This guide is all about mental health and wellbeing. Mental health is important for a happy life, but it is often misunderstood or ignored. This guide will help you understand mental health and provide tools to help you prioritize your mental health. There are many factors that affect mental health. Some factors are biological, such as genetics and brain chemistry. Environmental factors like childhood experiences and socio-economic status can also impact mental health. Psychological factors like stress and coping mechanisms can also affect mental wellbeing. We want to empower you with the knowledge and tools to take care of your mental health. We will explore evidence-based strategies for promoting mental wellness at every stage of life. From understanding the underlying mechanisms of mental illness to practical techniques for self-care and seeking professional support when needed. Remember, taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Seeking help when needed is a sign of strength. We hope this guide helps you prioritize your mental health and wellbeing.

As a GP, many of my patients struggle with the concept of mental health. It often brings up feelings of guilt, failure or embarrassment, but I don’t see the same when discussing a physical condition, such as an eye infection, a knee injury or a heart attack. Stigmatising attitudes towards mental health are imposed by society and also by patients themselves. So let’s try to break down the stigma, and bring conditions of the body and the mind to an even playing field.

Miscarriage, or early pregnancy loss, is defined as the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 24 weeks gestation (time since conception). The majority of miscarriages occur before the 13th week of gestation. Sadly, miscarriage is far more common than people sometimes think. One in every four to five pregnancies will end in miscarriage. Miscarriage is an incredibly difficult and emotional experience. There are physical, mental health, and social impacts from a miscarriage. If you have had a miscarriage, are worried about it, we want you to be reassured that there isn’t anything you have done wrong, and there is nothing you could have done differently or better. A miscarriage or even multiple miscarriages does not mean that you are not going to be a parent.

PHQ-9 is a questionnaire that is used to help assess the severity of depression. The name stands for patient health questionnaire and the 9 is because there are 9 questions that ask about different symptoms and how often you experience them. Each answer is assigned a number of points out of 3 and once you add the points from the 9 questions you will have a score out of 27. If you score 5 points or more, this suggests mild depression severity, 10 points and more for moderate, 15 points and more for moderately severe and 20 points or more for severe depression severity. The questionnaire isn’t for diagnosing depression but for assessing severity.

Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain and causes seizures. These seizures happen because of unusual electrical activity in the brain. Epilepsy can affect lots of people and can have a significant impact on their lives - it doesn't just affect the person who is experiencing epilepsy but also their family and friends. Living with epilepsy can be tough. People with epilepsy can have occasional problems with their memory, mood, energy levels and daily activities. They might also have a hard time at school, work, and general social activities. It's essential to learn about epilepsy so you can understand it and how it affects people with the condition and the people around it. It can also help people with epilepsy to feel more supported and valued. If you or someone you know has epilepsy and is untreated, it's worth seeking help from your doctor. Treatments available can help manage seizures and improve quality of life. Remember, you are not alone. With the right support, you can live a happy and fulfilling life, no matter what challenges you may face.

Anxiety can set in ahead of big events such as an interview or an exam, or you may just be feeling a bit on edge without any particular cause. Some pharmacy products are known to calm mild anxiety and that panicky feeling that can rise up. Let’s take a look at one of them on the market in more detail: 5-HTP.

It can feel like a big move to start antidepressants – treatment for clinical depression - and it’s a very personal decision; only you can know how your symptoms are affecting you and what your particular set of circumstances are. Your doctor is on hand to discuss this in detail but in general antidepressants are usually reserved for moderate or severe depression rather than mild cases, and they can also help with other problems such as obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome, generalised anxiety disorder and certain pain syndromes.

Life can feel rather grey at times and as a result, it can cause your mood to suffer. Sometimes you can work out the exact reason you are feeling down. It could be caused by things such as stress at work, problems in relationships with family, friends or partners, or financial worries. When you know what is making you feel this way it’s easier to try and deal with it. There are times however when your mood can feel low for no particular reason and this is harder to tackle. It may help to boost certain vitamins, which when they run low can have a negative impact on your mood. The following may be helpful for you to try for mild symptoms of depression – for more severe symptoms that are impacting your everyday life, you should see your doctor.

Loneliness is the negative emotion associated with feeling isolated. Starting university, a new job, or moving to a new city can be daunting and can leave people feeling like this. There are two ways to tackle this, either reduce the isolation or improve the negative emotion associated with being alone. Here at Healthwords we have 4 simple tips for starting to tackle both components. These include joining a community, helping others, building fewer but stronger relationships, and avoiding comparisons.

Many university students suffer from several mental health issues. These can be far-ranging such as anxiety, depression through to different eating disorders (like bulimia and anorexia. University life may cause these problems to surface for the first time or it may exacerbate existing problems. Either way, it is important to understand that you are not alone and every university has plenty of resources for people suffering with their mental health.

Stress is an umbrella term to describe how your body reacts to threats, demands or injuries. An automatic protective stress response that many people are aware of is the ‘fight or flight' reaction to stressful situations that come up suddenly. In the right setting this can be life-saving or even sharpen your mind and help you focus. However, if your stress response is inappropriate or your body is under constant threats it can bring your nervous system into disarray and affect many aspects of your life, disrupting your health, mood and relationships. Stress can be a cause or the result of a problem, but it’s best to manage it and reduce it where possible to avoid it taking over.

The first thing to know is that you are not alone in feeling low. Depression is extremely common, with more than 3 in every 100 people suffering in the UK. The second thing to know is that it is treatable, so you should seek help when you first notice the signs – we’ll talk you through what to look out for. And finally, we’ll outline where to go for treatment, even when things have spiralled and you’re in a severe depression or have thoughts of ending it all. If any of this rings true for you or a loved one, read on.