our emotional, social and psychological well being.
Understanding mental illness
Mental Illnesses collectively refer to all diagnosable mental health conditions involving significant changes in thought, emotion and behavior. It causes distress or problems in your social life, work or any other normal day to day activities. These mental disorders can be caused by a number of factors such as your genetic makeup, everyday stress and your life experiences.
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Mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone regardless of your age, gender, geography, income, social status, race/ethnicity, religion/spirituality, sexual orientation, background or other aspect of cultural identity.
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Mental illnesses take many forms. Some are mild and only interfere in limited ways with daily life, such as certain phobias (abnormal fears). Other mental health conditions are so severe that a person may need care in a hospital.
Warning Signs and Wellness
WARNING SIGNS
Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem:
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Eating or sleeping too much or too little
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Pulling away from people and usual activities
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Having low or no energy
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Feeling numb or like nothing matters
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Having unexplained aches and pains
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Feeling helpless or hopeless
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Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
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Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
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Yelling or fighting with family and friends
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Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
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Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head
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Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
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Thinking of harming yourself or others
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Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school
Mental Health and Wellness
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Positive mental health allows people to:
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Realize their full potential
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Cope with the stresses of life
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Work productively
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Make meaningful contributions to their communities
Ways to maintain positive mental health include:
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Getting professional help if you need it
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Connecting with others
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Staying positive
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Getting physically active
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Helping others
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Getting enough sleep
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Developing coping skills
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DISORDERS
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SEEK HELP
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Mental health has been an increasingly popular topic of conversation recently, and rightfully so. With this website we aim to familiarise the general audience with the basics of mental health. This includes basic disorders, recovery and how one should go about the nooks and crooks of mental health, all under one URL.