I have mental health

[Makeitmakesensetoday]

Not a goady thread at all, genuinely do not understand the terminology but I see it on mumsnet and elsewhere a lot.

People say 'I have mental health' but to me this seems like an unfinished sentence.... should end with 'issues/problems/conditions' etc.

We'd never say 'I have physical health' we would say I have physical health conditions and then maybe discuss them if relevant.

Where did this phrase come from? I'm quite an open person so I'd probably say 'I have depression' but for those that just say 'I have mental health' why do you say it? It makes no sense. Health is something we all have - health problems or conditions we may not all have?!

YABU 'I have mental health' makes sense
YANBU you're right it makes no sense

Maybe I've missed it but I've actually never seen this on Mumsnet. I've seen 'I have mental health problems' which makes sense

I agree, the sentence is hanging without something on the end of it...but I've not seen it written without 'problems' on the end on MN

You are right. This phrasing makes no sense. (No voting on the app)

I have NEVER heard anyone say 'I have mental health.' Who SAYS that?

Can you link to a thread where someone has said this @Makeitmakesensetoday ?

This drives me absolutely insane

I agree it's a weird thing to say but it's just one of those things that has become a phrase for meaning having poor mental health.

Yes, it makes no sense just to say 'I've got mental health'.

I suspect that in most cases on Mumsnet, though, if people are saying that, it's just because they're typing fast and accidentally missed out a word.

I have only ever once heard it said by someone in normal conversation and it was by someone who also has learning difficulties and struggles to express herself articulately anyway.

Yes! I’ve not seen it on mumsnet but have heard it in real life/on tv.

We all have mental health but not all of our mental health is impacted so you need to actually give some context. “I suffer with my mental health” makes sense - but not just “I have mental health”

We ALL have mental health - some of us have poor mental health, some of us have good mental health, but we all have it. So, as a sentence, it makes sense. It's like saying "I have feet" - most of us do. When it is unreasonable is when people use it to denote mental health issues or problems - because then it definitely doesn't make sense.

I've never once heard or seen that either, apart from this post.

Everyone has mental health. It usually goes in the same sentence as Iv for I've.

I have seen it on Fit Notes at work. They are suffering from mental health. Apart from being completely stupid it tells me nothing about how I can help.

I've just read a thread on AIBU that mentions this. Is about being registered disabled and the first post says 'I have mental health'

I dont know how to link to it.

I see it a lot on Social Media and often think the same! It's not a complete sentence.

I've seen the thread you're referring to OP and to be honest I think it's just a typo as she has abbreviated to MH as well.

It's not a phrase I've ever heard or seen written here without 'problems' or 'issues' at the end of it?

As a therapist this phrase makes my toes curl 🙈 awful phrase 😂

I havent seen it, but it feels the same as those who say "my child IS ASD", or "IS ADHD". It makes no sense and is reaaaaally grating.

It's not! Not a typo. It's an intentional phrase that people are using sometimes these days and I can't figure it out.

You are right, it is an uneducated and silly way to refer to having problems.

I agree OP!

I've also seen 'my mental health was through the roof'.

Oh yes I see that loads on mumsnet!! Never heard anyone say anything like that in real life though.

I've never seen or heard this either 🤔

This annoys me too - I deal with members of the public and hear it ALL THE TIME.

I have to bite my tongue wanting to correct them as it really wouldn't help their situation if I did!

I've seen it a few times here but lots IRL. I auto complete it in my head now because it feels so wrong and incomplete.

Completely agree, see it being misused often - you don’t have mental health, you have mental illness.