Question: Does how well we look after ourselves (what we eat and how much sleep we have etc) affect our mental health or likelihood of having a mental illness?

Lowri Evans answered on 11 Mar 2016:

Hello Amber,

That’s a brilliant question, and thank you for asking!

I think it’s no secret that looking after yourself can protect your mental health, and there’s lots of different factors. Take exercise for example. It doesn’t just control our weight and make us stronger, but it also helps our mental health. Exercise realeases these lovely things called “endorphins” which act to make us happier, which is why some people experience what’s known as a “runners high” during or after exercise.

Our diet can have a huge impact too. Research is showing quite often that healthy fats like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as the fat found in fruits like avocados, can boost our brain power and improve our mood. Brilliantly, dark chocolate can have the same benefits too 🙂

Another key thing for us to take into consideration is sleep. Most sleep experts say that we need to get between 7 and 9 hours sleep a night, but the most important thing is to sleep at regular times. This makes it much easier for the body to regulate it’s sleep/wake cycle, which has huge benefits for our mental health.

There’s no magic cure for mental health issues, but our lifestyle and how well we look after ourselves really affects how we feel. We can become our own best allies by leading a healthy lifestyle, and really reduce our risks of getting a mental health illness