What is mental health?

Let's go back to the basics. What is mental health?

Mental health

Mental health is what the term we use when we refer to our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It is about how our mind feels and functions on a daily basis. The state of our mental wellbeing will impact how we think, feel and behave. The types of thoughts, feelings and behaviours we tend to engage in will determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make decisions.

Our mental health is very important. It will affect our ability to do the things we want to and need to, including work, studies, relationships with others, personal pleasures and leisures, our sense of self-worth and purpose.

We all have mental health just as we have physical health. Therefore, if we have physical hygiene, we can also have mental hygiene. Mental health is not the absence of mental illness. It is also about resilience and well-being.

Can our mental health change?

Yes, our mental health can change. Think about mental health a bit like the weather. The weather changes with seasons. Just like the weather, our mental health can go through phases/seasons of brightness and high energy, but can then dip and feel darker and less energetic. On darker days, we may feel tired or lack motivation to do simple things (e.g. getting out of bed).

Why might our mental health change?

Since our mental health is a spectrum, there are many factors that can impact where it lays on the spectrum. Our mental health may change due to the experiences we're having, the circumstances and situations we find ourselves in, things that are out of our control.

Our mental health can be impacted by the following factors:

• Biological: genetics, brain chemistry, physical illness

• Psychological: trauma, negative thinking patterns, low self-esteem

• Environmental & Social: relationships, work, financial stress, discrimination, access to care, other stressful live experiences, the weather, world/global events

Every single one of are affected by what happens to us, whether from the past or present day. Even events that happened years ago can impact the state of our mental health at present.

What is mental health?

What is good mental health?

We can tell what state our mental health is in typically by how we feel inside our bodies. Such feelings are typically experienced when our mental health is good:

• feelings of calm, content, peaceful, hopeful

• accepting of ourselves

• motivated

• high self-value and worth

• able to focus and make decisions

• manage stress without breaking down

• able to connect with people and ask for help/support

Even when the inevitable of life happens where we face stressful situations or challenges, with good mental health we can find healthy and appropriate coping tools and responses to deal with them. We can calm and comfort ourselves when we're distressed, or at least accept the help of the people around us.

To have good mental health does not mean we feel good all the time. We still have downs like we have ups, but we can better cope with them.

What is poor mental health?

We can tell when our mental health is poorer or worse by the following feelings and experiences:

• feelings of sadness, hopeless, fatigue/exhaustion, anxiety, constant worry

• difficulty in accepting ourselves

• lack of motivation

• low self-value and worth (self-critical)

• worried about bad things happening

• unable to focus and make decisions

• trouble sleeping

• difficulty connecting with others

• using substances or distractions to cope

Feeling or experiencing the above for a long time can be a signal that we need help and our mental health is not doing great. Sometimes some things are beyond our control and we might not feel we have the right coping mechanisms or skills to deal with them.

Mental health is a form of hygiene

We have to see our mental health as a practice of hygiene. There are things that support and improve our mental health. Equally there are things that negatively impact and worsen our mental health. We have to be able to understand and become aware of what those factors are for us, at the very least, those that are within our control.

Whilst there are things we cannot control, there are also many things that are within our control.

Here are some ways we can keep our mental health in good shape:

• stay connected to people we feel safe with and trust

• move our bodies regularly (exercise helps mood)

• sleep and eat well (watching our diet is important, as certain foods can contribute to bad mental health caused by inflammation (e.g. sugar)

• set boundaries and rest when needed

• practice mindfulness, journaling, or creative expression

• seek help when things feel unmanageable (from a professional or close one)

Can psychotherapy teach good mental health hygiene?

Yes, psychotherapy can be a tool used to understand what state your mental health is in, recognise the patterns and habits that keep it there, and learn more or better ones to improve/support it.

Mental health problems are a common human experience. There are many therapists in London who can support you in your journey of mental health. Remember, you don't have to do it alone.