2.1 The impact of mental health

As previously indicated a mental health problem can show itself in different ways and usually interferes with some aspect of everyday living. The Mental Health Foundation says:

Good mental health is characterised 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.
(Mental Health Foundation, 2020)

Now work your way through Activity 4.

Activity 4: The impact of mental health problems

Timing: Allow about 15 minutes

a. 

The ability to learn


b. 

The ability to feel, express and manage a range of positive and negative emotions


c. 

The ability to form and maintain good relationships with others


d. 

The ability to cope with and manage change and uncertainty


The correct answers are a, b, c and d.

Discussion

Did you tick one or more of them? It is important to note that a person who is struggling in any of these areas does not necessarily have a mental health problem. These kinds of difficulty are warning signs though, and you will find out more about warning signs in Session 2.

By signing in and enrolling on this course you can view and complete all activities within the course, track your progress in My OpenLearn Create. and when you have completed a course, you can download and print a free Statement of Participation - which you can use to demonstrate your learning.

2 What do we mean by ‘health’ and ‘mental health’?

3 How has the concept of mental health evolved?