What Is Mental Health?
Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. We all have mental health. Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It also impacts on how we cope, interact and form relationships with others, as well as our daily functioning.
Our mental health can vary and be dependent on a number of factors which may include;
What is Mental illness?
Mental health is different from mental illness (which can also be referred to as having a mental health disorder). A mental illness or mental health disorder is an illness that affects that way people think, feel, behave, or interact with others.
Mental illness typically has mor of an impact across many areas of an individual’s life than episodes of poor mental health which may be situation specific or time limited.
Anyone of any age, gender, geographical background, race, ethnicity, class, background, religion, ability, appearance, culture, caste, education, economic status, spirituality, sexual orientation can experience mental illness.
Factors that contribute towards good mental health and emotional wellbeing
It is important to have the basics of wellbeing consistently practised and in place. Young people may need help establishing and maintaining these wellbeing practices:
How adult caregivers can support a young person struggling with their mental health:
Ensure you have support for yourself; ask for help or let someone know if you are struggling either with your own emotional and mental health or if you are struggling with supporting a young person.
Role model that you are human too; normalise and validate that we all have thoughts and feelings and can experience difficulties and struggles with our emotional and mental health.
Share information; joined up working between adult caregivers (e.g., home and education) ensures consistency and containment for young people.
Be calm, consistent , clear and boundaried, as well as kind and compassionate.
Remember that your verbal and nonverbal communication and responses will have an impact on how a young person thinks, feels and behaves.
Work with a young person to help them better understand , express and communicate how they are thinking and feeling.
Coping / need support
Nature (type) of Difficulties
What To Do
Need help
Young Minds Parents Helpline: 08088025544
Family Lives Helpline: 08088002222
Need specialist intervention / crisis management
Now showing: Video 1 of 5
Video description: CARE (Coping And Resilience Education) skills - a 45 minute workshop for adults on understanding young people's emotions and how to support them with emotional resilience and mental health
Video description: Alfred & Shadow - A short story about emotions (education psychology health animation)
Video description: We All Have Mental Health
Video description: Guided Mindfulness: Passing Clouds - Dr Natalie Roberts
Video description: Guided Mindfulness: Leaves on a Stream