What is mental health?
Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behaviour could be affected.
Mental health problems are common but help is available.
Early signs and symptoms
Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviours can be an early warning sign of a problem:
- Eating or sleeping too much or too little
- Pulling away from people and usual activities
- Having low or no energy
- Feeling numb or like nothing matters
- Having unexplained aches and pains
- Feeling helpless or hopeless
- Smoking, drinking or using drugs more than usual
- Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
- Yelling or fighting with family and friends
- Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
- Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head
- Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
- Thinking of harming yourself or others
- Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school
Benefits of good mental health
Positive mental health can allow you to:
- Realise your full potential
- Cope with the stresses of life
- Work productively
- Make meaningful contributions to your communities
How can we help?
Whilst we don't provide specific mental health support, there are many areas of your lifestyle that contribute towards poor mental health which we do provide support for. This includes social isolation and weight management. If this is something you're interested in, take the online assessment below.
We also have a whole host of articles that provide advice and guidance to support your mental health.
Get in touch
Click the below button to take our online assessment to help you understand more about your health needs, prioritise them and find the right support for you.
Take the Online Assessment TODAYAlternatively, if you would like to speak to someone about any of our services, or would like assistance taking the assessment online please contact us on 0300 303 9988 or email provide.essexwellbeing@nhs.net to talk to one of our friendly team members.
