Promoting mental wellbeing is positive for everyone.

Why bother with mental wellbeing?

Mental health is a positive attribute and something we all have. It is more than whether we experience mental health problems, and is not about whether or not we have a diagnosed mental illness. Mental wellbeing describes the way we think and feel about ourselves and others, our confidence, and our ability to control things in our life.

Like physical health, we need to protect our mental wellbeing. In promoting our mental wellbeing - for example, promoting physical activity, and providing opportunities for relaxation and social activities - we can increase our resilience to cope with life's difficulties and ability to enjoy life.

There are many ways to do this, but it is important to remember that they cannot prevent or treat serious mental illness, which requires expert help. In these cases, people should be encouraged to seek help as early as possible. An important contribution to mental health is having employment or some form of meaningful activity.

This article was written & sourced by the British heart foundation