You may be familiar with this next symbol (especially Kung Fu Panda Fans).
You may have heard about yin, yang and qi (pronounced chee). Yin-yang refers to a concept originating in ancient Chinese philosophy where opposite forces are seen as interconnected and counterbalancing. The principle of yin and yang is that all things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites, for example, dark-light, north-south and old-young.

Social factors play a huge part in people’s mental wellbeing.

Poverty, deprivation, homelessness and poor housing have been found to directly contribute to mental ill health.

We explained in lesson 2 that relationship difficulties can cause mental health problems.
This also applies if someone you are close to has mental ill health. It can be very difficult to watch them struggle. The mental wellbeing of everyone involved is likely to suffer as a result.

There is a lot of false belief about mental illness.
Whilst a lot of work is being done to bust the myths and talk about mental health, some people still need educating!

Here we will look at the different types of mental health conditions, their causes and the effect they can have on people’s lives.

People with learning disabilities are at greater risk of mental ill health than the general population. When a person has mental health issues as well as a learning disability, this is called a dual diagnosis.

There are lots of ways of getting help for mental illness. We are all talking about it much more and people are becoming more able to seek help.

We can support people to keep well and avoid or lessen mental health problems by encouraging the following things:

The Mental Health Act 1983 (updated 2007) is the law in England and Wales which tells people with mental health problems what their rights are regarding:

Use agreed processes to monitor mental health and support appropriately.
Early detection of problems can lead to a much better outcome for the individual. As with most situations in care work, it is important to understand what is normal for each individual you work with so you can identify any changes.

If you are working with an individual you do not know well or have never worked with before, the care or support plan will provide you with relevant information. You may also receive information from the handover process from your colleagues or the care coordinator.

Record and report on support for mental health in agreed ways.
We must always report on any changes to someone who is experiencing (or at risk from) suffering mental illness. There are risks if we do not do this. If you see any changes in a person, report them to your manager and the appropriate professionals.