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Mental Health and Wellbeing
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Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental health and wellbeing is important to us all. We want people to be healthy in their minds as well as their bodies.
Good mental health is about feeling good about your life and being able to cope with problems when they happen. We call good mental health, mental well-being.
Wellbeing is more than feeling happy, it is feeling that we are fulfilling our potential in life and that our lives are meaningful and worthwhile. Our sense of wellbeing is affected by many things including: our physical state of health, where we live, whether we have a job we like and enjoy and having good relationships with other people.
Certain factors combine to make up our mental wellbeing.
These include:
- Physical health
- Hopes & dreams
- Family & friends
- Education & Learning
- Meaningful activity
- Financial security
- Supportive environment
- Spirituality
Sometimes, stress can reduce our overall wellbeing and make us feel more irritable, tired, low in energy, tired, tense and sad. Although we will always experience some stress in our day-to-day lives, if we feel unable to manage stress and/or sweep them under the carpet, it could lead to longer term problems such as anxiety and depression.
Some of these things we cannot change, but often even relatively small changes in lifestyle can make real differences to our moods and feelings.
Every year up to 4 in 10 people will experience common problems, such as: low mood, anxiety, stress and low self-esteem. Making the decision to ask for help can be difficult and sometimes the stigma surrounding mental health problems can stop people from seeking help. However, having the opportunity to talk can often enable you to feel understood and supported to get things back on track.
If you are experiencing such problems, live in Guernsey, and are aged between 18 and 65 years the Primary Care Mental Health & Wellbeing Service may be able to help. It aims to provide free and easy access to evidence-based psychological therapies ('talking therapies') in suitable settings, e.g. your GP surgery or a community setting. For more information about the service visit the Primary Care Mental Health & Wellbeing Service page.
Use the menu on the left of the page to find out more about how you can keep your mind healthy and access self-help resources.
To read more about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Guernsey and Alderney download the Research Report and Billet at the bottom of this page.
Mental Health problems
A mental health problem is a problem with someone's mind that makes it difficult for them to live a normal life. Mental health problems may be small problems or more serious problems. They may last for a short time or a long time.
People with mental health problems can often live normal lives if they get the right treatment and support.
Mental health problems can affect anyone, anywhere.
1 out of 4 people will experience a mental health problem at some time in their life. They can be rich or poor. They might live in big cities or small islands. But people with mental health problems may face difficulties such as these:
- They may have fewer qualifications.
- They may find it harder to find a job and keep it.
- They may earn less money.
- They are more likely to be homeless or close to being homeless.
- They are more likely to be unwell.
- They may not eat healthily and may be overweight.
Having mental health problems is upsetting for the person who is not well, their families, friends, carers and local communities.
(Department of Health 2011 Mental Health in the Future: What is the Government going to do?)
Use the menu on the left of the page to find useful links to further resources on mental health issues and information about local Mental Health Services.
Document downloads
Mental Health and Wellbeing in Guernsey and Alderney
Research Report
2013 February 27th Billet III
2013 February 27th Billet III
Health and Social Services Department
Corporate Headquarters, Rue Mignot, St Andrews, Guernsey, GY6 8TW, Channel IslandsTel: +44 1481 725241 Fax: +44 1481 235341
Email: healthandwellbeing@gov.gg
