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Mental Health Advice

There are many definitions of mental health, and here are two examples from the Health Education Authority (1997) and Friedli. They say it is:

‘The emotional and spiritual resilience which allows us to enjoy life and survive pain, disappointment and sadness, it is a positive sense of well-being and an underlying belief in our own, and others’, dignity and worth’

Mental health influences how we think and feel about ourselves and others and how we interpret events. It affects our capacity to learn, to communicate and to form, sustain and end relationships. It also influences our ability to cope with change, transition and life events: having a baby, moving house, experiencing bereavement.’

In other words it is something that affects every part of our lives and something that all of us have; and, whoever we are, looking after our own mental health is very important.

As someone once said, there is no health without mental health. So why not take a few minutes to look at some of the things you can do to help maintain good mental health.

Talk about your feelings	Eat Well
Keep in touch	Take a break
Accept who you are	Keep active
Drink sensibly	Ask for help

*Reproduced with the kind permission © Mental Health Foundation. Registered Charity No England: 801130, Scotland: SC 039714. Company Registration No: 2350846.

Mental Health – the Challenge of Discrimination

Along with the many other challenges faced by a person with Mental Ill Health, discrimination and the stigma associated are very much prevalent across our communities which can lead to exclusion in a many areas socially at home; at work; in personal life; in social activities; whilst accessing services and very evidently in the media. All of which are aspects which can be very disabling to a person who maybe experiencing a major challenge in their life. Key identifiers for such stereotypes or stigmas often include a total lack of awareness (ignorance), built up negative attitudes(prejudice) and rejecting behaviour (outright discrimination) .

Promoting positive attitudes to health and mental health is therefore crucial to achieving a built and social environment which nurtures and supports the needs of people with mental ill health.

As you can see, discrimination is deep-rooted and complex. However, as a partnership working together in Bridgend County Borough we believe we can change people’s attitudes and behavior by a combination of the following:

Campaigning
Educating and targeting specific audiences
Involving all schools and the wider community
Training the wider Community in Asist(link) and other courses such as Mental Health First Aid
Involving people with firsthand experience of a Mental Health Problems in our work
Integration opportunities for everyone, with and without Mental Health Problems that don’t patronize or underestimate an individual’s ability and capability.
Avoiding projects that are only for those experiencing a Mental Health Problem as this continues to keep people separate from the wider community and creates ‘Ghettos’ and reinforces Stigma.

Good Mental Health

Good mental health is not simply the absence of diagnosable mental health problems, although good mental health is likely to help protect against development of many such problems.

If you’re in good mental health, you can: