TV presenter and journalist, Lynda Bryans, is the face of a running mental health television advertisement entitled, 'It's Me'. Having suffered from a mental health problem herself, it was felt that Ms Bryans was a particular strength as her involvement showed that mental health problems can affect anyone. She is also the face of an adult leaflet called, 'Looking after your mental health'.

The leaflet discusses the question, 'What is good mental health?' and suggests that having good mental health means feeling positive about yourself, being able to cope with everyday pressures and being able to form and maintain relationships.

"We accept the importance of looking after our physical health," the campaign leaflet suggests, "but, it's just as important to look after our mental health. In fact, poor mental health can lead to poor physical health.

"Anyone can suffer from poor mental health," the leaflet goes on. "It affects more people than you'd think - at least one in five of the population. When we think of poor mental health, we often think of certain conditions such as schizophrenia or depression. But, mental health problems also include common conditions that can affect us all, such as stress, anxiety and 'feeling down.

"A little bit of stress can be a good thing," the leaflet suggests, "but too much is bad for both your physical and mental health."

If you feel anxious, worried or overwhelmed by problems; notice changes in your sleeping or eating patterns; are angry for no reason; are finding it hard to concentrate or make decisions, then you've moved from stress to distress.

You can help yourself by taking some of the following positive steps:

*Keep active. Regular exercise can help you feel more positive.

*Get involved. Join a club, meet up with friends, do a course, learn something new.

* Accept yourself. We're all different and nobody's perfect.

* Relax. If too much business is getting you down, make time to relax and unwind. It's also important to get a good night's sleep.

* Drink in moderation. Overdoing it can make things worse.

* Eat healthily. It will help you feel better and give you more energy.

* Recognise the signs. Being mentally healthy means being able to deal with daily pressures. If you feel you can't cope, or are turning to alcohol or drugs to get by, you may have a problem you need help with.

* Ask for help. If you were feeling physically sick, you'd see a doctor; don't be embarrassed about seeking help for a mental health problem.

Having a mental health problem, the leaflet says, is no different to having a physical health problem.

"It's a matter of recognising the symptoms, finding a way of treating them and taking steps to prevent the problem happening again by looking after your mental health.

"Ignoring mental health problems in yourself or in others won't make them go away. In fact, it could make them get worse. Poor mental health is nothing to be afraid of, or embarrassed about. If you feel you have a problem, open up and talk about it. If you see the signs in others, encourage them to talk about it. Talk to a friend, talk to someone in your family or talk to your doctor. Look after your mental health."

For information about sources of help and support log on to www.mindingyourhead.info