What are mental health problems?

What types of mental health problems are there?

There are many different mental health problems. Some of them have similar symptoms, so you may experience the symptoms of more than one mental health problem, or be given several diagnoses at once. Or you might not have any particular diagnosis, but still be finding things very difficult. Everyone’s experience is different and can change at different times.

Our list of mental health problems explains how you might be feeling, useful advice for managing and coping, what support is available and useful contacts locally. This page provides a brief description of a few mental health problems, and explains where you can find more information on them.

Emotions and feelings

You may experience difficult emotions, feelings and behaviours which are often associated with mental health problems. Our emotions and feelings page includes information on some of the feelings that you might be having and includes tips on how to handle these feelings and information on where to get support.

What causes mental health problems?

Mental health problems can have a wide range of causes. It’s likely that for many people there is a complicated combination of factors – although different people may be more deeply affected by certain things than others.

For example, the following factors could potentially result in a period of poor mental health:

• Childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect
• Social isolation or loneliness
• Experiencing discrimination and stigma, including racism
• Social disadvantage, poverty or debt
• Bereavement (losing someone close to you)
• Severe or long-term stress
• Having a long-term physical health condition
• Unemployment or losing your job
• Homelessness or poor housing
• Being a long-term carer for someone
• Drug and alcohol misuse
• Domestic violence, bullying or other abuse as an adult
• Significant trauma as an adult, such as military combat, being involved in a serious incident in which you feared for your life, or being the victim of a violent crime
• Physical causes – for example, a head injury or a neurological condition such as epilepsy can have an impact on your behaviour and mood. It’s important to rule out potential physical causes before seeking further treatment for a mental health problem

Although lifestyle factors including work, diet, drugs and lack of sleep can all affect your mental health, if you experience a mental health problem there are usually other factors as well.

Do mental health problems run in families?

Research suggests that some mental health problems may run in families. For example, if you have a parent with schizophrenia, you are more likely to develop schizophrenia yourself. But no one knows if this is because of our genes or because of other factors, such as the environment we grow up in, or the ways of thinking, coping and behaving that we may learn from our parents.

Although the development of some mental health problems may be influenced by our genes, researchers haven’t found any specific genes that definitely cause mental health problems.

And many people who experience a mental health problem don’t have any parents, children or other relatives with the same condition.

Is brain chemistry a factor?

The human brain is extremely complicated. Some research suggests that mental health problems may be linked to a variation in certain brain chemicals (such as serotonin and dopamine). But no one really understands how or why. Arguments that someone’s brain chemistry is the cause of mental health problems are very weak.

But even though there’s no strong evidence to say that any mental health problems are caused by a chemical imbalance in our brains, you might find some people still use brain chemistry to explain them.

Reasons for this might include:

• Some psychiatric medications work by acting on chemicals in the brain, and there’s lots of evidence to show that medication can be effective in treating some symptoms of mental health problems, although drugs don’t work the same way for everyone.
• Mental health problems can feel very personal and be hard to understand, so the idea that there could be a distinct physical cause for difficult thoughts, feelings and behaviours might make it feel easier to talk openly about your experiences and ask for help.

Just because we may not know exactly what causes someone to experience a mental health problem, this doesn’t mean that it is any less serious than any other illness, any less deserving of recognition and treatment, or any easier to recover from.

How are mental health conditions diagnosed?

To diagnose a mental health problem, doctors will look at:

• Your experiences (groupings of certain feelings, behaviours and physical symptoms may suggest different diagnoses)
• How long you’ve been experiencing these things
• The impact it’s having on your life

To do this they may ask you questions about your mood, thoughts and behaviours – sometimes by using questionnaires or forms. They will base your diagnosis on what you describe. For example, if you tell your doctor you’ve been experiencing low mood, low energy and a lack of interest in usual activities for more than two weeks, they may give you a diagnosis of depression. If your symptoms change you might find you are given different diagnoses over time.

