What is mental health?

It’s great that “mental health” is being discussed a lot more now than when we started way back in 2013. But what IS mental health? In short: mental health is an umbrella term for our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It’s all about how you think, feel and act. It affects how you relate to others, make decisions and handle stress. And mental health is something we all have, all the time.

But let’s break it down a bit further, and explore not only what mental health is, but also why it matters.

We’ve all got mental health

Mental health isn’t just about having a diagnosis or going through something difficult. Just like physical health, mental health is something we all have — all the time. It exists on a spectrum, and it can shift daily, weekly, or even hourly depending on what’s going on in our lives. In our Mental Health First Aid Training, we refer to it as the Mental Health Continuum.

You might have good mental health and feel balanced, resilient, and able to cope with life’s challenges. Or you might be struggling with low mood, anxiety, stress, or burnout. Or maybe you’re somewhere in between — that’s valid too.

And because mental health is – as we said up top – all about how you think, feel, and act, it means looking after your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical body.

Mental health isn’t just the absence of illness

Now this is a big one. Sometimes we only talk about mental health when something’s wrong — like when someone’s experiencing depression or anxiety. But that’s kinda like only thinking about physical health when you’ve got a cold. And I think that’s maybe the most important takeaway. We touched on the difference between mental health and mental illness in a previous blog post.

Mental health is a whole picture. It includes emotional wellbeing, social connections, a sense of purpose, and the ability to bounce back after tough times. You can have a diagnosed mental illness and still have good mental health if you’re managing things well and feel supported.

Similarly, you might not have a diagnosis, but still feel awful. That matters too. You don’t need to be at breaking point to deserve support. (Read that again).

There’s a bunch of stuff that impacts mental health

It’s not just in your head. Your environment, relationships, physical health, and even things like housing, money, and sleep all play a part. If you’ve been in our shop in Cardiff, chances are you’ve heard me going on about how a universal basic income could indeed be suicide prevention. 😬 And while a UBI might be a way off, I firmly believe that giving people skills – like money management, or how to cook healthy meals – help address the root causes of so much stress and mental ill health.

You might also have times in your life when things feel harder — like during exam season (don’t worry tho; we’ve got a blog post for that!) , after a breakup, or if you’re dealing with grief or trauma. It’s normal for your mental health to slide down that continuum when you’re under pressure or going through change.

So instead of beating yourself up when things feel tough, it’s better to ask: what do I need right now to support my mental health?

You can do stuff to take care of your mental health

That’s kinda what we’re all about here. So the good news is: you’re in the right place. There’s loads of ways to look after your mental wellbeing. Stuff like getting enough sleep, exercising, connecting with others, journaling, setting boundaries, and reaching out for help when you need it.

What’s funny is: we started out sharing ideas to help cope with self-harm. But the truth is: good coping mechanisms are just good coping mechanisms. So head over to our Things To Try page, choose how you’re feeling, and find some ideas that have helped others in the past!

And the best bit? You don’t have to wait until you’re struggling to look after your mental health. Let’s bring it back to the physical health comparison. Brushing your teeth or eating vegetables are things you know you should be doing regularly anyway to stay physically healthy. And it’s the same with mental health! Doing the little things regularly can make a big difference.

Why are we banging on about this now?

Because May is Mental Health Awareness Month. (I mean, every month is for us 💁🏼‍♀️) but it’s a good reminder that not everyone spends all day talking and thinking about mental health like I do.

So this month, the challenge is to be brave. Ask your pals how they’re doing. How they’re REALLY doing. Share your experiences. Share the things that help you cope. And the things that have gotten you down this week. And heck. Share this blog post with someone who’s still wondering *what* mental health actually is.

If You Found This Helpful:

Pick up some of our merch with a message! It’s a way to look after your own mental health, rep a reminder that you’re not alone, and help us keep creating free resources for folks who need them. Win-win.