Me n t a lHe a l t h C a r e r s . o r g

What is mental health?
The word 'mental' simply means 'of or involving the mind'. So mental health is all about what's happening in our minds, and physical health is all to do with our bodies.

Most of us have had times when we're feeling a bit down or a bit moody. Fortunately, these feelings come and go fairly quickly and so do not hang very long to cause us any problems. But for a while we may just feel not very confident, or a little insecure, or we may want some space for ourselves. We put this down to the ups and downs of life and this is all to do with mental health - how we are feeling about ourselves and the world.

What are mental health problems?
Mental health problems can be diagnosed when these problems persist over a longer period of time and affect the way a person thinks, feels and behaves.
The problems can range from anxieties (worries) and phobias (fear) to more severe mental illnesses where people are unable to cope with their day to day life because their state of mind is so confused. When this happens it may be best for the person to go into hospital to get better. In other cases a GP might prescribe some medication to tackle the illness and help the person sleep or relax. We shall look at this in more detail later.
One of the main problems when dealing with mental health is trying to understand what is happening in someone else's mind. We all have hundreds of thoughts and feelings which come and go every day, some we remember, others we forget.
These ideas are very real for the person involved, however unusual they appear to anyone else. This is important to remember. It is part of their illness.

Why do people become ill?
The simple answer is no one really knows. Even nowadays the workings of the brain remain a bit of a mystery.
But there seem to be three main factors which contribute to mental health problems:-

What are mental health problems?
Mental health problems can be diagnosed when these problems persist over a longer period of time and affect the way a person thinks, feels and behaves.
The problems can range from anxieties (worries) and phobias (fear) to more severe mental illnesses where people are unable to cope with their day to day life because their state of mind is so confused. When this happens it may be best for the person to go into hospital to get better. In other cases a GP might prescribe some medication to tackle the illness and help the person sleep or relax. We shall look at this in more detail later.
One of the main problems when dealing with mental health is trying to understand what is happening in someone else's mind. We all have hundreds of thoughts and feelings which come and go every day, some we remember, others we forget
These ideas are very real for the person involved, however unusual they appear to anyone else. This is important to remember. It is part of their illness.

Biological ...
Sometimes chemicals in the brain are not working properly which causes the brain to send out the wrong messages. It is these messages which make people behave in a strange manner. So, for example people who suffer from schizophrenia may hear voices talking to them and may talk back to them. These voices are very real to the person involved, even though no else can hear them. The voices are products of the person's own mind which has been disturbed by chemicals in the brain not working properly. These chemicals affect behavior thoughts and feelings. Medication aims to restore a healthy chemical balance.

Genetic ...
This is to do with a family's medical history. For example, there may be a history of depression in a family, from one generation to another, which means that people from this particular family are more likely to suffer from depression in the future than others. This may sound alarming. You may think, "I wonder if I will get it!". This is only one possible contributory factor and it is a fact that people with no family history can become ill, just as people with a relative who suffers from depression do not fall ill.

Environmental ...
Sometimes things can happen if life which people find hard to cope with, like the death of a loved one, or the break up of a relationship or losing a job. Such events can be very stressful and can make a person more vulnerable to illness which include mental health problems.

There seems to be no single cause for mental health problems. Every person is different and will react to situations in different ways according to personality. Other key factors in mental health are a person's support network (family and friends), what other stresses are involved in that person's life, and earlier life experiences.

Many people will experience mental health problems at some stage in their lives. 1 out of 4 people will go to their doctor complaining of mental health problems and these can range from panic attacks and anxiety disorders to more severe illnesses like schizophrenia and manic depression.

Mental health affects the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. A person can be said to be experiencing a severe mental illness when they are unable to continue with their daily life, and their thoughts and behavior are putting themselves or other people in danger.

When illnesses are described, professionals often talk of symptoms. Doctor may ask you what are the symptoms of your parent's illness? Symptoms are indications of a particular illness, so for example, red spots covering the body is a symptom of measles. The main symptoms of the most common mental health problems are described next...

Schizophrenia ...
False beliefs (called delusions) e.g. people may believe that others are against them
Hearing voices (auditory hallucinations) which are often critical and unpleasant
Muddled speech and thoughts.
Loss of feelings or emotions.
Loss of energy and interest. People may become withdrawn and behave out of character. For example, a person who is usually neat and tidy may suddenly take no interest in their appearance.
Schizophrenia is likely to affect 1 person in 100. Schizophrenia is often connected with feelings of paranoia. This means that the person suffering from the illness may believe that everyone is plotting against them. For example, people may be suddenly suspicious of their neighbors or become convinced that their phones are being tapped by the FBI.

What is mental health?
Living with mental health problems
What about me?
Treatment
Who can help?
Legal matters
And finally....
Useful addresses and telephone numbers

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