Mental Health: An Overview

One of the UK's leading mental health charities, Mind, note that there are three main areas that doctors investigate when it comes to potentially diagnosing mental illness:

• Your recent experiences and behaviours
• How long you've been experiencing your symptoms
• The impact your symptoms are having on your life

The NHS note that doctors' assessments may be more thorough still, covering the following:

• Physical health and wellbeing
• Financial circumstances and living arrangements
• Employment status
• Relationships with friends, family and co-workers
• Past experiences and family history of mental illness
• Issues relevant to your own safety, or the safety of others
• Whether anyone in your life depends on you

This might sound like a lot, but remember that you only have to talk about what you want to talk about, and reveal what you want to reveal. As with any health complaint, the more you can tell your doctor, the better. No matter what you do or don't reveal, the key is to be as frank and open as possible – in doing so, the doctor stands the best possible chance of providing you with a clear diagnosis.

The two most common forms of treatment for mental illness are talking therapies and psychiatric medication.

A lot of patients are already somewhat familiar with talking therapies, having seen them portrayed in films and TV. Be wary of these portrayals, as they often paint pictures of manipulative or overtly taxing sessions that would be deemed unethical by any care guidelines under the sun.

Cognitive behavioural therapy and person-centred therapy are two popular forms of talking therapy. The former is short-term, helping you to identify the connections you tend to make between thoughts, feelings and behaviours, then directing you to challenge the connections you naturally form. The latter is longer term, and entirely non-directive, placing patients with an empathetic, non-judgemental voice that accepts what the patient has to say without challenging or second guessing them – the theory being that the patient will naturally grow psychologically if given a healthy environment in which to do so.

Alternatively, there are four main categories of medication that can be used to treat mental illnesss – antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication, antipsychotic medication and mood-stabilising medications. The names of each are fairly self explanatory, easing symptoms of prevalent mental health conditions. The types of medication that you are offered will depend entirely on the severity of your symptoms, and the nature of your diagnosis.

Exercise has a "huge potential to enhance our [mental] wellbeing", according to the Mental Health Foundation. They add that even 10 minutes of brisk walking can make us more alert and energetic, as well as improving our overall mood. Regular exercise can be more impactful still, boosting our self esteem and reducing both stress and anxiety. Perhaps most persuasive of all is their suggestion that exercise can prevent the development of mental health problems altogether, and improve the quality of life for those already experiencing mental illness.

As for how much exercise we should do to have an impact on our mental health, the Department of Health recommends that adults should be active daily, completing 2.5 hours of moderate intensity exercise each week – averaging out at 30 minutes, five times a week. Once you start, you will feel the benefits in no time at all.