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Meet Anna – Mental Health Professional & Wellbeing Advocate

Anna is an experienced mental health professional dedicated to helping individuals navigate emotional challenges. With a focus on self-image, emotional regulation, and family dynamics, they work collaboratively with people to restore balance and confidence. Passionate about destigmatizing mental health, Anna also advocates for the power of creativity and mindfulness in enhancing emotional wellbeing.

What do you encounter in your work when it comes to mental health? Are there things you see often?
In my work as a mental health professional, I come across a wide variety of cases. I’m often the first point of contact for people and families who are struggling, so the issues we encounter are diverse. Sometimes it’s minor concerns, like stress or worries from work or school, but more often, the cases are complex, involving ongoing psychological, behavioral, or safety issues within families or individuals. My role includes clarifying and exploring the need for support, conducting assessments, and providing treatment. I primarily focus on mental health issues that individuals are experiencing themselves. What I frequently see are issues related to self-image—people who are insecure, have a negative view of themselves, or struggle to accept who they are. I also often see difficulties in emotion regulation—people who feel overwhelmed by their emotions, get angry or sad quickly, or have trouble recognizing, regulating, and expressing their feelings in healthy ways. These issues often come up in various contexts, and sometimes they’re intertwined with other challenges like family dynamics or social struggles. What I find both rewarding and challenging about my work is the collaboration with the person, their support system, and other professionals to find what is needed to restore balance and perspective.

If someone’s not feeling mentally well, what would you recommend as a first step?
I feel that our society is quite individualistic, which causes many people to keep their struggles to themselves, bottle up their emotions, and hesitate to seek help. We're often not used to talking about mental health, so it can feel isolating when you're going through something difficult. If someone isn’t feeling well mentally, my first recommendation is not to keep it to yourself. Talk about it with someone you trust—whether that’s a friend, family member, or mentor. Sharing how you feel often makes the weight of it feel lighter. It brings relief and opens up the chance to explore what might be helpful to feel better. If you don’t have someone in your circle who you feel comfortable confiding in, or if talking alone isn’t enough and you're feeling stuck, I recommend reaching out for professional help. You can contact your GP or a mental health professional who can refer you to more specialized care if needed. Many workplaces and schools also offer counseling services that provide confidential and low-threshold support. Additionally, there are anonymous helplines and chat services, where you can share your story in a safe environment.

What would you like to see change in how we deal with our emotional wellbeing?
I would love to see our society make more room for realism and compassion. There’s often a lot of pressure to perform, and a tendency toward perfectionism. Many people feel like they always have to do better, can’t make mistakes, or can’t show vulnerability, thinking that life needs to be flawless. They focus on what’s going wrong or what they’re not good at. I believe it’s much healthier to accept that life isn’t always under our control or mistake-free. Embracing our imperfections as part of life, and recognizing our strengths and talents, is key. It’s important to accept who we are and what we can do, and to make space for the things that give us joy and energy. Whether that’s a hobby, a sport, or simply taking time to relax, engaging in these activities can greatly improve emotional well-being. Gradually building these moments of joy can boost confidence and help people feel more centered.

What do you think art – or just being creative or doing something relaxing – can do for your emotional wellbeing?
Creativity can be a powerful emotional outlet. Sometimes words just aren’t enough to express what we're feeling. Creative activities—whether it’s drawing, painting, making music, or any other form—allow us to externalize our emotions, thoughts, and experiences. This can help people better understand and process their feelings, whether those are related to anxiety, sadness, or trauma. Additionally, creativity offers an opportunity to express something unique about yourself. This can strengthen self-esteem and contribute to a positive sense of identity.

Do you have something creative or relaxing that brings you joy when your mind feels too full?
As someone with an ADHD diagnosis, the feeling of having a “full” mind is familiar. My thoughts race, I overanalyze everything, and I’m constantly “on.” I also tend to overthink emotions rather than truly feeling them. This is something many people, whether or not they have ADHD, can relate to. And when you work in mental health, you're often processing other people’s emotions too, which makes creative and relaxing activities even more essential in maintaining my own well-being. For me, engaging in creative hobbies—like ceramics, drawing, or making music—along with practicing mindfulness, such as meditation and yoga, has become a form of self-care. These activities help quiet my busy brain, allowing me to focus on the present moment rather than constantly analyzing. Although the thoughts are still there, I try not to fixate on them, allowing them to be without judgment. Creativity and mindfulness also help me connect with my feelings in a more physical, sensory way, so instead of overanalyzing why I feel a certain way, I can just experience the feeling itself.