Mental and emotional wellbeing

Who likes being admitted to hospital? Almost everyone gets at least uneasy about having an operation. Anxiety like this is not going to cause complications, but it might slow down recovery after the operation. It can make it hard for people to concentrate and to understand medical information. That means that reducing anxiety does not just help you feel better. It also clears your head and makes it easier to understand what is happening. There is no cure-all for anxiety. But you can look for options that help you personally.

Grief and sadness are normal after a stroke. But some people will become clinically depressed. You can find out about the signs of depression in our fact sheet. And we also have information on treatment and support options for patients and caregivers.

Everyone expects new mothers to beam with joy and affection for their baby. But what happens if they feel very sad and distressed after giving birth instead, and this feeling does not go away? Postnatal depression is more than just baby blues, and it is more common than you might think. Find out what can help here.

Young people often feel sad, down or distressed. That's normal. Sometimes, though, it is more than normal blues: many children and young people get depressed. But depression can be prevented or at least recognised early.