What is mental health?

Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It determines how we handle stress and affects how we think, act and feel. The World Health Organisation (2014) defines mental health as “a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”.

It is important to note that we all have mental health, whether it is good or poor. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness defines a mental health condition as a condition that “affects a person’s thinking, feeling or mood”. A mental illness can also impact someone’s behaviour and disrupt the ability for an individual to work, carry out day-to-day activities and engage in personal relationships. It has been found that a mental health condition isn’t down to one event, research shows multiple linking causes. 

For most people, their mental health will not be continuously good, it will improve and decline dependent upon their life experiences and any pressures in their life in that moment of time. Studies have also shown that we can have good mental health in general but still experience anxiety or low mood from time to time. 

1 in 4 people in the UK experience a mental health problem each year with 1 in 6 people experiencing a common mental health problem in any given week (Mind, 2017).

Mental illnesses also often occur in combination, most commonly anxiety and depression. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common mental health problem with 5.9 in 100 people facing it. Depression is the second most common mental health problem, with 3.3 in 100 people experiencing it (Mind, 2017). 

Whilst mental health statistics have not increased much in recent years, the number of people who self-harm or have suicidal thoughts is increasing.

A worrying 20.6 in 100 people have suicidal thoughts and 7.3 in 100 people self-harm (Mind, 2017).

Sadly, many people with a mental health issue do not receive any professional help and when they do, it can often take years before they get a correct diagnosis and receive effective treatment. Consequently, ill mental health can cause long-term disability and can even cause premature death. 

Stress, whether that be physical, environmental or emotional, influences mental health which is part of the reason why Balance Life Well is passionate about making mental health a priority in the workplace and in day-to-day society.

Mental health is becoming an increasing concern for organisations however many of these company’s lack clarity when addressing workplace wellness.

Ill mental health is a large cause of absenteeism, presenteeism and unproductivity thus a transparent stance on mental health and mental health awareness is key to both businesses and employees.

Browse through our website to see how Balance Life Well can help improve your mental health.