What is mental health and why do we refer to it as emotional wellbeing?

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 and we can help with support and advice for emotional wellbeing, sometimes referred to as low-level mental health.

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, such as emotional wellbeing which we do provide support for. This also 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.

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Alternatively, 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.

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Mental health problems can affect anyone so here we try and dispel some commonly held myths with the facts