“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Mental Health Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Emotional Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Mental Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Psychological Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Social Health/Welfare/Well-Being
  • Well-Being

Definition

What is mental health?

DotS the definition of mental health may vary. The (United States) MentalHealth.gov’s definition is:

“Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices”.2

Importance

What is the importance of good mental health?

In What Is Mental Health? the (British) Mental Health Foundation’s (MHF) note:

“Being mentally healthy doesn’t just mean that you don’t have a mental health problem. If you’re in good mental health, you can:

  • Make the most of your potential
  • Cope with life
  • Play a full part in your family, workplace, community and among friends”.3

Good Mental Health

What is good mental health characterized by?

In What Is Good Mental Health? the MHF explain:

“Good mental health is characterized by a person’s ability to fulfil a number of key functions and activities, including:

  • The ability to learn
  • The ability to feel, express and manage a range of positive and negative emotions
  • The ability to form and maintain good relationships with others
  • The ability to cope with and manage change and uncertainty”.4

Menopause

During menopause can our mental health change?

The MHF note:

“Your mental health doesn’t always stay the same. It can change as circumstances change and as you move through different stages of your life”.5

In Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

Mental Health“Depression and depressed mood around the time of expected menopause (51-52 years in Australia) is more likely to occur because of factors other than menopause, including:

  • Prior episodes of depression
  • Significant stress in your life
  • A negative attitude to things happening in your life
  • Dissatisfaction with your relationships
  • Low self-esteem
  • Poor body image
  • Poor lifestyle such as little exercise or a high intake of alcohol”.6

The JH add:

“Emotional health around the menopause is also more likely to be influenced by previous experiences of prior traumatic events; for example, past abuse. Women often seek counselling at menopause and might want to work through traumas they have previously experienced. This time of life seems to allow things to come to the surface”.7

Keeping Good Mental Health

How can we keep ourself in good mental health?

In How To Look After Your Mental Health the MHF elaborate on:

“Anyone can follow this advice. Why not start today?

  1. Talk about your feelings…
  2. Keep active…
  3. Eat well…
  4. Drink sensibly…
  5. Keep in touch…
  6. Ask for help…
  7. Take a break…
  8. Do something you’re good at…
  9. Accept who you are…
  10. Care for others…”.8

In What Is Mental Health? Mental Health and Wellness Mentalhealth.gov explain:

“Ways to maintain positive mental health include:

  • Getting professional help if you need it
  • Connecting with others
  • Staying positive
  • Getting physically active
  • Helping others
  • Getting enough sleep
  • Developing coping skills”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I feel more out-of-sorts than usual?

If you feel more anxious, more depressed, more stressed or more out-of-sorts than usual, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

In Get Immediate Help MentalHealth.gov note:

“People often don’t get the mental health services they need because they don’t know where to start. Talk to your primary care doctor or another health professional about mental health problems. Ask them to connect you with the right mental health services”.10

The North American Menopause Society also note:

“Many primary care providers are not specifically trained in the management of mental health disorders, including clinical depression. Consultation with a mental health professional may be appropriate, and an expert opinion can be reassuring”.11

