If you’re in good mental health you can make the most of your potential, cope with everyday life and play a full part in your family, workplace, community and among friends.

Mental health difficulties affect one in four of us at some point in our lives, they are very common and there are now lots of ways to overcome them, including some very practical steps each of us who experiences them can take on our own and people and services to access for guidance and support. It sometimes helps to think of mental health and mental illness separately.

Good mental health means that we feel happy about ourselves, we have a sense of purpose and goals in life, we have a sense of belonging to a community, we have good self-esteem and feel valued and feel in control of our lives.

Mental illness is much more clinical, defined by symptoms and diagnosed by doctors. Although treatments for mental illness are often medication based and rely on professionals to diagnose and prescribe the right treatments, it is important to recognise that each and every one of us can take steps ourselves to improve our mental health irrespective of whether or not we have a mental illness. In taking such steps it is often the case that the symptoms of illness become less distressing and more easily managed.

Research has shown that remaining hopeful and positive about the future and developing the inner strength to be in control help to combat the symptoms of mental distress which can at times feel overwhelming.

If you’re in good mental health you can make the most of your potential, cope with everyday life and play a full part in your family, workplace, community and among friends.

For information on the support we can offer email info@positivesmiles.co.uk