What is mental health?

Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices (Rethink Mental Illness). 

Good mental health can include being able to cope with everyday life, maintaining supportive relationships and connections, being resilient and having coping strategies, having a sense of purpose, making decisions and experiencing enjoyment and fulfillment. 

Mental health ‘is experienced differently from one person to the next,’ (WHO). 

What impacts our mental health? 

Mental health can be affected by many factors, including childhood experiences, traumatic life events, relationships, bereavement, addiction, stress, and physical illness. Mental health is not a fixed state and can change over time. 

Biological, psychological and social factors can all determine our wellbeing, including physical health, genetics, age, beliefs, addictions, mental health diagnosis, family, work, money and housing (MHF). 

Wider societal factors such as news, economic uncertainty, or public health crises such as Covid-19 can also affect mental health. 

For example, a long-term physical illness may affect someone’s ability to socialise, potentially leading to isolation or depression. Job loss or low income might result in anxiety, with ongoing unemployment leading to depression and low confidence. Liz gave up her job to become a full-time carer for her husband undertaking significant life changes and loss, put her own wellbeing aside and had unprocessed childhood trauma. Suzanne, with a formal diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), was experiencing low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts. Both Liz and Suzanne were given the tools to cope and process through counselling, helping them move forwards in life with better mental health. 

How common are mental health problems? 

1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England, and 1 in 5 people report experiencing a common mental health problem like anxiety or depression in any given week in England (Mind). 

What are diagnosed mental health conditions? 

Diagnosed mental health conditions can include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, personality disorders, phobias, PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and OCD. 

Having a diagnosis does not necessarily mean that you are unwell right now. You could have a diagnosis of a mental health problem but, at the moment, be able to manage it and function well at work and at home. Equally, you might not have a particular diagnosis, but still be finding things very difficult. Everyone's experience is different and can change at different times (Mind). 

‘Suicide is not a mental health condition in itself but there is a connection between mental ill health and suicidal thoughts,’ (Mental Health UK). 

Stress, low self-esteem and low self-confidence are not a mental health diagnosis in themselves. They might originate from problems at work, experiencing discrimination, relationship issues, or from being bullied or abused and can also be the result of a mental health problem. If they are ongoing or affecting your day-to-day life talking to someone might help. 

How does counselling support better mental health? 

Counselling is a type of talking therapy where you speak, confidentially, to trained professionals about your feelings, reactions, experiences and identify patterns of behaviour in a non-judgemental space. The aim is to understand yourself better, improve relationships with others and develop coping strategies to support better mental health. 

Counselling can support with diagnosed conditions such as anxiety or depression, or if you are for example experiencing low mood, stress, loss of self-esteem, bereavement or relationship difficulties. You do not need a formal diagnosis or a referral from your GP to access counselling services. 

Stress can show up in mental and physical health such as anxiety, anger and irritability or headaches, digestive problems and sweating (Mental Health Foundation). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or counselling can help identify the causes, how you react to situations and equip you with coping strategies. 

BACPs 2025 UK Counselling and Therapy Trends report found the top reasons people have accessed therapy is anxiety (62%), stress (51%), depression (50%), confidence, self-esteem and support (28%) and sleep (26%). 

Everyone’s experience of mental health is different. We all have bad days, but when those bad days are ongoing it might be a sign additional support is needed.