MAN Magazine Winter 2019

HEALTHY LIVING
BEING IN
YOUR MATE’S
T
here’s a lot of talk about
mental health at the
minute. But what does
it really mean? And how
can you make sure you’ve got your
mate’s back if you’re worried about
their mental health?
In many ways, mental health is just like physical
health: everybody has it and we need to take care of
it. Good mental health means being generally able to
think, feel and react in the ways that you need and
want to live your life. But if your mate goes through a
period of poor mental health you might find the ways
they’re frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become
difficult, or even impossible, to cope with. This can feel
just as bad as a physical illness, or even worse.
SIGNS YOUR MATE MIGHT NEED SUPPORT
While the symptoms of mental health problems
differ widely, there are some broad signs you might
pick up on that suggest your mate could do with
your support.
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Not their normal selves:
If they seem down, lonely,
detached, demotivated or
numb, or agitated, on edge and
pessimistic for more than a
couple of weeks.
Off the pace: If they say they’re
feeling tired all the time from
sleeping too much or too little.
Finding it hard to concentrate,
feeling confused, agitated or
sluggish.
Backing away: Many people push
their mates away when they’re
struggling with their mental
health. Notice if they’re not getting
out and socialising as much as before or are
not enjoying activities they used to.
Not looking after themselves: Some
people use alcohol, cigarettes, drugs or
food as a coping mechanism, so you might
notice that they are leaning on these more
than before.
GOOD MENTAL HEALTH
HELPS YOU THINK,
FEEL AND REACT IN THE
WAYS YOU NEED AND
WANT IN ORDER TO
LIVE YOUR LIFE
MAN MAGAZINE WINTER 2019
sevenstarmedia.co.uk