PREVENTING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES IS POSSIBLE WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT


By Cliodhna Smith, Psychotherapist at Welcome Change Therapy.


There’s little doubt that some of us are more susceptible to mental ill-health than others; genetics, poverty, adverse childhood experiences, trauma, chronic physical illness and discrimination are just some of the factors known to seriously impact the likelihood of someone developing a diagnosable mental illness.


There are ways, however, to support more positive outcomes when mental illness presents and it’s not surprising that those people who receive a good level of support, generally have a better prognosis than those who try to go it alone or who have limited access to a network of support. Can we prevent mental illness? I would argue that in many cases, yes, we can.


Anyone who has spent time with babies will know that they are


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born with different temperaments. Our environment heavily influences how we view the world and how we experience it; place a ‘calm’ baby in a chaotic environment and you’ll soon see a distressed individual, and if you leave them there long enough, they will soon learn that the world can be unpredictable and that they need to be in a regular state of alert. Conversely, if you place an anxious baby in a calm and safe environment, they will soon learn how to self-soothe from an


appropriately-responsive caregiver. How we respond to children, how we behave around them and how we talk about the world, form the building blocks of who they become. Providing a secure base from which they can explore the world, equips them with the tools they will need for positive relationships as they grow into adults and navigate the complexities of relating to themselves, others and their environment. Without doubt, adults have a huge responsibility in guiding children safely through their


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