Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental health is a state of being which affects the way you think, feel and behave. This is different for everyone, but having positive mental health can help you lead a full and happy life, and also improve your overall well-being.
Quality of Life
The World Health Organisation defines health as a state of physical, mental and social wellbeing, and the WHO describes the relationship between mental health and wellbeing as ‘closely interwoven’. A person’s mental health is determined by their biological makeup, family history and social factors. A number of mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, have been linked to a higher risk of illness and death.
Quality of life is a complex and reciprocal combination of several domains: feelings of well-being, control, autonomy, self-perception, belonging, meaningful activity, and a positive outlook on the future.
A person’s quality of life is affected by a range of factors, which may be local or global in nature. Socio-economic inequalities, for example, heighten the risk of poor mental health, and the impact of poverty and debt on families can contribute to a decline in wellbeing.
Living with a mental illness can be isolating and disempowering, and it is often difficult to talk about how it is affecting your life. It can also affect your relationships, especially with friends and family.
It can be very hard to cope with the symptoms of a mental illness, but it is important not to give up. It is important to find ways to cope with the symptoms so that you can have a better life.
Support from family and friends is essential. They can be there to help you get through the symptoms of a mental health problem, and they can support and encourage you to get treatment.
They can also be there for you if you need to talk to them about your problems. They can listen to you without judgement, and they can give you the time and space you need to think through your thoughts.
You may also need to talk about the way that your illness is affecting your physical health. For example, if you have an anxiety disorder, it can reduce the amount of energy you have and increase your risk of heart disease. Getting treatment for your mental illness can lessen the severity of those symptoms and make you more resilient to the effects of the condition.
It is not uncommon to have a mental health problem and then develop a physical illness. For instance, people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are at a greater risk of developing lung and heart diseases than those without the condition.
It is also not unusual for a mental health problem to cause physical symptoms, such as fatigue or sleep problems. These can cause problems in the workplace and can make you feel exhausted and depressed. If these symptoms are not dealt with, they can become severe and impact your work performance.