Mental health awareness

THE MENTAL HEALTH CONTINUUM

Mental health is:
‘….the emotional and spiritual resilience which allows us to enjoy life and survive pain and disappointment and sadness. It is a positive sense of well-being and an underlying belief in our own, and others’, dignity and worth.’
Mental health influences how we feel about ourselves and others, and how we interpret the events that happen to us. It affects our capacity to learn, communicate, form relationships, deal with change, transitions, life events etc.
Our physical and mental wellbeing are closely linked - the World Health Organisation acknowledges that 'there is no health without mental health'. Wellbeing, sometimes called positive mental health, is about how we are in the world, and in our own lives. It includes how we feel about ourselves and others and the things that happen to us, how we make and maintain relationships, how we learn, how we work and how we deal with the challenges life brings us. 
You may wish to watch this e-learning video on the Mental Health Continuum.
Mental health problems are disturbances in the way people think, feel, and behave. Mental health conditions may have an adverse effect on the persons ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
The types of mental health difficulties that students may experience include:

• Mood disorders: Depression, Bipolar
• Anxiety and stress disorders: Panic attacks, OCD, phobias
• Psychotic illness including schizophrenia
• Eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia
• Personality disorders
• Self harm
• Dual diagnoses

IMPACT ON STUDIES & ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Consider the impact that mental health can have on a students’:

• Emotions
• Thought Processes and Cognition
• Physical Symptoms
• Behaviours
• Ability to complete activities of daily living
• Ability to focus on their academic studies
• Ability to engage with peers, academic staff and make connections.