MENTAL HEALTH AND

WELL BEING
WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?
DEFINITIONS OF MENTAL
HEALTH
Mental wellbeing describes your mental state - how you are feeling and how well
you can cope with day-to-day life.
 
Our mental wellbeing is dynamic. It can change from moment to moment, day to
day, month to month or year to year.’
WHY MENTAL WELL-BEING IS IMPORTANT

We all tend to take care of our

body. We like to keep
ourselves clean, wear clean
clothes, try to be healthy all
the time but what about the
mind and our mental well
being? 
WHAT DOES GOOD MENTAL HEALTH LOOK
LIKE?
What does good mental health look like?

If you have good mental wellbeing, you are able

to:

• Recognise the good in yourself, such as your

positive attributes and achievements you have
made.
• Feel and express a range of emotions.
• Feel engaged with the world around you.
• Live and work productively.
• Cope with the stresses of daily life and manage
times of change and uncertainty.
WHAT ARE MENTAL HEALTH
PROBLEMS
• Mental health problems can affect any of us irrespective of age, personality
or background.
• They include a wide range of experiences and can affect the way people
think, feel or behave.
• They can appear as a result of experiences in both our personal and
working lives – or they can come about without any easily identifiable
cause.
• Some problems may be mild or moderate while others may take on a more
severe form, affecting a person’s ability to cope with day-to-day living.
THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH

How might living with a physical disability or condition have an impact on

mental health and well-being?
Mental wellbeing is just as
important as physical wellbeing,
and you need to maintain both in
order to stay fit and healthy
WHAT CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?

What are some factors that can negatively impact, or act as a barrier to,
mental health and well-being?
WHAT CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?
WHAT CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?

Poverty: Not having enough income to provide for basic necessities

Inequality: Disparities and inequalities between different groups negatively affect
mental health and well-being.
Social isolation and loneliness: People living in communities that are not inclusive
experience marginalization and exclusion.
Low levels of education: reduces opportunities for full and active participation in
society
Rapid social change: influences societal values, beliefs and behaviours, and can
affect our well-being and the way we live.
WHAT CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?

Emergencies: People often face difficult situations which negatively impact them and
have long-lasting effects.
Stressful work conditions: Excessive demands, lack of support and encouragement, and
health hazards can make a person feel vulnerable and unable to cope.
Discrimination and other human rights violations: has a negative impact on a person’s
feelings of self-worth, confidence, control over their life and hope for the future.
Violence and abuse: Important negative psychological impacts of violence and abuse.
Physical health conditions: Can present everyday barriers and challenges.
Inexistent or inadequate services or support: Inadequate services may worsen these
problems and cause further human rights violations.
WHAT CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?

These factors can interact to affect mental health and well-being differently in
different groups of people.
It is often the stigma, negative attitudes, discrimination and other human rights
violations which have the most negative impact.
WHAT HELPS YOU TO ENJOY MENTAL
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?

What helps you to feel mentally and emotionally well?

 • Having hope about life and the
• Having positive self-esteem/having future
confidence/being happy with who I • Having the desire to live a
am/ feeling empowered to speak fulfilling life
my opinion
• Having self-respect
Purpose in life • Having a sense of belonging
• Emotional attachment to
Attitudes about Relationships with family and friends
self others

Having control
over one’s life Mental health
and well-being
Engagement
• Being able to shape one’s life and recovery
• Having a say in my community’s decisions
• Feeling that ones’ wishes are listened to and respected
• Food and water • Engaging in activities that
Basic needs • Shelter are personally rewarding
• Clothing • Having work satisfaction
• Healthcare
• Financial security
• Education
PROTECTING AND PROMOTING
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Fostering mental health and well-being
Create environments and living conditions that can contribute to good mental health and
well-being.
We can all play a role in promoting people’s mental health and well-being.
 treat others with dignity and respect, provide emotional support, connect people to supports
 advocate for better environments and improved living conditions, fight poverty and social
injustice
Health and Social Services also have an important role and responsibility to ensure that
they provide quality care and support on the basis of free and informed consent.
 This will promote community inclusion, autonomy and respect for the will and preferences
of the person.
How you can look after your wellbeing
HOW YOU CAN LOOK AFTER
YOUR MENTAL WELL BEING
Talk about the way you feel
Identify your triggers
Do something you enjoy
Take time to relax
Make a plan to stay well – Wellness
Action Plan
Think about what helps you if you start
feeling overwhelmed
Be kind to yourself – we are all
human!
HOW CAN I HELP MYSELF OR SOMEONE
ELSE?

• Self-care
• Treatment options
• Recovery
• Peer support