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The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2025) defines mental health as:
“a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to their community”.
The WHO’s 2021 definition of wellbeing describes it as:
“a positive state experienced by individuals and societies, encompassing quality of life and the ability to contribute to the world with meaning and purpose”.
Mental health and wellbeing are closely connected and are best understood as part of the same continuum, rather than as separate ideas. Good mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. In this guide, we use the term to describe a spectrum shaped by both risk and protective factors, and we draw on research, policy and learning from ABS partnerships to explore what supports positive mental health and wellbeing.
Mental health and wellbeing are influenced by a wide range of interacting factors, including social and environmental conditions such as poverty, violence, inequality and deprivation, as well as individual factors such as emotional skills, substance use and genetics. The WHO (2025) notes that risks can arise at any stage of life, with early childhood experiences especially significant, but protective factors can also be strengthened throughout life to build resilience and support wellbeing. These include positive relationships, social and emotional skills, quality education, decent work, safe neighbourhoods and strong community ties.
Contents of this guide
- Perinatal mental health awareness
- Explaining mental health
- Further resources to support parents and families
1. Perinatal mental health awareness
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Watch
Watch this video from A Better Start Southend about perinatal mental health awareness. It shares honest stories from parents and expert advice from health visitors, shining a light on what perinatal mental health looks like.
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Watch
Watch this series of videos from the Maternal Mental Health Alliance which explore what perinatal mental health is, and how to recognise signs of postnatal depression.
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Think about these questions:
- Did anything in these videos challenge or deepen your understanding of perinatal mental health?
- How aware do you think colleagues in your setting are of what perinatal mental health is, and how could you support a shared understanding among all staff?
- How do parents you work with tend to talk about or understand perinatal mental health?
- How can you make conversations about perinatal mental health feel more normal, safe and non-judgemental?
2. Explaining mental health
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Watch
Watch this video from The British Safety Council, which explains what mental health is.
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Think about these questions:
- How might you use a video like this with parents to support their understanding of mental health?
- Sometimes people find it hard to explain what mental health is – why do you think this is the case?
- What could you do you in your work with families to help parents understand mental health and wellbeing?
- What can you do to create a safe environment where people feel comfortable discussing mental health?
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3. Further resources to support parents and families
- Advice and examples of how to talk about your mental health, from the NHS campaign Every Mind Matters.
- Self-care tips from the charity Mind for pregnancy and after having a baby.