Your questions answered: Peter Cockersell, St Mungo's Director of Programmes, answers your questions on mental illness and what St Mungo's is doing about it.

What do you mean by mental health or mental illness?

The World Health Organisation describes mental health as

"a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life...and is able to make a contribution to his or her community."

Few homeless people would pass this test.

A mental illness is a psychological or behavioural pattern that someone experiences which causes them distress or disability.