Mental health conditions
Your mental health and wellbeing is important. There is a range of conditions that can affect mental health. Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time of life and in different ways. There is a range of mental health services that offer help and support.
When to see your GP
You should see your GP if you:
- have been feeling depressed for more than a few weeks
- have anxiety that stops you from doing daily activities
- recognise that you have the symptoms of a mental health issue
- are finding it hard to cope
Help and support
There are also lots of services near you that offer help and support on a range of issues that can affect mental health.
Find more information on services and support available at:
Conditions that can affect mental health
Mental health problems range from worries you experience as part of daily life to serious conditions.
Information is available below on some mental health conditions.
Don't diagnose yourself with a condition. Always seek professional advice.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of unease, worry or fear.
Everyone feels anxious at some point in their life, but for some people it can be an ongoing problem.
Anxiety can have both psychological and physical symptoms.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition, with symptoms that include persistent hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity.
It affects both children and adults.
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a condition that affects your moods.
Your moods can swing from one extreme to another, for example, there are spells of both deep depression and excessively high mood (mania).
Body dysmorphic disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), or body dysmorphia, is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance.
These flaws are often not noticed by others.
You should visit your GP if you think you might have BDD.
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a disorder of mood and how a person interacts with others.
It's the most commonly recognised personality disorder.
Generally, someone with a personality disorder will differ significantly from an average person in terms of how they think, perceive, feel or relate to others.
Depression (clinical)
Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up, it is a serious mood disorder. It can be life-threatening.
With the right treatment and support, most people with depression can make a full recovery.
See your GP if you think you may be depressed.
Dissociative disorders
Dissociative disorders are a range of conditions that can cause physical and psychological problems.
Some dissociative disorders are very short-lived, perhaps following a traumatic life event, and resolve on their own over a matter of weeks or months. Others can last much longer.
Eating disorders
Anyone can get an eating disorder, but teenagers and young adults are mostly affected.
People with an eating disorder worry about what they eat. Food can control their life and stop them making decisions about what they eat and how much they eat.
You can get help for an eating disorder from your doctor and specialist services.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations are where someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside their mind.
See your GP straight away if you're experiencing hallucinations and you're worried about them.
Health anxiety
Health anxiety (sometimes called hypochondria) is when you spend so much time worrying you're ill, or about getting ill, that it starts to take over your life.
You should see your GP if worries about your health are stopping you from leading a normal life and self-help isn't working.
Hoarding disorder
A hoarding disorder is where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic way.
If you think a family member or someone you know has a hoarding disorder, try to persuade them to see their GP and seek help.
Munchausen's syndrome
Munchausen's syndrome is a psychological disorder where someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves.
Their main intention is to assume the ’sick role’ to have people care for them and be the centre of attention.
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common mental health condition.
A person with the condition has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
OCD can be distressing and significantly interfere with a person’s life, but treatment can help keep it under control.
Personality disorder
A person with a personality disorder thinks, feels, behaves or relates to others very differently from the average person.
There are several different types of personality disorder.
Postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious mental health illness that can affect a woman soon after she has a baby.
Postpartum psychosis should be treated as a medical emergency. If not treated immediately, the condition can become worse very quickly.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder.
It’s caused by frightening or distressing events.
It's normal to experience upsetting thoughts after a traumatic event.
See your GP if you or your child are still having problems about four weeks after the event, particularly if you have symptoms of PTSD.
Psychosis
Psychosis is a mental health problem.
It causes people to think or interpret things differently from other people, in a way that’s harmful to their health and wellbeing.
See your GP immediately if you're experiencing symptoms of psychosis.
If you're concerned about someone you know, contact their GP.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe long-term mental health condition. It changes how a person thinks and behaves.
If you're experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia, see your GP as soon as possible.
If you're concerned about someone you know, you could contact their GP.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern.
It is sometimes known as winter depression because the symptoms are clearer and tend to be more severe during winter.
You should see your GP if you are affected by SAD and are struggling to cope.
Social anxiety
Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is a long-lasting and intense fear of social situations.
It's a common problem that usually begins during the teenage years.
For some people it gets better as they get older, although for many it doesn't go away on its own.
Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania, also known as ‘trich’, is when someone can't resist the urge to pull out their hair.
They may pull out hair on their head or other places, like their eyebrows or eyelashes.
It's more common in teenagers and young adults and tends to affect girls more than boys.
See your GP if you're pulling your hair out or if you notice that your child is.
Recognising potential warning signs
There are some early warning signs that may suggest mental ill-health or a mental health problem.
Further information on mental health and early warning signs are available at:
Someone who’s having suicidal thoughts may not ask for help, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want help and support.
Find out more about what to do if you think someone needs immediate help at:
More useful links
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
For further information see terms and conditions.