Welcome to well?
This edition of Well? has two central themes.
The first is the importance of mental health to our overall sense of health and well-being. The second is the positive mental health and well-being benefits that we can gain from getting involved, being active, helping others and making a contribution to our communities.
As we (and many others) have said before, mental health is everybody's business, just like physical health. It helps to underline the positive benefits of health and mental health to people's lives, and recognise that mental and physical health are a part of our day-to-day lives and human experience. For all of us.
But, there is a challenge and that is to get people everywhere to think more about and genuinely understand their mental health and that of others, as they do their physical health. The two are inextricably linked. It no longer helps to view them or define them separately. If we think about the choices we make in our lives, and how we choose to live our lives - these have both physical and mental health impacts. The food we eat - there are links between diet and our mental health and how we feel; whether we take regular exercise or not - we know from research that there are significant mental health benefits, as well as physical health benefits to taking regular exercise and being physically active.
We know that smoking not only adversely affects our physical and mental health, but the health and well-being of those around us. We also know that too much alcohol adversely affects our mood or behaviour, and we sometimes drink to 'drown our sorrows'. So instead of dealing with underlying problems, many people seek solace in alcohol. This brings with it even greater health risks, both physical and mental.
We're all human, but we do all need to be more aware of the importance of mental health in dealing more positively with our lives, and in making decisions and choices about our health and well-being.
In this issue we also explore the theme of making a contribution, being active and getting involved. Volunteering, helping others, showing empathy, being considerate, kind and compassionate are key to not just feeling better about ourselves, and enhancing our own sense of well-being, but as a way of helping to create the kind of communities, and the kind of Scotland we all wish to live in and be part of. A just, caring, tolerant, understanding and hopeful country, where the values of community and supporting others are a feature of our day-to-day lives.
I hope you find this edition of Well? informative, inspiring and thought-provoking. Please continue to give us your feedback, views and ideas.
Gregor Henderson, Director
National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being
well@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
What is the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being?
The Scottish Executive's National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being has the following vision: to help improve the mental health of everyone in Scotland; to improve the quality of life, well-being and social inclusion of people who experience mental illness or mental health problems. Both parts of this vision are fundamentally linked and achieving them requires understanding, commitment and action from everyone in Scotland.
The National Programme has four key aims:
- To raise awareness and promote positive mental health and well-being
- To eliminate stigma and discrimination around mental ill health
- To prevent suicide and support people bereaved by suicide
- To promote and support recovery from mental health problems and mental illness
The National Programme supports several initiatives which help achieve these aims, including:
Acknowledgements:
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this edition of Well?.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in Well? are not necessarily those of the National Programme or the Scottish Executive.
More information on these initiatives and the work of the National Programme can be found in this issue of Well? or visit the web site www.wellscotland.info
Well? is published every six months. If you would like to be included on the mailing list for future free editions contact the Well? team. Details are on the back cover.