Scotland's Mental Health

Positive mental health means feeling in control of my emotions, being able to deal with life and not letting my mind hold me back. Rolf 32

Why the fuss about mental health?

Mental health affects every area of our lives. What does mental health mean to you? Does it make you think of someone who has a mental illness like depression or schizophrenia? Or does it make you think of that very personal quality which describes the way we think and feel about ourselves, our experiences, our confidence, our resilience and sense of control over our lives? Mental health affects every area of our lives that is why this work is important.

What's the difference between 'mental health' and 'mental illness'?
Mental health means our ability to enjoy life and cope with its challenges. In a nutshell, are we able to get on and do the things we want to do? It's not a by-word for 'mental illness'. A mental illness is a problem that affects mental health (just like a broken leg affects physical health)


Mental health, mental wellbeing and mental health improvement: what do they mean?

Read on for a practical guide to terms and definitions.

One in four Scots

One in four of us1 will experience a serious problem with our mental wellbeing at some point in our lives. This means that it's highly unlikely any of us will make it through life without having a problem or being close to someone who does. Hard to believe?

Most people know someone with a diagnosis of a mental illness

In a recent survey, 62% of Scots reported knowing someone with a diagnosis of a mental illness2. It's also a sad fact that Scotland has one of the highest suicide rates among young men in Europe.Two people a day are lost to suicide3.

1 Figure from the Mental Health Foundation
2 Public Attitudes Survey
3 Figure from Choose Life strategy statement