This month we encourage people whose lives are stressful due to work or family pressure, who feel overwhelmed or those who feel like they are removed from society, the opportunity to understand the importance of mental health in our everyday lives and encourage people to seek help when needed.

Everybody reacts to pressure or incidents differently for no apparent reason.

When you have a reaction, recognise that everyone will experience something like this at some stage in their life and proactively look after yourself.

The latest mental health research shows that your brain is constantly rebuilding and rewiring itself, but this process is affected by how healthy the rest of your body is.  You should eat healthily, exercise regularly and sleep adequately.  These habits maintain your brain’s ‘happy chemicals’ and assist in a process called neurogenesis in which your brain replenishes brain cells.

And yes, alcohol does damage your brain cells’ structure but reducing your alcohol intake allows it to eventually recover.

People who have a network of friends and family do better under pressure.

Life is busy and you need to find time to maintain your relationships.

This can be difficult but picking up the phone to have a quick chat or arrange a catch up is well worth it in the long term. When you (or your significant other) notices mood or behaviour changes in yourself or others, take prompt action and look for help.

Mental health symptoms can become a downward spiral of negativity and other debilitating symptoms, so the quicker you address them the better. The most important ingredient in taking charge of your mental health is you.