Mental health basics: everyone has it

Mental health is not only about illness. Everyone has mental health, the same way everyone has physical health, and it moves up and down through life. Understanding this makes it easier to look after yourself and to ask for help without shame.

What mental health actually means

• WHO describes mental health as a state of mental wellbeing that lets you cope with the stresses of life, learn and work well, and contribute to your community.
• Childline puts it simply: mental health is about how you feel every day, not just when something goes wrong.
• Good mental health does not mean feeling happy all the time. Sadness, worry, anger and stress are normal human feelings that everyone has.
• Mental health and physical health are linked: sleep, movement, food and relationships all affect how you feel (see the Nutrition and a Healthy Body module).

A spectrum, not a switch

• WHO says mental health exists on a complex continuum, which is experienced differently from one person to the next.
• Think of a line: at one end you are thriving, in the middle you are coping but stretched, further along you are struggling, and at the far end a mental health condition may be affecting daily life.
• People move along this line. Exams, moving country, a family problem or a loss can push anyone towards the struggling end for a while.
• Having a hard week is not the same as having a mental illness. Having a mental illness also does not mean you cannot have good days, study, work or enjoy life.

How common mental health conditions are

• WHO estimates that about one in seven young people aged 10 to 19 lives with a mental disorder.
• WHO lists depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders among the main causes of illness and disability in adolescents.
• Across all ages, WHO says nearly 1 in 7 people in the world live with a mental disorder, and anxiety and depression are the most common.
• So if you are struggling, you are far from alone. In a class of 28, it is likely that several people are dealing with something similar.

What helps protect mental health

• WHO lists healthy sleep, regular exercise, coping and problem-solving skills, and learning to manage emotions as protective for young people.
• Supportive families, schools and communities matter too. WHO says protective and supportive environments at home, at school and in the community are important.
• Risk factors WHO names include bullying and violence, harsh treatment at home, money problems, and being part of a group that faces discrimination. None of these is ever your fault.
• Mental health is shaped by many things at once, including genes, life events and surroundings. It is not a sign of weak character or weak faith.

Ending stigma

• Stigma means negative attitudes or labels attached to something. WHO names social stigma as one of the barriers that stop people getting effective care for depression.
• WHO also says many people with mental health conditions experience stigma, discrimination and violations of their human rights. WHO describes mental health as a basic human right.
• Effective treatment exists. WHO states that effective prevention and treatment options exist for mental disorders.
• Small things reduce stigma: avoid using diagnoses as jokes or insults (for example calling someone 'psycho' or saying 'I'm so OCD'), talk about mental health as normally as you would a sprained ankle, and believe people when they tell you they are struggling.
• Asking for help is a sign of strength and good judgement, the same as seeing a doctor for a broken arm.