It can be hard to know what to do with all these feels. Sometimes they’re up. And sometimes they’re down. That's completely normal. Recognizing what you're feeling is an important part of mental well‑being.

Everyone has ups and downs

• Our moods can fluctuate throughout the day.
• No one feels happy all the time.
• At times everyone feels overwhelmed and stressed.
• It is OK to feel angry or sad at times.

Why “the feels”?

We use “the feels” as a handy way to talk about all the different feelings we experience, and to describe the times we have a strong response to something that really affects us, whether that's emotional or physical, whether very personal or between us and friends.

This website is a way to explore these states of being to better understand yourself and others around you.

We have started with some of the topics we hear about the most:

Depression

It's more than just being sad. People generally don't choose to be depressed, and in the same way it isn't just a simple choice to get back out of depression.

Anxiety

It can be hard to describe the pressures and expectations you feel, but they sure are there.

Well-being

Your health is connected to all of the parts of your life: mental health, physical health, eating well, sleeping well, and exercise.

What is mental health stigma?

• Stigma refers to the negative way many people view those who have issues with their mental well-being.
• It involves labelling people with mental health issues as “lazy” or “faking it to get attention”.
• Self-stigma occurs when people agree with these negative stereotypes and try to hide their feelings
• Parents can sometimes feel even more stigmatized than kids. They may feel that they are at fault for their child’s mental health issues.
• Some kids want it to be known that they are seeking help, while others suffer in silence waiting for someone to notice.
• Parents may feel the behavior is typical for teens and minimize the significance of the situation, while others may over-react.
• If the youth or parent are concerned about a behavior it is important to talk with someone and check it out.

When should you look for help?

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you had a broken leg you would get it looked after. Getting help for difficulties you might be having with your thoughts, feelings and/or behavior is just as important.

It can be difficult to ask for help, but doing so is very brave. The first step is to let someone know how you are feeling. You could talk to a parent, friend, or another person such as a health care provider or a teacher.

If you feel like you could use some help, or are in a crisis, please check out the resources on the Help page!

Do you know someone who could use some help?

It can be hard to know what to do, but we've collected some ideas for you on the I Want To Help page. A very important thing is to let them know that you care and are there for them — even though you don't have any magic solution to their struggles!