Mental Health

• Mental Health


  Refers to the current state of wellbeing relating to the mind or brain and to the ability to think and process information.
• Characteristics of Optimal Health and Wellbeing

  • Low levels of stress and anxiety
  • Positive self esteem
  • The ability to problem solve and process information
  • High levels of confidence
  • Positive thought patterns
  • Ability to use logic and reasoning and make decisions
• Mental Health Disorders

  • Often experienced in late teens/early adulthood and may emerg later in life
  • Greater severity and longer duration than mental health problems
  • Examples, depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance use disorder
• Mental Health Problems

  • Can have a negative impact on a person's thoughts, feeling and social abilities
  • Often temporary and potentially disappear with time
  • Examples, anger, loneliness, self-esteem issues
• What Depression and Anxiety Can Look Like in Physical Health and Wellbeing

  • Increased heart rate and shortness of breath
  • Nausea
  • Self-harm or attempt to suicide
  • Low energy and exhaustion
  • Overeating to improve mood or loss of appetite
  • Increased aches and pains
• What Depression and Anxiety Can Look Like in Social Health and Wellbeing

  • Social isolation through withdrawing from social interactions
  • Not wanting contact with others, weaker social connections, altered friendship network
• What Depression and Anxiety Can Look Like in Mental Health and Wellbeing

  • Feeling stressed and anxious
  • Having negative thought patterns
  • Having low levels of confidence
  • Experiencing low self-esteem
• What Depression and Anxiety Can Look Like in Emotional Health and Wellbeing

  • Being unable to gain control of anxiety
  • Unable to control sadness
  • Unable to settle into activities or feel worthy of attention
  • Unable to feel adequate or happy during social activities
  • Unable to feel hope or satisfaction
• What Depression and Anxiety Can Look Like in Spiritual Health and Wellbeing

  • Reduced motivation to achieve or see meaning in life
  • Less hope and inner peace in life