What Is Mental Health? And Why Are So Many of Us Struggling?

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Mental health.

Two small words. But they carry the weight of our world.

We’re in a crisis. And we need to talk about it—loudly, honestly, and without shame.

Because too many of us are hanging on by a thread.

And too many more are falling through the cracks.

What Is Mental Health, Really?

Mental health isn’t just about diagnoses, medications, or therapy sessions.

It’s about how we feel—about ourselves, about life, about our place in the world.

It shapes how we cope, how we connect, and how we carry on.

Good mental health doesn’t mean smiling through the pain.

It means having the strength, the space, and the support to get through it.

But what happens when life becomes unmanageable—

and that support just isn’t there?

Why Are So Many of Us Struggling?

A better question might be: how could we not?

We’re not just “tired.”

We’re burnt out. Broken. Stretched beyond our limits.

Here’s why:

The cost of living is crushing us.

People are choosing between heating their homes and feeding their kids.

Mental health services are overwhelmed.

Waiting lists stretch into years.

And that’s if you’re even taken seriously.

Parents of children with additional needs are exhausted.

Left to fight impossible battles - against broken systems, endless red tape, and zero support.

Social media is warping our brains.

A constant feed of filtered lives, fake smiles, and silent suffering.

And then came the pandemic.

The Pandemic Changed Everything

March 2020.

The world stopped.

And for many of us, our minds broke open.

We were locked in. Grieving alone.

Isolated. Anxious. Afraid.

Our children lost their safe spaces.

Our elderly died without goodbyes.

We were told to “stay strong.”

But how do you stay strong when everything feels like it’s falling apart?

This wasn’t just a health emergency.

It was a mental health earthquake - and the aftershocks are still shaking us today.

The Signs We Miss - Until It’s Too Late

Mental health struggles don’t always look like a cry for help.

They look like:

• Canceling plans.

• Snapping at your kids.

• Sitting in your car just to breathe.

They look like smiling at work while quietly breaking inside.

It can feel like:

• Persistent sadness or hopelessness

• Angry outbursts or emotional numbness

• Panic attacks in the supermarket

• Sleepless nights - or not wanting to get out of bed

• Overeating or no appetite at all

• Feeling like you’re failing at everything

• Wanting to disappear, even just for a while

If any of this sounds like you, you are not alone.

You are not broken.

You are human.

And you deserve help.

This Is a Call to Action

We need to stop whispering about mental health like it’s a dirty secret.

We need to stop telling people to “man up” or “get over it.”

We need to stop waiting for breaking points before we care.

Mental health is health. Full stop.

We need:

• More funding

• More support

• More empathy

And we need:

• Less judgment

• Less shame

• Less silence

To the NHS Workers: We See You

To the nurses holding hands at 3am.

To the GPs fighting for referrals.

To the mental health teams doing the impossible with no resources:

Thank you.

You carry this country on your backs.

You deserve more than applause.

You deserve backup.

Final Word: You Matter. Always.

If you’re struggling, please - don’t wait for the breaking point.

• Call a friend.

• Talk to your GP.

• Message a helpline.

• Book that therapy session.

Your mental health matters.

You matter. Full stop.

Need Support? You’re Not Alone.

UK Helplines:

• Mind: 0300 123 3393 / mind.org.uk

• Samaritans: 116 123 (24/7, free)

• Shout: Text “SHOUT” to 85258

• NHS Urgent Mental Health Help: Call 111 / nhs.uk

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Deanna Newell Family Law

Advocacy for truth-tellers, survivors, and the children who deserve better