ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the basics of mental health that are essential to understand mental health in the circus context. The beginning of the chapter emphasises the mental health continuum, which describes that levels of mental health range from mental illnesses and mental health problems to optimal levels of mental health and thriving. Then, three common mental illnesses that are relevant to circus artists are explained, namely depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. The chapter concludes with practical information that describes how to talk about mental health, how to support people who experience mental health problems, how to be culturally sensitive, and where to find professional mental health support.
