Mental Distress Everyone has experienced mental distress If that distress is interfering with our life and making it very hard to do the things we want to – like spend time with friends, sleep, eat, go to school or work – then it may be described as mental health problems or mental illness

People explain mental distress in different ways It could be caused by traumatic, sad or frightening things happening to us It could be a way of expressing how hard it is to fit in with what society expects of us It could be caused by an illness or disorder of the brain It could be caused by a mixture of things

What mental health problems and illnesses are there?

Many people will experience Depression Anxiety Mood swings Panic attacks Phobias

Some people will experience Eating disorders Self harm Suicidal thoughts Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Some people will experience psychosis A person’s sense of reality is changed – it may include hearing voices, seeing things or believing things not shared by most people It can happen once or many times Sometimes it’s connected with taking drugs It can be very frightening

One in Four A quarter of people will experience mental health problems severe enough to ask for professional help

People recover People who have any of these mental health problems can and do get better There is support available to help people recover Talking and listening can really help