Having a diagnosis does not necessarily mean that you are unwell right now. You could have a diagnosis of a mental health problem but, at the moment, be able to manage it and function well at work and at home. Equally, you might not have a particular diagnosis, but still be finding things very difficult. Everyone’s experience is different and can change at different times.

Who can diagnose me?

For common problems such as depression and anxiety, your GP may be able to give you a diagnosis after one or two appointments. For less common problems you’ll need to be referred to a mental health specialist (such as a psychiatrist), and they may want to see you over a longer period of time before making a diagnosis.

For information on how to seek help and what you might say to your doctor, see these pages on seeking help for a mental health problem.

What if I don’t find my diagnosis helpful?

Receiving a diagnosis can be a positive experience. You might feel relieved that you can put a name to what’s wrong, and it can help you and your doctor discuss what kind of treatment might work best for you.

However, a lot of people, including some doctors and psychiatrists, feel this medical model of diagnosis and treatment is not enough. For example, you might feel that the diagnosis you’re given doesn’t fully fit your experiences, or that it’s simplistic and puts you in a box. Other factors – such as your background, lifestyle and other personal circumstances – may be just as important in understanding what you’re experiencing and working out how best to help you feel better.

A diagnosis does not have to shape your entire life, and may come to be a relatively minor part of your identity.

How can I deal with stigma?

Unfortunately, not everyone understands mental health problems. Some people may have misconceptions about what certain diagnoses mean. They may also use language you find dismissive, offensive or hurtful. This can be very upsetting – especially if someone who feels this way is a family member, colleague or a healthcare professional.

But it’s important to remember that you aren’t alone, and you don’t have to put up with people treating you badly. Here are some options for you to think about:

• Show people reliable information to help them understand more about what your diagnosis really means. You can find reliable information in these pages on types of mental health problems.
• Get more involved in your treatment – see these pages on seeking help for a mental health problem for guidance on having your say in your treatment, making your voice heard, and steps you can take if you’re not happy with your care.
• Contact an advocate – an advocate is someone who can support your choices and help you make your voice heard.
• Know your rights – Mind’s pages on your legal rights provide information on your rights in a wide range of situations.
• Talk about your experience – sharing your story can help improve people’s understanding and change their attitudes.
• Get involved in a campaign – Mind’s campaigns page has details of the different ways you can get involved with Mind.

Are people with mental health problems dangerous?

Some people think there is an automatic link between mental health problems and being a danger to others. This is an idea that is reinforced by sensationalised stories in the media. However, the most common mental health problems have no significant link to violent behaviour.

The proportion of people living with a mental health problem who commit a violent crime is extremely small. There are lots of reasons someone might commit a violent crime, and factors such as drug and alcohol misuse are far more likely to be the cause of violent behaviour. But many people are still worried about talking about how they’re feeling, or seeking help, because of the fear and stigma of being seen as dangerous.

It’s important to remember that experiencing difficult thoughts, feelings and behaviours when you’re unwell is common, and it’s extremely unlikely to mean you may harm another person.

What treatments are available?

This page gives an overview of the two most common forms of treatment offered though the NHS: talking treatments and psychiatric medication. It also explains some available alternatives, such as arts and creative therapies and complementary and alternative therapies, and explains where you can find out more.

The NICE guidelines

Any treatment your doctor offers you will ideally follow what the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends for your condition. NICE is the organisation that produces official clinical guidelines on best practice in healthcare. These guidelines are based on published evidence, expert contributions and real life experiences.

However, although healthcare professionals are all encouraged to follow the NICE guidelines, unfortunately access to recommended treatments still varies enormously across the NHS.

For information on accessing treatment, see these pages on seeking help for a mental health problem.

Talking treatments

Talking treatments provide a regular time and space for you to talk about your thoughts and experiences and explore difficult feelings with a trained professional. This could help you to:

• deal with a specific problem
• cope with upsetting memories or experiences
• improve your relationships
• develop more helpful ways of living day-to-day

You may hear various terms used to describe talking treatments, including counselling, psychotherapy, therapy, talking therapy or psychological therapy. These terms are all used to describe the same general style of treatment.

