What is mental health?
Just like physical health, we also have mental health. According to the World Health Organization, mental health is “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”1
How we feel about our mental health and wellbeing can be influenced by a variety of ‘factors’. We all have ups and downs, times when we feel great and times when we feel we are struggling. This is normal.
Mental health is about the way we think, feel and develop relationships - and not merely the absence of a mental health condition.1
Keeping our mind healthy is something we should do on a daily basis. It is an important part of your overall health to be able to function well, have meaningful social connections, positive self-esteem and the ability to cope with change.2
When we go through tough times, little things can make a difference to how we feel and how we cope with life’s ups and downs. In this section, you will find practical self-help tools or ways to look after your mental health and wellbeing.3
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Beyond Blue [Internet]. Hawthorn (Australia): c2016. What is mental health? [cited 2017 Oct] Available from: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/what-is-mental-health
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Mental Health Commission [Internet]. Perth (Australia): State Government of Victoria; c2016. Mental health and you [cited 2017 Oct]. Available from: https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/your-health-and-wellbeing/mental-health-and-you/
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yourmentalhealth.ie [Internet]. Ireland: Health Service Executive, the National Office for Suicide Prevention and partners; c2017. Good mental health [cited 2017 Oct]. Available from: http://www.yourmentalhealth.ie/about-mental-health/ups-downs-of-mental-health/good-mental-health/
Content last updated: 2 November 2017