Mental ill-health is a broad term used to describe the range of mental health problems, from those with mild symptoms to the most severe mental disorders. Mental health problems last for varying periods of time depending on the individual and the support they have around them.

This website uses the following terms:

A mental health problem is a broad term that refers to symptoms of mental ill-health that are not severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of a mental disorder, but can disrupt the way in which people think, feel and behave.

These problems may be experienced temporarily as a reaction to stress, and the person affected will often recover fully with the right support. However, if ignored, such problems may develop into more serious mental health disorders.

A mental health disorder is an illness that is diagnosed and causes major changes in a person’s thinking, emotional state and behaviour, and disrupts the person’s ability to work and maintain personal relationships.

There are different types of mental health disorders. Some are common, such as depression, anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, and some are less common, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Mental health disorders cause distress to the person affected and also affect those around them. People are often ashamed to discuss mental health problems with their family, friends and work colleagues. They may also be reluctant to seek professional help because of their concerns about what others may think about them.