causes-of-mental-health-problems

Causes of Mental Health Problems

Now more than ever, we have become aware of mental health and what it entails. This is helpful for those who are suffering and those who are trying to help. However, it’s important to understand the root causes of mental health issues. By understanding the causes of negative mental health issues, we can look towards overcoming these problems.

Common Causes of Mental Health Problems

There is no one way of determining what causes an individual’s mental health disorder. Mental illnesses include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addictive behaviours. Each of these mental disorders has different causes which are dependent on the individual’s circumstances.

Mental health causes can be categorised into biological, psychological and environmental.

Biological Causes

Biology does play a part in mental health issues. Chemical imbalances in the brain can cause low moods and feelings of depression. What’s more, some studies show that mental health disorders are hereditary and can run in the family.

Psychological Causes

Trauma and abuse can happen at any point in life. Childhood trauma can continue into early adulthood and adulthood. Unfortunately, unresolved traumas from childhood can manifest in adulthood and cause behavioural and emotional problems.

The same can be said for abuse and trauma that is faced in adulthood. Domestic violence and bullying can take place as an adult which can result in mental health issues.

Environmental Causes

A negative environment can cause long-term stress which has a negative impact on mental health. Stress can be caused by many things, such as unemployment, financial difficulties, and poor housing, to name a few. Extreme stress due to personal circumstances can lead to low moods and emotional difficulties.

If you believe you have experienced any of the above, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone and there is always someone to talk to.

Symptoms of Mental Health

Signs and symptoms differ depending on the mental health disorder and circumstance. Generally speaking, these symptoms will affect emotions, thoughts and behaviours. Here are some symptoms to look out for:

  • Constant low moods.
  • Extreme mood changes. Feeling high and low.
  • Constant tiredness and low energy.
  • Detachment from reality.
  • Alcohol or drug abuse.
  • Excessive fear and feelings of guilt.

Most people run into mental health issues at some point in their life. However, if the symptoms are ongoing and are significantly impacting your day-to-day life, you need to consult a health professional like a GP or therapist.

What to do Next

Once you have identified the causes and symptoms of mental health, you can take the necessary step to help yourself or a loved one. It’s important that you pay attention to warning signs and confront them rather than leaving the symptoms to develop. The way to do this is by taking good care of yourself: eating well, exercising and establishing a good sleep routine.

At Mental Health Life, we are here to help people take the next step and tackle their mental health issues. Call or message us now if you would like details of the courses that we offer for individual and corporate clients in the UK.

what-is-meant-by-mental-health

What is Meant by Mental Health?

A lot of people are talking about mental health these days, which is obviously a very good thing, but there are still many others who are not even sure what is meant by mental health. What exactly do we mean when we use this term and why is it so important? If you would like to find out the answers to these and other related questions, please read on.

What Exactly Is Meant by Mental Health?

Most of us are very familiar with the terminology surrounding physical health in the 21st century but when it comes to mental health, many of us are not even sure exactly what the term really means and how it relates to us. There are 3 main components to mental health:

  • Emotional Well-being – This area of mental health deals mainly with our personal perceptions of satisfaction and happiness: how we really feel about the lives that we lead.
  • Psychological Wellbeing – When mental health professionals talk about psychological well-being, they are referring to a model of well-being that covers personal growth, self-acceptance, autonomy, life purpose, environmental mastery and positive relations with others.
  • Social Wellbeing – Social well-being dives deeper into our relations with others, covering social acceptance, actualisation, contribution and integration.

If we have good emotional, psychological and social well-being, we are likely to experience feelings of happiness and contentment in our daily lives. If, however, we have deficiencies in any of these key areas, we may find ourselves trying to cope with thoughts, emotions and feelings that are difficult to control.

Why Is Mental Health So Important?

Mental health issues are one of the leading causes of long-term disabilities in the world today. With this in mind, it is vital for all of us to become more aware of the mental health challenges that exist and how they can be overcome. Whether you face these challenges yourself in the future or you have to help a family member or friend to deal with them, you’ll find it much easier if you are well prepared.

At Mental Health & Life, we are committed to helping people all over the United Kingdom learn everything they need to know about their own mental well-being and how to help other people with theirs. Call or message us now if you would like details of the courses that we offer for individual and corporate clients in the UK.

importance-of-mental-health

The Importance of Mental Health Awareness

Many great advances have been made in the field of medicine over the last hundred years or so, to the point where we are now able to cure or manage a wide variety of conditions that could once have proved fatal. Maintaining good physical health is consequently much easier for us now than it was for people a century ago. However, whilst we have also made great strides in the treatment of mental health conditions, much less attention has been focused on the illnesses that affect our minds rather than our bodies. As a result, many people try to ignore mental health issues instead of seeking out the treatment they need: an attitude we are working hard to change.

