"Mental well-being is about our ability to cope with life’s problems and make the most of life’s opportunities; it is about feeling good and functioning well, as individuals and collectively"
Mental health problems generally refer to difficulties we all may experience that affect us in our everyday lives. They can affect the way we feel, the way we think and the way we function, and include conditions such as personality disorder and dementia. Mental health problems can be mild or serious, fleeting or long-lasting.
Mental illness refers to more serious mental health problems that often require treatment in specialist services. Someone with a serious mental illness may have long periods when they are well and are able to manage their illness.
Many people with mild and serious mental health problems are able to live productive, fulfilling lives and still enjoy good mental well-being, just as people with a physical illness or long-term disability can live a productive life and enjoy good well-being. Equally, someone can have poor mental well-being, but have no clinically identifiable mental health problem.
If a mental health problem affects you to such an extent that it is having a negative effect on your quality of life and the way you relate to people and events, then our services, in partnership with health and voluntary organisations, may be able to help you. To find out more please refer to 'What Help is Available|' or our 'FAQ|'.
The following chart, from New Horizons - Towards a Shared Vision of Mental Health|, highlights the main guiding values that inform current best practice in promoting Mental well-being.
