Mental health issues
Our mental health has a huge impact on our lives. It effects how we communicate, make friencs, work, sleep. Mental health is influenced by lots of things, including our genes and our life experiences as children and adults. If we have problems with our mental health we may feel sad, worried, confused, angry, in despair, hopeless, tearful, scared, irritable, panicky, numb, guilty, unloveable.
A range of mental health problems
Mental health problems range from the worries and grief we all experience in everyday life, to the most bleak, suicidal depression or complete loss of touch with reality. On average one in four of us will experience a mental health problem in the course of a year – and in Southwark we have more mental ill health than average. These problems can cause real and lasting damage to individuals and communities. Fortunately the majority of people who have mental health problems can get over them or learn to live with them especially if they receive help early on.
Looking after our own mental health
We can look after our own mental health through, taking care of ourselves, making time to do the things we enjoy, eating a healthy diet and taking exercise, maintaining our friendships, keeping problems in perspective and asking for help and support if we feel distressed. We can also look out for warning signs in those around us and 
support them.
“Mental illness is very isolating and there is still a huge amount of fear and stigma connected with it. I have always found that the best way to deal with this is by finding ways to be honest about it. “I started Mental Fight Club to help others
to become more connected to the wider world through creativity.”
Sarah Wheeler, Mental Fight Club, Borough