Understanding what mental health means is important; we explore the meaning of mental health as part of our #NoStigma campaign.
Looking after our own and others’ mental health has never been more important, and conversations and awareness about mental health have never been so strong. Having a good understanding of what mental health means is an important part of both looking after ourselves and tackling stigma.
What is mental health?
Mental health means a state of wellbeing that helps us to cope with the normal stresses of life, to work and contribute to our communities, and to develop as people.
Good mental health supports how we:
- think, feel and behave
- interact with other people
- look after ourselves and others
- take part in and enjoy our lives.
Our mental health isn’t fixed. It can be helpful to think about mental health as a spectrum. Over the course of life, our mental health may move back and forth on this spectrum at different times and depending on what’s happening in our lives.
There are lots of things we can do to support our mental health in daily life. You can find some information and tips from our SPMHS team here. You can also find helpful advice and information from Healthy Ireland and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
What are mental health difficulties?
At different times in our lives, we may need to get some help and support for our mental health. This might be because of particularly stressful or difficult times and experiences. Challenges many people have faced - like family concerns, job loss, or health worries - can all have an impact on our mental health, for example. Or, it might be because of worrying changes in how we are thinking, how we are feeling, or how we are acting.
Experiencing some ups and downs in our mental wellbeing day-to-day is a normal part of life. For example, many of us may can be worried or anxious at times, or find it hard to concentrate and get motivated for different things. These can be understood as normal reactions to abnormal circumstances. Mental health difficulties are considered more severe: when there is significant disruption to our daily lives, when problems last more than a couple of weeks, or if we are having worrying thoughts or ideas about harming ourselves.
If you are worried about your mental health, it’s important not to delay speaking with someone. In addition to trusted friends or family, often speaking to your family doctor, or GP, is the best first step. You might find it helpful to listen to this podcast with our Chief Executive Officer, Paul Gilligan, who talks through knowing when to seek help for your mental health.
There are different views on how to describe mental health difficulties. A person experiencing a mental health difficulty may seek and receive a diagnosis from a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist. A diagnosis gives a medical or psychiatric name for a mental health condition, such as an anxiety disorder or psychosis. Others may dislike the notion of "labels" and may feel certain psychiatric language does not describe or relate to their mental health experiences. Any of us who experience mental health difficulties will decide for ourselves the language we feel best fits with our experiences and or values.
We may all experience different levels of mental health and wellbeing over our lives, whether or not we have a specific mental health difficulty. For example, you may have a serious mental health difficulty which you require ongoing support and help with, but you can still achieve a high level of wellbeing day-to-day.
Where can I get more support if I need it?
If you are concerned about your mental health or would like more information about mental health services, you can find a list of supports here. It’s important to remember that support is available and, the sooner we reach out for help and support when we need it, the better it is for our mental health and recovery.
Where can I learn how to tackle stigma?
- Learn about our #NoStigma campaign and how you can get involved.
- Find out about how words matter when it comes to mental health.
- See more about SeeChange, Ireland's organisation dedicated to ending mental health stigma.
This article was originally published as part of a #NoStigma partnership with Shelbourne FC.
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