Mental wellbeing
Mental Health
There are different types of mental illness, some are more common, such as depression and anxiety disorders, and some are less common, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. ,Mental illness, as with any health difficulty, can cause disability, which is sometimes severe. This is not always well understood by people who have never experienced a mental illness.
Our mental health is how we’re feeling inside, or how we are emotionally. Our mental health may change because of situations we’re in, things we’re doing and things beyond our control, including other people, our physical health, our finances and even the weather and world events. All of us are affected by what happens to us, past and present. Things that happened even many years ago can affect our mental health today.
It is vital to not only protect and promote the mental well-being of all, but also to address the needs of people with mental health conditions. Mental Health problems are difficult experiences that make it harder for us to get on with our lives. They include the painful feelings and thoughts that we all have at times – including periods of sadness, hopelessness and fear.
Mental Capacity
Our mental capacity means our ability to understand information and make decisions about our life. It can also mean the ability to communicate decisions about our life.
Mental capacity is the ability to understand and retain the information relevant to a specific decision, to use the relevant information as part of the process of making that specific decision, to weigh up potential consequences and to communicate the decision, at the time the decision needs to be made. When in communication with someone you must establish, to the best of your ability, whether the person understands what you are telling them and the risks that may apply to them.
Suicide
Suicide is a major public health issue, each year people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds die as a result of taking their own life. Many more experience suicidal thoughts at one time or another. Suicide is preventable. Most suicidal people do not want to die; they simply do not want to live with the pain they are experiencing any longer. We can learn to spot the warning signs so we can help identify and support someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and sign post them to agencies and services who can help them.
Suicidal Ideation
Suicidal ideation is when you think about killing yourself. The thoughts might or might not include a plan to die by suicide. You may have heard suicidal ideation referred to as ‘suicidal thoughts’, not everyone with suicidal ideation acts on it. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 and it provides free and confidential support.