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Mental Health?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Mental Health?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.
  1. A To Z
  2. Alcohol and Mental Health
  3. Alcohol and Mental Health: Alcohol Depression = A Vicious Cycle
  4. Anxiety: Learn, Think, Do
  5. Beyondblue.org.au
  6. Chronic Illness & Mental Health
  7. Complementary & Alternative Medicine for Mental Health Conditions
  8. Coping With Stress: Healthy Ways To Cope With Stress
  9. Coping With Traumatic Events
  10. Dealing With Stress
  11. Depression In Women: 5 Things You Should Know
  12. Diet and Mental Health
  13. Finding Help
  14. For People With Mental Health Problems
  15. Frequently Asked Questions
  16. Get Help Now [United States]
  17. Get Immediate Help [United States]
  18. Getting Help [United Kingdom]
  19. Headstogether.org.uk [Heads Together, United Kingdom]
  20. Headtohealth.gov.au: Head To Head [Australia]
  21. Help for Fears and Phobias
  22. How To Get Mental Health Help [United States]
  23. How To Look After Your Mental Health
  24. How To Look After Your Mental Health Using Exercise
  25. How To Look After Your Mental Health Using Mindfulness
  26. How To Sleep Better
  27. If You or Someone You Know Is In Crisis and Needs Immediate Help
  28. Keeping Women In Good Mental Health
  29. LGBTQ
  30. Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Intersex (LGBTI), and Bodily, Gender and Sexuality Diverse People
  31. Live Your Life Well: The 10 Tools
  32. Living With A Mental Health Condition
  33. Looking After Your Mental Health
  34. Mayo Clinic Minute: Mental Health Benefits of Tidying Up [+ Video]
  35. Mayo Clinic Minute: Signs That Stress Is Becoming Toxic [+ Video]
  36. Mayo Mindfulness: What Does It Really Mean? [+ Video]
  37. Menopause and Depression
  38. Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause
  39. Menopause: Emotions and the Menopause: Mood Swings, Anxiety and Depression [Video Interview Stories]
  40. Mental & Emotional Health
  41. Mental Health
  42. Mental Health
  43. Mental Health
  44. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause
  45. Mental Health Conditions
  46. Mental Health Information
  47. Mental Health Information
  48. Mental Health [Help, Australia]
  49. Mental Health [Videos]
  50. Mental Health and Relationships
  51. Mental Health: Learn About Mental Health
  52. Mental Health: What’s Normal, What’s Not
  53. Mentalhealth.gov [United States Department of Health and Human Services]
  54. Mentalhealth.org.uk [Mental Health Foundation United Kingdom]
  55. Mentalhealthamerica: May Is Mental Health Month [Mental Health America]
  56. Mentalhealthatwork.org.uk [Mental Health At Work, United Kingdom]: Your First Stop for Better Mental Health At Work
  57. Mhima.org.au [Mental Health In Multicultural Australia]
  58. Mind.org.uk
  59. Mindfulness
  60. Moodzone
  61. Moodzone: Find the Right Therapist for You
  62. Moodzone: Five Steps To Mental Wellbeing
  63. Moodzone: Get Active for Mental Wellbeing
  64. Moodzone: Mental Health Issues If You’re Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual
  65. Moodzone: Talking Therapies Explained
  66. Multicultural People
  67. Myths/Facts
  68. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 5 Tips: What You Should Know About the Science Behind Depression and Complementary Health Approaches
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 7 Things To Know About Complementary Health Approaches for Anxiety
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Mental Health
  73. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe): In Depth
  74. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Understanding Drug-Supplement Interactions
  75. National Institute of Mental Health [United States]
  76. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline [United States]
  77. Our Stories
  78. Physical Activity & Exercise: Tools To Help – Weekly Activity Diary
  79. Physical Activity, Sport and Mental Health
  80. R U OK?Day Is Thursday 12 September – Get Involved
  81. Recovery & Support
  82. Resilience: Build Skills To Endure Hardship
  83. Samhsa.gov [SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration]
  84. Staying Mentally Healthy
  85. Stories
  86. Talk About Mental Health
  87. Talk With Your Doctor About Depression
  88. Timetochange.org [Time To Change]
  89. Timetochange.org: Time To Talk Day 2020, Thursday 6 February [+ Video]
  90. Types of Therapist: How To Find & Choose A Therapist – What Is the Difference Between A Psychologist, Psychiatrist & Counsellor?
  91. Video Series-2019 – Mood Changes During Perimenopause
  92. Video Series-2019 – New Depression Guidelines
  93. Video Series-2019 – What You Need To Know About Mood During the Menopause Transition
  94. What Are Mental Health Problems?
  95. What Is Mental Health?
  96. What Is Mental Health?
  97. Who Can Assist
  98. Women and Mental Health
  99. Women’s Wellness: Hysterectomy Associated With Risk of Mental Health Issues
  100. Your Mental Health

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted above?

You may find the Sources at:

Sources

  1. What Is Mental Health? Last Updated: 05 April 2019. MentalHealth.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 29 February 2020
  2. What Is Mental Health? Last Updated: 05 April 2019. MentalHealth.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 29 February 2020
  3. What Is Mental Health? Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/about-mental-health/what-mental-health Accessed: 29 February 2020
  4. What Is Good Mental Health? Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/about-mental-health/what-good-mental-health Accessed: 29 February 2020
  5. What Is Mental Health? Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/about-mental-health/what-mental-health Accessed: 29 February 2020
  6. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause. Last Updated: 14 January 2020 | Last Revised 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 29 February 2020
  7. Mental Health & Emotions: Depression, Anxiety & Menopause. Last Updated: 14 January 2020 | Last Revised 17 December 2017. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/mental-health-emotions/ Accessed: 29 February 2020
  8. How To Look After Your Mental Health. Mental Health Foundation https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-mental-health Accessed: 29 February 2020
  9. What Is Mental Health? Mental Health and Wellness. Last Updated: 05 April 2019. MentalHealth.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health Accessed: 29 February 2020
  10. Get Immediate Help. Last Updated: 31 August 2017. MentalHealth.gov https://www.mentalhealth.gov/get-help/immediate-help Accessed: 29 February 2020
  11. Depression & Menopause: If Depression Is Severe. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/mental-health-at-menopause/depression-menopause Accessed: 29 February 2020
Topic Last Updated:  29 February 2020 – Topic Last Reviewed: 29 February 2020
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