Mental health is about how you think, feel, and behave in day-to-day life. It’s something we can’t “see” in the same way as a broken bone, but like physical health, mental health exists.
We all know the importance of looking after our physical health, eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep. But what about our mental health? Mental health can shape every aspect of our lives, from day-to-day life to how we connect with others. Taking care of your mental health can help you enjoy your life better. You know how to balance daily stress, activities, and responsibilities to achieve psychological resilience.
Anxiety, stress, and depression can negatively impact mental health and may disrupt your routine. Sometimes, physical conditions can also cause many mental health conditions. Usually, people hesitate to talk about mental health. But in recent years, mental health has finally stepped out of the shadows, and people are starting conversations about it openly more than ever before.
The Outstanding Society promotes mental health in social care by sharing best practices with providers regulated by the Care Quality Commission. We help others create environments that support both emotional and physical health. It supports staff through partnerships, offering training that helps prevent stress and burnout.
What is Mental Health? The WHO Definition
The WHO definition states that:
“Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”
Good mental health does not mean you are happy all the time or immune to stress. You can have periods when you feel strong and resilient, and other times when you might struggle. So, mental health is how you deal with ups and downs, maintain relationships, and make good decisions.
Why Mental Health Matters?
Like physical health, people must maintain mental health in good shape. It will help you handle stress without feeling overwhelmed. You can build and maintain healthy relationships with your family and friends. Good mental health helps you stay motivated and productive at work or school. You feel sane and make the right decisions to improve your life.
On the flip side, poor mental health can affect every part of life, your career, relationships, and even your physical health. Studies show that chronic stress and mental illness can cause physical health problems like heart disease, a weakened immune system, and digestive issues. It means mental health is necessary for a fulfilling life.
Common Types of Mental Health Disorders
Millions of people around the world experience mental health issues at some point in their lives. More than 200 types of mental health disorders range from mild to severe and can be short-term or long-term. Some of the most common types include:
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a persistent worry that can interfere with daily activities. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social anxiety are all examples of anxiety. People with these conditions have chronic anxiety or fear related to certain situations or objects. People with an anxiety disorder try to avoid exposure to whatever triggers their anxiety. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also a type of anxiety disorder. It develops after a person experiences or witnesses a stressful or traumatic event.
Mood Disorders
Mood or depression disorders are characterised by deep, ongoing feelings of sadness and hopelessness. General depression involves extreme sadness and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. Other examples are bipolar depression and Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Bipolar disorder is marked by extreme mood swings from emotional highs (mania) to deep lows (depression).
Eating Disorders
These are characterised by abnormal eating behaviours that adversely affect a person’s physical or mental health. These behaviours may include eating too much food or too little food, as well as body image issues. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating are examples of eating disorders.
Schizophrenia Disorders
These are characterised by features of psychosis and other severe symptoms. Schizophrenia disorders are highly complex conditions with negative and positive symptoms. Positive symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorders. Withdrawal, lack of motivation, and inappropriate mood are examples of negative symptoms.
Signs And Symptoms of Mental Health
No physical test or scan can detect whether a person has developed a mental health condition. So, people should look out for the signs and symptoms, such as emotional, behavioural, and physical signs.
Emotional Signs
People may experience persistent sadness or irritability, feeling empty or hopeless, and excessive guilt or worthlessness.
Behavioural Signs
People start withdrawing from friends and activities, experience sudden changes in sleeping or eating patterns and decreased motivation or productivity.
Physical Signs
People may experience constant fatigue or low energy, headaches, unexplained aches and pains, and trouble concentrating or remembering things.
If these feelings last more than a couple of weeks, it may be time to reach out for help.
Mental Health Disorders Cause
Many factors can cause the development of mental disorders. These could include:
Genetics
Sometimes a mental health disorder runs in a family. You may inherit genes that increase your risk of certain mental health conditions. However, it does not guarantee that having these genes will develop the disorder.
Brain chemistry and function
The brain uses chemicals called neurotransmitters. They help control your mood and behaviour. Disruptions in how these chemicals work may lead to mental disorders.
Life experiences and environment
Stressful experiences, trauma, abuse, especially early in life, loss, or major life changes, may increase the risk of mental disorders. Other factors like financial difficulties, high-stress work, substance use, lack of social support and chronic medical conditions (like pain or cancer) may also cause mental disorders.
How to Take Care of Your Mental Health?
Professional help is sometimes necessary, but there is also a lot you can do in your daily life to maintain good mental health.
Self-Care Practices
A person may decide to make certain lifestyle changes to help them manage their well-being. Get enough sleep (7–9 hours for most adults), eat a balanced diet, stay physically active (a daily walk), and limit alcohol and avoid recreational drugs.
Build a Support System
Stay connected with friends and family. It is better to have people you can talk to during difficult times.
Seek Professional Help
Therapists, counsellors, and psychiatrists can provide help either through medication to manage symptoms, therapies and coping strategies.
Mindfulness and Stress Reduction
Practices like meditation, deep breathing exercises, and journaling can help reduce stress and improve concentration.
When to Seek Immediate Help?
Sometimes, mental health issues can escalate into a crisis. Seek immediate help if you or someone you know is experiencing extreme mood swings or psychosis, is unable to perform basic daily activities, or is thinking about self-harm or suicide. Contact a mental health helpline or go to your nearest emergency department. You can also find a list of crisis lines by visiting the World Health Organisation’s Mental Health Support page.
The Outstanding Society is a social enterprise, a Community Interest Company, registered in mid-2021 in England and Wales. We are dedicated to sharing and celebrating best practices in social and residential care, and to supporting other providers in improving quality across England.