There are lots of different kinds of therapy available in the UK and it’s important to find a style and a therapist that you feel comfortable with.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

If you’re referred for therapy through the NHS, you’re likely to be offered a type of talking treatment called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is a relatively short-term treatment which aims to identify connections between your thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and to help you develop practical skills to manage any negative patterns that may be causing you difficulties.

Evidence suggests that CBT can be an effective treatment for a range of mental health problems. However, although many people can benefit from CBT, not everyone finds it helpful. You might find that it just doesn’t suit you, or doesn’t meet your needs.

See Mind’s pages on CBT for more information.

Medication

The most common type of treatment available is psychiatric medication. These drugs don’t cure mental health problems, but they can ease many symptoms. Which type of drug you are offered will depend on your diagnosis. For example:

Antidepressants

These are mostly prescribed for people experiencing depression, though you might also be offered an antidepressant if you’re experiencing anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), eating problems, or depression as part of another mental health problem.

• See info on antidepressants
• See A–Z of antidepressants

Antipsychotics

These may be prescribed to reduce distressing symptoms of psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and sometimes severe anxiety.

They are sometimes also prescribed for people experiencing bipolar disorder as they can help control hypomania and mania.

• See info on antipsychotics
• See A–Z of antipsychotics

Sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers

These can help you sleep if you experience severe sleep problems, or calm you down if you experience severe anxiety (sometimes called anti-anxiety medication).

• See info on sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers
• See A–Z of sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers

Mood stabilisers (including lithium) 

These can help stabilise your mood if you experience extreme mood swings, for example if you have a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. They may also be prescribed for hypomania and mania and sometimes recurrent severe depression.

• See info on mood stabilisers

Many people find these drugs helpful, as they can lessen your symptoms and allow you to cope at work and at home. However, drugs can sometimes have unpleasant side effects that may make you feel worse rather than better. They can also be difficult to withdraw from, or cause you physical harm if taken in too high a dose.

Before you take any medication

Make sure you have all the information you need to feel confident about your decision. For guidance on what you might want to ask your doctor about any drug before you take it, including your right to refuse medication:

• See info on psychiatric medication.

Arts and creative therapies

Arts and creative therapies are a way of using the arts (music, painting, dance or drama) to express and understand yourself in a therapeutic environment, with a trained therapist. This can be especially helpful if you find it difficult to talk about your problems and how you are feeling.

See these pages on arts and creative therapies for more information.

Complementary and alternative therapies

Some people find complementary and alternative therapies helpful to manage stress and other common symptoms of mental health problems. These can include things like yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, herbal remedies and acupuncture.

The clinical evidence for these options is not as robust as it is for other treatments, but you may find they work for you.

See these pages on complementary and alternative therapies for more information.

What support is available?

If your mental health problems are severe or longer lasting, or the treatment your doctor has offered you isn’t working, they can refer you to specialist mental health services. This page provides a brief overview of the following services, and explains where you can find more information:

• Community mental health teams (CMHTs)
• Social (or community) care
• Residential care
• Crisis intervention
• Hospital treatment

Mental health services for under-18s

The NHS services that support young people’s mental health are called Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). You may also hear them called CYPMHS (Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services).

Learn about CAMHS
Learn about moving from child to adult mental health services

Community mental health teams (CMHTs)

CMHTs support people with mental health problems living in the community, and their carers. The team may include a community psychiatric nurse (CPN), a psychologist, an occupational therapist, a counsellor and a community support worker, as well as a social worker.

Often, a member of the team will be appointed as your care coordinator, to keep in regular contact with you and help plan your care.

