Mental health is something we often do not discuss openly.

Before you stop reading this and think ‘I’m fine, I don’t need to know this’, this article isn’t just about you it is also intended to raise awareness of how you can help and support others.

A standard question we ask others is ‘How are you?’ and the automatic reply we usually give is ‘I’m fine’, but the question is, are you / are they?

Are you / they genuinely, feeling fine or just giving the polite response thinking the other person doesn’t need to know how you / they are really feeling?

‘I’m Fine‘ is a great short video by the Mental Health Foundation.

Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled. Talking about your feelings isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s part of taking charge of your wellbeing and doing what you can to stay healthy.

When we talk more openly about how we are feeling and our mental health we start to share experiences and we realise we are not alone. Talking can help you start to feel better and sharing our problems can lead to a solution.

Talking to a family member, friend or colleague is a good start. Or you may wish to reach out to someone professional for advice – an independent voice?

Relationship advice from a Family Lawyer

If you are having negative feelings about your relationship with your partner or spouse, you may benefit from talking to a family law specialist or divorce coach. We are a team of dedicated family lawyers who are here to give you advice on matters of family law that may help you decide how to move on and into a better space emotionally or physically.

Our family lawyers have recently been further exploring the need for self-care during a relationship breakdown and the support available to you or your family.