The Beginner's Guide to Mental Health

Mental health is a vital component of life. In this beginner’s guide to mental health you’ll learn what it is, why it’s important and how to improve mental wellbeing.

What is mental health?

Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also influences how we learn, interact, work, and cope with stress. Mental health is an integral component of health that enables us to realise our potential, build relationships, contribute to society, and enjoy life.

Why is mental health important?

Mental health is important at every stage of life, from infancy, through adolescence, adulthood, and into old age. It impacts our growth, learning, relationships and sense of identity. Mental wellbeing can help us manage stress and enhances our quality of life.

Mental illness is expressed in many different ways including anxiety, depression, insecurity, and withdrawal. It exists on a complex continuum and is experienced differently from one person to the next.

Types of mental health problems

We’re each at risk of mental health problems at different times of life. Genetics, lifestyle, social and economic factors all have an influence on our mind, and can manifest in any of the following ways:

Addiction
Anger
Anxiety
Bipolar disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Depression
Dissociation and dissociative disorders
Eating problems
Hearing voices
Hoarding
Insomnia
Loneliness
Low motivation and confidence
Mania
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Panic attacks
Paranoia
Phobias
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Self-harm
Suicidal feelings
Trauma

While many people notice mild to moderate symptoms on occasion, that can be managed with simple techniques and lifestyle changes, serious conditions associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning, or risk of self-harm require professional help and continued support.

How to improve mental health

There are many effective tools that have been shown to reduce anxiety and improve mental health. A healthy diet, exercise and consistent sleep are vital pillars of wellbeing. Those who are generally healthy can try any of the following:

Meditation. Meditation is an effective way to focus the mind and reduce anxiety. As a daily practice, it helps you to relax and promotes a state of mindfulness.
Relaxation Techniques. Relaxation techniques such as Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) and Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) have been shown to alleviate stress and anxiety.
Gratitude journalling. A journal of thoughts, feelings and experiences can help to clarify your thinking and get to the root of problems. Focussing on the positive and all the things in your life that you are grateful for is beneficial for mental wellbeing.
Daily exercise. Regular exercise is essential therapy for depression, especially for those with mild to moderate symptoms. It has been shown to boost mood, reduce anxiety, increase motivation and improve emotional wellbeing.
Consistent sleep. According to Neuroscientist Matthew Walker, “Sleep is the elixir of life”. Try to get 7-9 hour of quality sleep each and every night.
Talking Therapy. Talking therapies, or psychological therapies, are effective treatments for a variety of mental conditions.

Mental Health, much like physical health, is something that needs to be nurtured and maintained. It can’t be left to chance, or to the professionals. We each (whenever possible) need to take responsibility for our own mental wellbeing.

Mental health awareness

In recent years, more and more people have been talking about mental health and their own individual struggles.

It’s helpful to learn from others who, like us, have their ups and downs. We gain some insight, a little comfort, and it helps make us feel like we’re not alone.

Tyson Fury, the WBC Heavyweight Champion of the world speaks openly about his mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts. In his autobiography, ‘Behind the Mask’, he says, “Mental health has got to be the biggest battle I’ve ever fought, more so than any opponent.” He continues, “You are not a weak person, you are not a let-down, you are not a failure. People won’t laugh at you. It is an illness. Just like cancer. Just like every other illness out there. It’s a silent killer. It’s just a constant battle with yourself.”

Lewis Capaldi, the Scottish singer-songwriter, discussed his anxiety, imposter syndrome and struggle with Tourettes’ Syndrome in an April 2023 interview with The Sunday Times: “It’s only making music that does this to me,” he told the publication. “Otherwise I can be fine for months at a time. So it’s a weird situation. Right now, the trade-off is worth it. But if it gets to a point where I’m doing irreparable damage to myself, I’ll quit. I hate hyperbole but it is a very real possibility that I will have to pack music in.”

Co-founder and CEO of Tiny Capital, Andrew Wilkisnon, opened up about mental health on Episode #143 of the Knowledge Project (26.07.22). He said, “It wasn’t that I was depressed, it was like anhedonia. All my usual tricks didn’t work. Drinking a cup of coffee wasn’t pleasurable. Going for a walk wasn’t fun. Playing video games wasn’t fun. I couldn’t find anything I liked on Netflix. My phone gave me no pleasure. I was like, I have no idea what’s going on but all I know is I’ve just got to stop this and reboot.”

As you can see, mental health affects us all to varying degrees and at different times in our lives. It’s important to keep the conversation alive and share our own personal experiences with a support group.