What is mental health?
Mental health affects how we think, feel and act. It also affects our everyday life, such as work, relationships and study.
Looking after our social and emotional wellbeing is as important as keeping our body healthy. When we're feeling emotionally healthy we can be fully present with our family, friends and community.
Mental health is more than just talking about mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression.
Research shows that good mental health is linked to:
improved learning
creativity
higher levels of productivity
better social relationships
good physical health
increased life expectancy.
The mental health continuum
It can be hard to talk about mental health. Maybe your family and friends feel uncomfortable talking about it. Maybe you don't know where to start or how it relates to you.
We've developed the mental health continuum to help you talk about social and emotional wellbeing. It will give you the words to describe how you're feeling, and to ask how others are feeling. It can also help you decide what steps to take to look after your mental health right now.
Why a mental health continuum?
Our mental health can change gradually over time. We might start to feel unsettled, but move back to feeling healthy in a few days. Or we might move from feeling unsettled to really struggling. This is when we may need to seek professional support.
Many of us will experience a mental health crisis in our lives, but we don't stay in crisis. We'll move beyond the crisis into a period of healing and then another healthy period when we've recovered.
On this page we explain what each of these periods looks like and what you can do to maintain or improve your mental health.
Healthy
I feel capable and confident in my ability to handle daily pressures. I am thinking clearly and am hopeful about the future. I will maintain my healthy routines and stay connected with loved ones.
Feeling
Able to handle things
Managing feelings
Thoughts
Hopeful outlook
Clear thoughts
Connections
Positive and engaging relationships
Routines
Healthy routines (includes sleep and diet)
Functioning
Engaged with daily activities
Making positive contributions
Unsettled
I haven't been myself lately. I feel irritable and am having trouble concentrating. I’m not quite sure why I’m feeling the way I am.
Feeling
Worried or restless
Irritable or frustrated
Mood fluctuations
Thoughts
Self-doubt
Confusion
Difficulty concentrating
Connections
Difficulty connecting and/or engaging with others
Routines
Changes to sleep or diet
Increased drug use, alcohol use or gambling
Functioning
Unmotivated
Difficulty performing daily activities or tasks
Struggling
My mood swings have been more frequent. I feel distressed and a growing sense of hopelessness. I’ve been withdrawing from the things I normally like to do and the people I am close with. I think I might need professional support.
Feeling
Emotional distress
Mood swings
Ongoing high or low mood
Thoughts
Hopelessness
Brain fog or racing thoughts
Connections
Withdrawal from relationships
Routines
Loss of usual routines
Engaging in destructive behaviour
Functioning
Struggle to complete daily tasks
Loss of enjoyment in activities
In crisis
I feel worthless and unable to control my negative thoughts. Daily tasks feel impossible. I need professional support immediately.
Feeling
Feeling worthless
Thoughts
Unable to control negative thoughts
Connections
Isolating self
Routines
Lack of personal care
Functioning
Struggle to complete daily tasks
Healing
My moods have been more stable and I'm thinking more clearly. I'm starting to feel like myself again. I’m becoming aware of the therapies that are working for me and I will continue to use them.
Feeling
Return to more familiar and more stable moods
Improved self-belief
Thoughts
Growth in confidence
Return to clearer thoughts
Easier decision-making
Connections
Reconnecting with others
Reflecting on relationships
Return to positive relationships
Routines
Return of familiar routines (including sleep and diet)
Greater self-care
Functioning
Return of motivation
Re-engaged with daily activities or tasks
Healthy
I feel stronger and more resilient. I have a better understanding of myself and am better equipped to handle stress moving forward. I know what coping strategies work for me, and I will use them alongside practising self-care.
Feeling
Stronger and more resilient
Better equipped to handle things
More like yourself
Thoughts
Strong sense of self
Able to manage and challenge negative thoughts
Connections
Better at setting boundaries
Able to support others
Routines
Strengthened routines
Greater investment in self-care
Functioning
Stronger engagement in daily activities
Sense of pride and capability
