Theme of the Month: Mental Health & Wellbeing

What is Mental Health?

Mental health is about how we think, feel and cope with everyday life. Just like our physical health, our mental health can change over time.

Everyone has mental health, and it is normal to experience different emotions. Sometimes we might feel happy and confident, while at other times we may feel worried, stressed, sad or overwhelmed.

Looking after our mental wellbeing can help us cope with challenges, build positive relationships and enjoy the things that are important to us.

What Can Affect Our Mental Health?

Lots of different things can affect how we feel, including:

Changes at home, school, college or work.
Worries about friendships or relationships.
Feeling under pressure with learning or exams.
Difficult experiences or big changes in our lives.
Feeling lonely or left out.
Not getting enough rest or sleep.
Worries about the future.
Spending lots of time online or comparing ourselves with others.

Everybody responds to situations differently, so something that affects one person may not affect another in the same way.

Signs You Might Need Some Extra Support

Everyone has difficult days. However, if difficult feelings continue or begin affecting everyday life, it can be helpful to talk to someone.

Signs that you might need some additional support can include:

Feeling sad, worried, angry or overwhelmed regularly.
Finding it difficult to concentrate.
Sleeping much more or less than usual.
Losing interest in activities you normally enjoy.
Avoiding friends, family or other people.
Feeling tired or having very little energy.
Finding everyday situations more difficult than usual.

Experiencing these feelings does not necessarily mean that someone has a mental health condition. However, talking about how you feel can help.

Ways to Look After Your Mental Wellbeing

There are simple things you can do to support your mental wellbeing.

Stay active: Walking, playing sport or doing another activity you enjoy can be a good way to take a break and look after yourself.

Get enough rest: Having a regular bedtime routine and getting enough sleep can help you feel refreshed and ready for the day.

Stay connected: Spend time with friends, family and other people you trust. You don't have to deal with difficult feelings by yourself.

Make time for things you enjoy: Hobbies, music, games, creativity or spending time outdoors can give you something positive to focus on.

Take breaks: If schoolwork, training or other responsibilities feel overwhelming, taking a short break can help you reset.

Talk about how you're feeling: Sharing your worries with someone you trust can make things feel more manageable.

Remember, It's Okay to Ask for Help

Everyone needs support sometimes. Asking for help is nothing to be embarrassed about.

If you are struggling with how you are feeling, speak to a parent or carer, teacher, tutor, safeguarding member of staff or another trusted adult. They can listen to you and help you find the right support.

Most importantly, you don't have to deal with difficult feelings on your own.

Download the Mental Health and Wellbeing Booklet