Physical health and health behaviours

When we feel mentally well, we’re more likely to be motivated to look after our physical health by eating healthily, sleeping well and getting exercise. We’re more likely to feel that it’s worthwhile and important to look after ourselves. This helps prevent long-term health problems which can impact on our ability to function well.

When we feel low, we might be less motivated to look after ourselves physically. We might take part in health-harming behaviours, like drinking too much, using drugs or eating less healthy food, to try to improve our mood. Some of these might make us feel a little better in the short term but are actually harmful to both our physical and mental health in the long run.

Living with an illness or disability

When we are unwell, living with a disability or diagnosis of a long-term physical or mental illness, we can still take action to improve our mental wellbeing. We might need support to recover from or adjust to the situation. And if it’s a life changing or life-limiting condition, we might need time to understand what this could mean for us now and in the future.

Getting support from people we trust and who care about us, or from those who have been through similar experiences, is important. It can help us to get back to feeling good and functioning well, whatever that looks like for us.

If we’re unwell or living with a physical or mental illness, taking action to protect and improve our mental wellbeing is important for helping us to cope.

Looking after our mental wellbeing can help us recover from illness more quickly. When we feel mentally strong, we’re more likely to take charge of our health and recovery.