Social (or community) care

Social care is any care or support you need to carry out day-to-day tasks which you’re finding difficult. This could include help with managing money or improving relationships, transport to attend appointments or services, or assistance with benefits and housing applications. You can ask your doctor or CMHT to refer you to social services, or you can contact them directly to ask for an assessment.

See Mind’s legal pages about health and social care for more information on your rights to social care, and how to access these services.

Residential care 

If you aren’t able to cope on your own at home, there are other options for housing. You can talk through your options with your support worker(s), carers and mental health team. You might be able to access:

• Hostels – these are short-term accommodation, with supervision, to help you until you can live more independently
• Residential care homes – these offer a much higher level of support for people with severe mental health problems
• Therapeutic communities – these are for short stays, with group or individual therapy as part of their rehabilitation programmes
• Supported housing schemes – these enable you to live independently, in furnished accommodation, with the back-up of a mental health support worker in case you need extra help

See Mind’s pages on housing and mental health for more information about the link between your mental health and your housing situation.

Crisis intervention

In most areas, you should have access to a crisis resolution and home treatment team (CRHT). These teams can support you through a crisis at home. They may give you a local crisis number, which you can call instead of 999 in a mental health emergency.

If you feel unable to keep yourself safe, it’s a mental health emergency. Get emergency advice.

Hospital treatment

Hospital inpatient services support people with severe mental health problems, or people who are experiencing a crisis. Most hospital admissions are voluntary, but if you are assessed and judged to be at risk of harming yourself or others, you can be detained under a section of the Mental Health Act 1983 (in England and Wales). This is often called being sectioned. How long you stay in hospital will depend on your personal situation.

Being treated in hospital can mean you have faster access to treatment, round-the-clock support and are kept safe during a crisis. Some people find hospital a positive experience, while others find it unpleasant as you might be far away from your support network, in an unfamiliar place or admitted against your will.

If you are treated in hospital, it’s important to know your rights. Mind’s legal pages on sectioning, voluntary patients and leaving hospital have more information.

Will I recover?

It is possible to recover from mental health problems, and many people do – especially after accessing support. Your symptoms may return from time to time, but when you’ve discovered which self-care techniques and treatments work best for you, you’re more likely to feel confident in managing them.

If you’re experiencing a more serious mental health problem, it’s still possible to find ways to manage your symptoms. For many people, recovery doesn’t necessarily mean going back to how your life was before, but learning new ways to live your life the way you want to, and gaining control over areas of your life that might have felt out of control before.

However, it’s important to remember that recovery is a journey and it won’t always be straightforward. You might find it more helpful to focus on learning more about yourself and developing ways to cope, rather than trying to get rid of every symptom of your mental health problem. What recovery means to you will be personal, but for most people, the most important thing is to find ways to live the kind of life you want.

How can other people be supportive?

It can be very difficult to see someone who you care about becoming unwell, but you don’t need to be an expert on mental health to offer support. Often small, everyday actions can make the biggest difference.

Show your support

If you know someone has been unwell, don’t be afraid to ask how they are. They might want to talk about it, or they might not. But just letting them know they don’t have to avoid the issue with you is important. Spending time with your loved one lets them know you care, and can help you understand what they’re going through.

Ask how you can help 

Everyone will want support at different times and in different ways, so ask how you can help. It might be useful to help keep track of medication, or give support at a doctor’s appointment. If your friend wants to get more exercise, you could do this together, or if your partner is affected by lack of sleep, you could help them get into a regular sleeping pattern.

Be open-minded

Phrases like ‘cheer up’, ‘I’m sure it’ll pass’ and ‘pull yourself together’ definitely don’t help. Try to be non-judgemental and listen. Someone experiencing a mental health problem often knows best what’s helpful for them.

Don’t just talk about mental health

Keep in mind that having a mental health problem is just one aspect of your friend or family member’s life. Most people don’t want to be defined by their mental health problem, so keep talking about the things you’ve always talked about together.

