FRONT FIRST HALF (LEFT)

What Is Mental Health?

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. Mental health
is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and
behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry

Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
Family history of mental health problems
Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get
better and many recover completely.

FRONT (MIDDLE PART)

Importance of Mental Health

Mental Health Improves the Quality of Life

When we are free of depression, anxiety, excessive stress and worry, addictions, and other psychological
problems, we are more able to live our lives to the fullest.

Peace of mind is a natural condition, and is available to everyone.

Mental health strengthens and supports our ability to:

have healthy relationships

make good life choices
maintain physical health and well-being
handle the natural ups and downs of life
discover and grow toward our potential

Mental Health Treatment Reduces Medical Costs

Many research studies have shown that when people receive appropriate mental health care, their use
of medical services declines. For example, one study of people with anxiety disorders showed that after
psychological treatment, the number of medical visits decreased by 90%, laboratory costs decreased by
50%, and overall treatment costs dropped by 35%.

Other studies have shown that people with untreated mental health problems visit a medical doctor
twice as often as people who receive mental health care.
FRONT (right) * continuation of middle part

Mental Health is Good for Businesses

Businesses benefit when employees have good mental health. Mental health is associated with higher
productivity, better performance, more consistent work attendance, and fewer workplace accidents.

Employers can strengthen and safeguard their businesses by choosing employee health plans with
strong mental health benefits.

By eliminating the causes of productivity loss, absenteeism, and worker accidents, mental health
services increase a company's efficiency, productive capacity, and quality of goods and services.

Peace of Mind: Buying Mental Health Insurance for Your Company -- An informational brochure for
employers, produced by the Rhode Island Psychological Association.

BACK(LEFT)
MENTAL ILLNESS

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your
mood, thinking and behavior. 

Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern
becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect
your ability to function.

BACK (MIDDLE UP TO RIGHT PART)

Types of mental health problems

Anger
Explains what anger is, and how to deal with it in a constructive and healthy way.

Anxiety and panic attacks

Explains anxiety and panic attacks, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and
support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Bipolar disorder
Explains what bipolar disorder is, what kinds of treatment are available, and how you can help yourself
cope. Also provides guidance on what friends and family can do to help.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)

Explains body dysmorphic disorder, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and
support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD)

Explains what BPD is and what it’s like to live with this diagnosis. Also provides information about self-
care, treatment and recovery, and gives guidance on how friends and family can help.

Depression
Explains depression, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes
tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Dissociative disorders
Explains dissociative disorders, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and
support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Drugs - recreational drugs & alcohol

Explains the mental health effects of recreational drugs and alcohol, and what might happen if you use
recreational drugs and also have a mental health problem. Includes suggestions for where you might
find support.

Eating problems
Explains eating problems, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support.
Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Hearing voices
About voices, who hears them and how to cope if they are a problem.

Hypomania and mania

Explains hypomania and mania, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and
support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Loneliness
Explains loneliness, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where you can go for support.

Mental health problems - introduction

Explains what mental health problems are, what may cause them, and the many different kinds of help,
treatment and support that are available. Also provides guidance on where to find more information,
and tips for friends and family.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Explains obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), including possible causes and how you can access
treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Panic attacks
Explains what panic attacks are, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and
support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Paranoia
Explains paranoia, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes
tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Personality disorders
Explains personality disorders, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support.

Phobias
Explains phobias, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips
for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Postnatal depression & perinatal mental health

Explains postnatal depression and other perinatal mental health issues, including possible causes,
sources of treatment and support. Also gives advice for friends and family.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Explains what post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD are, and provides information on
how you can access treatment and support. Includes self-care tips and guidance for friends and family.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Explains what PMDD is and explores issues around getting a diagnosis. Also provides information on self
care and treatment options, and how friends and family can help.

Psychosis
Explains what psychosis is, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support.
Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Schizoaffective disorder
For anyone who has been given a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, and their friends and relatives.
Explains what the disorder is, and the types of treatment and support available.

Schizophrenia
Explains schizophrenia, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support.
Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Explains seasonal affective disorder, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and
support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Self-esteem
Explains how to increase your self-esteem, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where
you can go for support.

Self-harm
Explains self-harm, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes
tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.

Sleep problems
Explains insomnia and other sleep problems, giving practical suggestions for what you can do and where
you can go for support.

Stress
A guide to stress, with information about what you can do to get support.
Suicidal feelings
Explains what suicidal feelings are, including possible causes and how you can learn to cope.

Tardive dyskinesia
Explains what tardive dyskinesia is, what causes it and what you can do to manage it.

LAST PART
Mental health awareness week starts every year on the second Monday in May - in 2018 from 14 - 20
May.

Mental Health Awareness Month was started in the United States in 1949 by the Mental Health America
organization (then known as the National Association for Mental Health). Each year in mid-March
Mental Health America releases a toolkit of materials to guide preparation for outreach activities during
Mental Health Awareness Month