Mental wellbeing and lung health

Mental wellbeing is a state of being mentally well. When you are mentally well, you feel good, can cope well with daily life and respond well to challenges. Your mental wellbeing also includes how you feel about living with your lung condition.

If you have good mental wellbeing, you are more likely to be taking good care of yourself and managing your treatment well. You may feel more confident and able to take part in activities and relationships that bring meaning to your life.

When your mental wellbeing is bad or getting worse, you may find that yo lose interest in doing things you once enjoyed. You may feel more worried, stressed or overwhelmed, or find it harder to cope with daily life and the challenges of managing your condition.

Mental wellbeing is not about feeling happy all the time. It includes understanding your emotions, coping with challenges, maintaining relationships and taking part in activities that are meaningful to you.

Living with a lung condition can affect your mental wellbeing. You may experience changes in how you feel or find it harder to cope. This might be because:

• you find it harder to do the same activities that you did before you became ill
• you worry that you will not be able to breathe
• you feel frustrated if you now need regular medical treatment and more support from others, or
• you worry about the future with your lung condition.

Having a mental health condition may also affect your ability to cope with your lung condition. This might mean:

• feeling anxious about being out of breath, so you avoid exercise
• being depressed and not feeling able to take your medication, or
• avoiding social situations and feeling isolated.

This can create a cycle where symptoms, emotions and behaviours affect each other. If your symptoms are not well managed, this may make you feel worse and make it harder to cope with your condition.

Looking after your mental wellbeing is an important part of living well with a lung condition. Understanding how you are feeling and recognising changes in your wellbeing can help you take steps to support yourself and seek help when you need it.

It can be helpful to regularly check in with yourself by asking:

• How am I feeling?
• What do I need?
• What can I do?

The European Lung Foundation’s Mental Health Working Group has produced a Mental Health First Aid Kit to help you.

Many people only seek support when they feel overwhelmed. However, noticing changes in your wellbeing early can help you take steps to support yourself before things become more difficult.

Some signs that you may be struggling include:

• feeling more tired, irritable or overwhelmed than usual
• changes in your sleep
• finding it harder to concentrate
• withdrawing from family, friends or activities
• losing interest in things you usually enjoy
• finding it harder to cope with the demands of daily life.

Many people experience periods of stress, worry, frustration or low mood when living with a lung condition. These feelings are common and do not necessarily mean you have a mental illness. However, if they continue for a long time, become overwhelming or begin to affect your daily life, it may be time to seek additional support.

Approximately one in four of us will experience a mental illness at some point in our lives. Here we take a look at three conditions that might be more common for people with lung conditions.

Everyone is different and will have different needs, which your healthcare provider will discuss with you. If changes in your mental wellbeing are making daily life more difficult, there are a range of treatments and support options available.

Support for your mental wellbeing could include:

• Multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation. This has been found to be a very effective option for improving your mental wellbeing and physical health if you have a lung condition.
• Breathlessness Support Services, which can help improve mental wellbeing by supporting you to better manage and live with breathlessness.

Treatment options for mental disorders could include:

• Talking therapies with a counsellor or psychotherapist. This could include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which can help you manage thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Other therapies, such as exposure therapy or trauma-focused therapy, may be recommended for specific concerns.
• Medication such as antidepressants or anxiolytics. Doctors may discuss whether this is a treatment option and will work with you to find the right dosage to limit side-effects. If you are considering stopping antidepressants, speak to your healthcare professional first, as treatment usually needs to be reduced gradually.

You may be offered a combination of these treatments, and your healthcare team will work to find the best solution for you.

Having challenges with your mental health is common and nothing to be ashamed of. If you feel that you are struggling to cope, it is important to seek support early rather than waiting until things feel overwhelming.

Many people find it helpful to think about who they can turn to for support before they reach a crisis point. This could include trusted family members or friends, healthcare professionals, patient organisations, mental health professionals or local support services.

Talk to your healthcare provider about your options for finding support.

You could also:

• Find a support group for people living with your condition. This could be local to you, or an online community. Many people find it beneficial to talk to others who have similar experiences and to share practical advice and emotional support.
• Talk to your family and friends. Although they may not be living through the same experience, you can help them understand what it is like for you. You could discuss the ways in which they can help you and explain when you need your own space. They may also help you notice changes in your mood and recognise when you might need additional support, encouraging you to seek help if needed.
• Speak with a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, counsellor or therapist, if you would like additional support in managing your emotions and wellbeing.
• Ask your healthcare team whether pulmonary rehabilitation, breathlessness services, wellbeing programmes, or other local services are available, as these may help improve both your physical and emotional health.
• Connect with patient organisations working to support people with your condition. You may find that becoming actively involved with these organisations gives you the opportunity to connect while helping you feel supported, develop new skills, and keep your mind active as you work towards these shared goals.
• Explore relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or gentle activities that you enjoy, as these may help reduce stress and improve your overall wellbeing.
• Remember that asking for help is a sign of strength, and support is available if you need it.

“One thing I learned from my time spent networking with people from other patient organisations is the useful phrase – it is okay not to be okay. You have to allow yourself not to be okay at certain times in your life. It’s so difficult to be strong and cheerful and happy and okay all the time. You have to allow yourself to be in a bad mood. I have bad days sometimes – I don’t see anyone and they are days just for me. I cover myself in a blanket and stay home. I cry, I shout or I sleep if I have to. I allow myself not to do anything and then I wake up the next day and feel refreshed – it’s a new day and I almost feel reborn, I can be positive again and I feel like new.” Eleni

When to seek urgent support

If you experience thoughts of suicide, thoughts of harming yourself or feel unable to keep yourself safe, contact emergency services, an urgent healthcare service, or a crisis support line in your area.

Caring for someone can be stressful and affect mental wellbeing. This is a common experience and looking after your own mental health is important. If you notice changes in your wellbeing or signs that you may be struggling, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Taking time to care for yourself helps you continue to support the person you care for.

If you are caring for someone with a lung condition, it can be hard to know how best to do this. Everyone’s experience of mental wellbeing or mental health conditions is unique. Having open discussions about what can trigger negative moods, what the person finds helpful and what support they would like can be a good place to start. Try to have these conversations when you are both calm and able to talk openly.

Family members, friends and carers may also notice changes in mood, behaviour or daily routines before the person living with a lung condition does. If you are concerned, ask how they are feeling and what support they may need. Listening without judgement and encouraging professional support when needed can make a significant difference. Avoid making assumptions about how they are feeling and give them time to express themselves in their own way.

You may not always be able to solve the problem yourself, but you can help them find the right support and let them know you are there for them. Encourage them to speak to their healthcare provider if their symptoms are affecting their daily life or causing them distress.

Often listening is more important than giving advice. You could also offer to accompany them to appointments if they are worried about discussing their condition with a healthcare professional. Help them remember information from the appointment or assist them in preparing questions beforehand.

Remember that you do not have to manage everything on your own. If you are finding your caring role difficult, consider speaking with your own healthcare provider, joining a carers’ support group, or seeking advice from local support services.

Patient organisations

• Mental Health Europe
• GAMIAN-Europe
• You can search for lung health patient organisations on the ELF Patient Organisation Network directory

ELF resources

• Your lungs and exercise
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation

This page was published in 2026.