Why We Need to Raise Mental Health Awareness

Our mission to raise awareness of mental health conditions in the UK is motivated not just by our own experiences but by a genuine desire to ensure that everyone who experiences such conditions is able to access the help they need. There are many reasons that mental health should be taken more seriously than it currently is, by individuals, healthcare organisations, governments and employers.

  • The High Number of Reported Cases – Roughly 15% of all reported illnesses are related to mental rather than physical conditions but the stigma attached to mental illness prevents many people from consulting a medical professional, which means the actual figure is likely to be considerably higher than this.
  • Mental Health Issues Often Lead to Physical Illnesses – Conditions such as depression can lead to serious, even life-threatening physical illnesses, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
  • The Cost to the Economy – It is estimated that mental health issues in the UK currently cost employers and the government nearly £120 billion every year. This is equal to 5% of the UK’s GDP and bearing in mind this is a conservative estimate, the actual cost is almost certainly much greater.
  • Suicides – 46% of people who die by suicide have a recognised mental illness. As compassionate human beings, this fact alone should prompt us to take decisive action, sooner rather than later.

Whether you are an employer who would like to raise mental health awareness in your workforce or somebody who is concerned about the mental health of other family members, we can help. We offer a comprehensive range of mental health awareness courses in the UK. For more information, please feel free to call and speak to us now on 020 3984 9825.

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Suicide is not a male issue, that is a fallacy and it’s time to change the narrative, suicide is an everyone issue and the time has come to boycott the term Toxic Masculinity

 Toxic masculinity is a term I have grown to detest!

The suicide rates in men which is “apparently” 3 times higher than women is a one of the best reasons for using this term

So lets’ take a closer look at that,

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 So it seems, as described in my last article the Future of Work. The new normal when it comes to the working world, will be a hybrid one. Employers are now becoming more comfortable with the hybrid working system and are coming to terms with the benefits of it.

 Not to mention that if something like the pandemic was to happen again, we will be safe to carry on working, keep our jobs and keep the economy afloat. Hybrid working patterns can be considered a safety net and a risk management framework for organisations for a more secure and sustainable future!

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The Future Of Work

Brexit, Politics and the Mood of the Nation 

What is the future of work?

This is one of the most important questions both organisations and employees can ask right now. There is no doubt that the world of work has completely changed, it will keep evolving while we figure out what the new normal is.

 This could lead to great things!

Mental health and wellbeing, that is all we ever hear about nowadays.

Perhaps it’s about time too, this is a conversation we have swept under the rug or tried to avoid in both in personal and professional environments. 

As a society, we seem to have put in place reactive practices to deal with our mental health and wellbeing, while doing the opposite for physical health. The consequences of that now are not just in your face, but far reaching into all levels of society. 

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The Benefits of Mental Health First Aid Training

Benefits in Everyday Life

In the UK, one in four adults experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem in any given year. 50% of all mental health problems are established by the age of 14 and two thirds by the age of 24.

This confirms that family and the home environment plays a huge role in the development of mental health issues. This also tells us that families and young people, are the most important parts of society we need to address mental health and wellbeing with.

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Sick Of Seeing Sad, by Mackenzie Jerks

Any chance my eyes get to glance I see sadness despite the gazes’ direction.

All this parasitic pain poisoning the world and all anybody wants is genuine love and affection.

Sadness evolves to anger swiftly; that’s energy evolving with hateful misdirection and a smile corresponding with mental clarity is a common misconception. 

Guilt infects my mind if my mental health gets better. I stand solo in a slice of serenity, while my neighbour’s smothered in dark and rainy weather.

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Mental Health First Aid- How to Implement it Within Your Organisation & How to Get the Boss Involved!

Whether you represent an organisation consisting of a handful of people or thousands, it is important to have wellbeing policies in place. A lot of the time, especially in small organisations of 1-5 people, these polices may not be written on paper, but there will be activities staff will do together that have the same effect.

In small organisations especially those with a good chemistry, staff will meet up after work, perhaps go for a quick drink and talk about what’s going on at work and in their personal life with their colleagues.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Generally the first thing when these 4 letters are mentioned we think of war, combat and war veterans. Of course one of the most common causes of PTSD is combat and we hear about its affect on soldiers all the time on the news.

War’s however are fought on many fronts, every day we all battle with our struggles both big and small. The battle for your mental health is a psychological one . We win some of those battles and we lose some of those battles, day in day out.

The ultimate goal however is to win the war and this will take its toll one everyone one of us!

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