Many people, when they hear the term ‘mental health’ associate it with ill health – mental illness and psychiatric disorders.

In fact, mental health implies not only the absence of any illness, but on the contrary, a state of emotional and mental well-being that allows a person to enjoy life and cope with everyday situations. When we speak of happiness, peace of mind, enjoyment or satisfaction, we are actually talking about mental health.

Mental health has to do with the way you feel about yourself and other people; how you cope with your emotions – anger, grief, jealousy; how you cope with the demands of life; and how you get along with your family, peers, work colleagues and others in your community.

External factors – such as violence, poverty, crime, unemployment, illness, death of a loved one, etc – affect our mental well-being. The manner in which we deal with the curve balls life throws at us determines our mental health.

To complicate matters further, there are many different degrees of mental health. Nobody has all the traits of good mental health all the time.

We all feel sad, frustrated and overwhelmed at times – and it's perfectly normal. Especially in today's fast-paced world, most of us experience stress and anxiety daily. But if the feelings persist, creating a long-term negative impact, then it is time to seek professional help.

Our services are available via social workers at various Mental Health Societies nation wide. If necessary, specialists such as psychiatrists, psychologists, educators and para-medical professionals may treat the patient.