When it comes to our mental health, we are all different, and we all find ourselves affected by different things. However, there are a few things that are common negative influences on our mental health.

So, what are these influences, and how can we address them?

Money Worries

Being in debt is a common cause of many mental health conditions. 1 in 4 people who suffer from a mental health condition are also in debt, and those who are in serious debt are twice as likely to develop major depression. In fact, more than 3 million people in the UK have both mental health difficulties and money struggles.

There are a few practical steps you can take if you think that problems with debt are affecting your mental health. If you feel like you are someone who regular impulse buys, try removing any stored credit or debit card details from the devices you use to shop online.

Call a money advisor or get help from a dedicated debt service to help you sort out your finances in a way that works for you. Create a budget and find little ways to help you stick to it, with little rewards for yourself when you notice that you’ve met a goal. Most importantly, make sure you talk to someone if you’re still feeling particularly low.

Workplace Stress

Stress in the workplace can have a hugely negative impact on your mental health if it is left to build up over time. Sometimes work is stressful, and that is normal, but it when the stress becomes excessive that issues start to arise. In the workplace, things such as deadlines, larger workloads and expectations from managers and colleagues can all lead to increased stress. In fact, workplace stress accounted for 37% of all work-related illnesses between 2015 and 2016.

If you feel yourself struggling with stress and notice it putting a strain on your mental health, there are some things you can do to help combat this. Talking to people is the first one, whether that’s your colleagues, a manager or someone in HR, talking to someone might help you come up with solutions to help reduce our workload.

Practising mindfulness and getting regular exercise are also both great ways to reduce stress as mindfulness will help focus your mind and exercise will help with relaxation.

Toxic Relationships

Toxic relationships take many forms – toxic partners, toxic friendships, toxic parent/child relationships and even or toxic coworkers all fit the category of toxic when they fall under certain circumstances. Toxic relationships are often ones that show: insecurity, abuse of power, selfishness, criticism, dishonesty, distrust, demeaning comments and attitudes, and jealousy.

Relationships like this can often leave you feeling drained, hurt and insecure – all of which can have adverse effects on your mental health and lead to developing conditions like anxiety disorders and depression.

If you find yourself in this position, there are a few active steps you can take to improve these situations.  If you feel like you can take steps to save the relationship, try first talking about the problem. Let the other person know how you feel and why. If there is anything, your partner needs to know something you’ve not yet told them, now is the time to tell them. Try writing things down, if that is something that might help you, and remember that both of you are likely feeling heightened emotions and that passing blame is not the way to resolve conflict.