Introduction to mental health
Mental health affects how you think, feel and act. Good mental health is when you feel positive about yourself and cope well with the everyday pressures. If you have issues dealing with everyday problems, it could be a sign of a mental health problem and should be addressed immediately.
Mental health problems
Anyone can suffer from mental health problems. Some people are more vulnerable, but no one is immune to poor mental health.
People with mental health problems often face stigma, which can prevent them from seeking help and hinder their recovery.
Looking after your mental health
There are five simple steps that can help you maintain and improve your wellbeing.
Try to build these into your daily life – think of them as your ‘five a day’ for wellbeing:
- connect – spend time with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours
- be active – you don’t have to go to the gym, but take part in physical activities such as walking or playing sports
- keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of confidence and achievement
- take notice – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts, feelings and body
- give to others – acts of kindness can improve your own mood
- Take five steps to wellbeing
Mental health conditions
There is a range of mental health conditions a person can suffer from, including:
- anxiety
- bipolar disorder
- borderline personality disorder
- depression
- obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- schizophrenia
Further information is available at:
Early warning signs
There are some early warning signs that you should be aware of that can suggest something may be harming your mental health.
These can be one or a number of the following:
- mood swings or constantly feeling low
- not caring about your appearance or personal responsibilities
- increased use of alcohol or drugs
- thinking life is not worth living
- losing interest in things you used to enjoy
- withdrawing from social activities and spending less time with friends and family
- disturbed sleep, either not getting enough or sleeping too much
- eating less than normal or overeating, perhaps losing or gaining weight
- feeling irritable, over-sensitive or aggressive
- finding it hard to concentrate or remember things
- physical symptoms such as aches and pains or other unexplained illnesses
- a drop in work performance
- doing things that don’t make sense to others
- hearing or seeing things that no one else can hear or see
If you can relate to any of these warning signs, it’s important that you seek help.
Talk to a friend or a family member and speak to your GP about support services available to you.
Alcohol and drugs
Many people drink alcohol without experiencing any problems.
Enjoying a couple of drinks can be part of a normal social life or help some people relax. For others, however, alcohol is associated with a range of mental health problems, including depression.
There is a clear association between suicidal behaviour and alcohol use, abuse and intoxication.
For some people, taking drugs can lead to long-term mental health problems. Others may already be experiencing mental health problems and use drugs to manage their condition.
Long term use of drugs including cannabis and ecstasy has been linked to conditions such as:
Cannabis also affects how your brain works, so regular use can make concentration and learning difficult.
Users can also develop a physical or psychological dependence, becoming addicted.
Recovering from mental health problems
People can and do recover from mental health problems.
Recovery can be a process, rather than a particular outcome.
The recovery process:
- does not always mean getting back to where you were before
- will have ups and downs
- requires commitment from you and support from your family and friends
- can allow you to lead a normal life
- will involve finding your own ways of coping with life’s challenges
For many people, recovery is about staying in control of their life, despite experiencing mental health problems.
The following can help you recover successfully:
- good relationships –support from family and friends is vital
- self-direction – you need to decide your own direction and goals
- having a positive living, working/education environment that helps in recovery
- financial security
- responsibility – you need to develop your own self-care skills
Recovery is an individual process and, while there may be common themes and experiences, each person’s recovery will be unique.
Recovery colleges
Recovery colleges offer a range of courses which are open to all members of the public, over the age of 16, in each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.
Courses are designed and delivered by mental health specialists, carers and experts.
Recovery colleges are open to:
- families
- friends
- carers
- service users
- staff
- those with an interest in wellbeing and mental health