Mental Health Information
For many people the existing systems of categorising illnesses do not relate closely
enough to their experiences. Some people, including some professionals, prefer
not to accept diagnoses which may be misleading or stigmatising, for example 'personality
disorder' or 'schizophrenia'. They find these terms unhelpful and prefer to talk
about 'psychotic experiences'.
Mental Health Tips & Questions
What are mental health problems?
Mental health problems range from the worries and grief we all experience as part
of everyday life, to the most bleak, suicidal depression or complete loss of touch
with every day reality.
On average one in four of us will experience a mental health problem in the course
of a year. These problems can cause real and lasting damage, both to the individual
and to the community. Fortunately the majority of people who experience mental
health problems can get over them or learn to live with them especially if they
get help early on.
Unfortunately
many people experiencing a mental health problem don't receive the right kind
of help and some don't receive any help at all. In fact many people with mental
health problems are shunned or discriminated against by their families, friends
and the professionals who are supposed to be caring for them.