Mental health and wellbeing

What mental health is and where to go for help

Mental health and wellbeing 

Mental health is about how we think, feel and behave. Your mental health is very important. 

Good mental health means you can:

• cope with normal levels of stress 
• be more independent 
• learn to cope with difficult situations and events

When you don’t feel well, you might feel:

• sad
• depressed
• worried 
• anxious
• stressed
• upset
• angry
• confused

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have a mental illness. Lots of things can make us feel this way, such as being in pain or changes in our life. Sometimes we feel down for no reason at all. 

Information about mental health and wellbeing:

• an easy read guide to anxiety 
• an easy read guide to feeling down 
• The charity Mind explain about understanding feelings 
• Bristol’s Community Access Support Service have leaflets explaining anxiety, depression and stress

Asking for help

It’s always okay to ask for help. Asking for help can feel hard at first, but reaching out for support can help you to: 

• find support to help with how you’re feeling
• feel like you’re not alone
• share how you feel with someone you trust
• understand your feelings better
• stop things from getting worse

Where you can go for help with your mental health

You can get support from:

• someone your trust, such as a friend, family member, teacher or school nurse
• your doctor 
• Childline: helping a friend
• Creative Youth Network: One to One support
• Kooth: free online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform
• Mind: Guide for young people on talking to friends and family about how you are feeling
• Mind: Information about where you can get professional support
• Off The Record: Mental health charity for young people aged 11 to 25 in Bristol. Their website has lots of information on getting support
• Well Aware: List of mental health services in Bristol 
• Student Minds: Look after your mate
• SEND And You (SAY): Support line and face-to-face sessions