Everyone has mental health, just as everyone has physical health. Health is not all good or all bad. Its not black or white but shades of grey.

Most people know how to make their physical health a bit better, or a bit worse. As a child you probably learned something about nutrition; and how to recognise and actively manage things that affect your physical health. For examples you probably avoid things that damage you, like falling off a ladder, and do things that help your body, like avoiding infection, taking exercise and asking a Doctor to examine you when you notice something strange.

Relatively few of us know how to nurture our mental wellbeing. Its a life-skill we can and should learn, and practice every day. Like drinking water.

Just as our bodies suffer everyday disease, malfunction and injury, our mental health can be deeply affected by the stress of everyday living. Mental health is not just about deeply distressing or disturbing experiences (traumas), or brain biology. Most difficulties arise from everyday life.

Providing a home and raising an adequate income to feed, clothe and keep you warm can be both physically and mentally demanding. Developing and maintaining effective relationships with a partner, family, friends and colleagues can be emotional and difficult, especially if they are struggling too.

Coping with disability, physical illness or injury and rehabilitation can be mentally tough. And what about parenting, caring, bereavement, education, unemployment, overwork, debt, sexuality, discrimination, relationship breakdown – the list goes on, and on.

It is possible to learn to notice and better manage things you do, or just happen in your life, which make your mental health worse, or better.

Relatively few of us even understand the language used to describe mental health, and why would we if we never talk about it? The words we use

For example, if you fear failing, or letting others down, or receiving bad news, especially when whatever may happen isn’t under your control, you may experience anxiety.

If things turn out badly you may unfairly hold yourself responsible, and unreasonably feel guilt.

If your own opinion about your ability to fill a valuable role in the world and live life well declines, you may experience low self-esteem.

If a usually temporary feeling persists, that life has become too much to cope with and you really struggle to do the ordinary things you usually do, you may be experiencing depression.

Don’t despair. You are not alone. Seek help and as time passes you can and will feel better.

Everyone has mental health, just as everyone has physical health. Health is not all good or all bad. Its not black or white but shades of grey.

Most people know how to make their physical health a bit better, or a bit worse. As a child you probably learned something about nutrition; and how to recognise and actively manage things that affect your physical health. For examples you probably avoid things that damage you, like falling off a ladder, and do things that help your body, like avoiding infection, taking exercise and asking a Doctor to examine you when you notice something strange.

Relatively few of us know how to nurture our mental wellbeing. Its a life-skill we can and should learn, and practice every day. Like drinking water.

Just as our bodies suffer everyday disease, malfunction and injury, our mental health can be deeply affected by the stress of everyday living. Mental health is not just about deeply distressing or disturbing experiences (traumas), or brain biology. Most difficulties arise from everyday life.

Providing a home and raising an adequate income to feed, clothe and keep you warm can be both physically and mentally demanding. Developing and maintaining effective relationships with a partner, family, friends and colleagues can be emotional and difficult, especially if they are struggling too.

Coping with disability, physical illness or injury and rehabilitation can be mentally tough. And what about parenting, caring, bereavement, education, unemployment, overwork, debt, sexuality, discrimination, relationship breakdown – the list goes on, and on.

It is possible to learn to notice and better manage things you do, or just happen in your life, which make your mental health worse, or better.

Relatively few of us even understand the language used to describe mental health, and why would we if we never talk about it? The words we use

For example, if you fear failing, or letting others down, or receiving bad news, especially when whatever may happen isn’t under your control, you may experience anxiety.

If things turn out badly you may unfairly hold yourself responsible, and unreasonably feel guilt.

If your own opinion about your ability to fill a valuable role in the world and live life well declines, you may experience low self-esteem.

If a usually temporary feeling persists, that life has become too much to cope with and you really struggle to do the ordinary things you usually do, you may be experiencing depression.

Don’t despair. You are not alone. Seek help and as time passes you can and will feel better.