Mental Health vs. Mental Illness (Easy Read)

 

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MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL ILLNESS (Large Print)

What is Mental Health?

Mental health is your overall, day-to-day emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Everyone has mental health.

Mental health affects:

• How you think

• How you feel

• How you act

• How you cope with stress

• How you relate to other people

Mental health can change over time.
You may feel:

• Flourishing – feeling well, coping, and managing life

• Languishing – feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or low

Mental health can be supported by:

• Self-care

• Exercise

• Rest and sleep

• Social connection

• Managing stress

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What is Mental Illness?

Mental illness refers to diagnosed health conditions that affect:

• Thinking

• Mood

• Behaviour

Mental illness can cause:

• Ongoing distress

• Difficulty coping with daily life

• Problems at work, school, or in relationships

Examples of mental illness include:

• Depression

• Anxiety disorders

• Bipolar disorder

• Schizophrenia

Mental illness often needs:

• Professional support

• Talking therapies (counselling or psychotherapy)

• Medication (for some people)

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Key Messages

• Mental health and mental illness are not the same

• Feeling low or stressed does not automatically mean mental illness

• You can live with a mental illness and still have good mental health

• Mental health is like physical health – it can go up and down

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When to Get Help

You may need professional help if:

• Symptoms last longer than two weeks

• Your feelings stop you from coping with daily life

• Work, education, or relationships are affected

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EASY READ – Mental Health and Mental Illness

Mental Health

• Everyone has mental health

• Mental health is how you feel and cope each day

• Mental health can be good or poor

• Mental health can change

You can support your mental health by:

• Talking to people

• Resting and sleeping

• Moving your body

• Doing things you enjoy

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Mental Illness

• Mental illness is a medical condition

• It affects thoughts, feelings, or behaviour

• It can make daily life harder

Examples:

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Bipolar disorder

Mental illness may need:

• A doctor or therapist

• Talking therapy

• Medication

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Important to Know

• Poor mental health does not always mean mental illness

• You can have a mental illness and still feel okay at times

• Getting help early can make a big difference