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Mental wellbeing

Feeling and functioning well

Mental wellbeing is about feeling well and also functioning well as an individual and in society. Your mental wellbeing changes throughout life depending on your experiences as an individual and within your family and community. Mental wellbeing includes:

  • Your feelings: Feeling happy, calm or peaceful supports your mental wellbeing.
  • Your functioning as an individual: Accepting yourself, believing your life has meaning, and having warm, supportive relationships with other people supports your mental wellbeing.
  • Your functioning with other people: Believing your life makes a difference and having a clear connection and understanding of your connection to society supports your mental wellbeing.

You can strengthen your mental wellbeing by reflecting on all of these - and by taking time to practice self-care, understand yourself and your needs, and build strong connections with other people.

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  Mental health: Yours, mine and ours

Waa maxay caafimaadka maskaxdu? Wax ka baro kala farqiga u dhexeeya caafimaadka maskaxda iyo jirrooyinka maskaxda, iyo muhiimadda ay leedahay taageeridda shaqada maskaxda ee wanaagsan qof walba.

What is mental health? Learn about the differences between mental health and mental illness, and the importance of supporting good mental functioning for everyone.

a video still of Cari Michaels
Caafimaadka Maskaxda: Adiga, Aniga & Kayaga
a video still of Cari Michaels
Mental health: Yours, mine and ours

Mental Flourishing

Mental Flourishing is about feeling good and functioning well. A person can flourish even with a mental illness diagnosis.


Mental Languishing is about feeling empty or stuck. It is different from depression and can improve with support.


Postpartum Mental Languishing is common, and includes a sense of disappointment and sometimes self-judgement. It can happen partly because of the messages and expectations society has about motherhood. Self-compassion, support support and mental flexibility can protect us against postpartum languishing.

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Reflection questions

  1. I know I am feeling well when:
  2. Signs that I am not feeling my best are:         
    1. I can share these signs with:
  3. What typically helps me feel better when I am overwhelmed?
  4. What is something I can do in 1/5/10 minutes to improve my mood?
  5. When I am feeling well, I feel _______ about motherhood.
  6. I am able to enjoy my baby when _______ (examples - when I feel rested, when I am alone with my baby, when we are in fresh air, etc.)  
  7. Three people who make me feel my best are:
  8. Name 1-2 people who can offer you support or help. What types of support or help can they provide? Remember that people want to be helpful and can offer different types of support (dropping off food or baby supplies, taking a walk with you, cleaning your house, helping you keep track of what you need, giving you a pep talk). Keep this list with you and reach out as needed. 
  9. Practice being in the present moment. Observe a flower or a piece of fruit. Describe its color, texture, smell, taste.

More resources