Congenital heart disease doesn’t just affect the body, it affects the mind, too. Mental health problems are very common in adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease, particularly anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

This increased risk of mental health problems is partly a consequence of the additional stressors that living with a serious lifelong medical condition can bring, but is also related to how our bodies regulate feelings of safety, risk and social connection from a biological perspective.

The sections below provide more information about these mental health problems and also give advice about online resources and where to get help.