Cause

The World Health Organisation defines mental health as a “state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.

It is normal and natural to feel down at times. Problems you may encounter might range from general everyday worries or low periods in your life, to more serious long-term conditions. One in four of us will experience a mental health difficulty in our lifetime. Everyone is different and how we respond to mental health difficulties can vary from person to person.

Wellbeing may be compromised when negative and painful emotions are extreme or very long-lasting and interfere with the person’s ability to function in daily life

Response

The activities of Mental Health Ireland include:

- Developing and delivering a broad range of mental health promotion activities, in conjunction with the HSE and other statutory agencies

- Supporting 92 local Mental Health Associations in their work by providing information and training and through a network of Development Officers working around the country.

- Providing an information service on issues relating to mental health through information fact-sheets, the MHI website and direct contact.

- Undertaking occasional research on mental health topics, including previous national surveys on stress and the public attitudes to mental illness.

- Organising conferences, courses, workshops and seminars on a wide variety of issues relating to mental health.