Show trust and respect

Trust and respect between you and your friend or family member are very important – they help to rebuild and maintain a sense of self-esteem, which a mental health problem can seriously damage. This can also help you to cope a bit better if you can see your support having a positive impact on the person you care about.

Look after yourself

Supporting someone else can sometimes be stressful. Making sure that you look after your own wellbeing can mean that you have the energy, time and distance you need to be able to help. For example:

• Set boundaries and don’t take too much on – if you become unwell yourself you won’t be able to offer as much support. See our pages on how to manage stress for more information
• Share your caring role with others, if you can. It’s often easier to support someone if you’re not doing it alone
• Talk to someone about how you’re feeling – you may want to be careful about how much information you share about the person you’re supporting, but talking about your own feelings with someone you trust can help you feel supported too

Get support

You may be entitled to social care support from your Local Authority to help you care for your friend or family member. You can contact them directly and ask for a carers assessment – see Mind’s pages on carers’ social care rights and how to cope when supporting someone else for more information.

The charity Carers UK also provide more information and support for carers.

Find more information on helping someone else:

• Specific diagnosis – for information on how you can support someone with a specific diagnosis, you can look up that diagnosis in this A–Z of mental health and visit the ‘for friends and family’ page within that information
• Suicidal feelings – if your friend or family member is experiencing suicidal feelings, see these pages on supporting someone who feels suicidal.
• Helping someone seek help – for information on how you can support someone to seek help, including what you can do if they don’t want any help, see this page on supporting someone else to seek help for a mental health problem

Useful contacts 

Anxiety UK

03444 775 774 (helpline)
07537 416 905 (text)
anxietyuk.org.uk
Advice and support for people living with anxiety.

Beat

0808 801 0677 (England)
beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Offers information and advice on eating disorders, and runs a supportive online community. Also provides a directory of support services at HelpFinder.

British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)

bacp.co.uk
Professional body for talking therapy and counselling. Provides information and a list of accredited therapists.

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) 

0800 58 58 58
thecalmzone.net
Provides a helpline and online chat, as well as information and support, for anyone affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts.

Carers UK

0808 808 7777
advice@carersuk.org
carersuk.org
Advice and support for anyone who provides care.

Disability Rights UK

disabilityrightsuk.org
Information and support on disabled people’s rights.

FRANK

0300 123 6600
talktofrank.com
Confidential advice and information about drugs, their effects and the law.

Hearing Voices Network

hearing-voices.org
Information and support for people who hear voices or have other unshared perceptions, including local support groups.

Mind

Mind’s helplines provide information and support by phone and email.

Local Minds offer face-to-face services across England and Wales. These services include talking therapies, peer support and advocacy.

Side by Side is Mind’s supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

MindOut

mindout.org.uk
Mental health service run by and for LGBTQ+ people.

NHS UK

nhs.uk
Information about health problems and treatments, including details of local NHS services in England.

No Panic

0300 7729844
nopanic.org.uk
Provides a helpline, step-by-step programmes, and support for people with anxiety disorders.

Papyrus HOPELINEUK

0800 068 41 41
07860039967 (text)
pat@papyrus-uk.org
papyrus-uk.org
Confidential support for under-35s at risk of suicide and others who are concerned about them. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Samaritans

116 123 (freephone)
jo@samaritans.org
Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
samaritans.org
Samaritans are open 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk. You can visit some Samaritans branches in person.

Sane

0300 304 7000
sane.org.uk
Offers emotional support and information for anyone affected by mental health problems, including a helpline.

Student Minds

0808 808 4994
studentminds.org.uk
Mental health charity that supports students. Runs Student Space, offering online information and helpline support delivered in partnership with The Mix.

Turning Point

turning-point.co.uk
Health and social care services in England for people with a learning disability. Also supports people with mental health problems, drug and alcohol abuse or unemployment.

YoungMinds

0808 802 5544 (Parents Helpline)
85258 (text the word ‘shout’)
youngminds.org.uk
Provides advice and support to young people for their mental health, as well as supporting parents and carers.