About Mental Health (2024)

About Mental Health (1)

What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.1 Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

About Mental Health (2)

Why is mental health important for overall health?

Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.2

About Mental Health (3)

Can your mental health change over time?

Yes, it’s important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors. When the demands placed on a person exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health could be impacted. For example, if someone is working long hours, caring for a relative, or experiencing economic hardship, they may experience poor mental health.

About Mental Health (4)

How common are mental illnesses?

Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States.

  • More than1 in 5 US adults live with a mental illness.
  • Over 1 in 5 youth (ages 13-18) either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.5
  • About 1 in 25 U.S. adults lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.6

About Mental Health (5)

What causes mental illness?

There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse (for example, child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc.)
  • Experiences related to other ongoing (chronic) medical conditions, such as a traumatic brain injury, cancer, or diabetes
  • Biological factors or chemical imbalances in the brain
  • Use of alcohol or drugs
  • Having feelings of loneliness or isolation
About Mental Health (2024)

FAQs

How does mental health impact your life? ›

Mental health conditions can cause difficulties in all aspects of life, including relationships with family, friends and community. They can result from or lead to problems at school and at work.

What are 5 ways to improve mental health? ›

5 steps to mental wellbeing
  • Connect with other people. Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. ...
  • Be physically active. Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. ...
  • Learn new skills. ...
  • Give to others. ...
  • Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

What are 5 facts about mental health? ›

Myth: Mental health issues can't affect me.
  • One in 5 American adults experienced a mental health condition in a given year.
  • One in 6 young people have experienced a major depressive episode.
  • One in 20 Americans have lived with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
Apr 24, 2023

Why is health mental important? ›

Why is mental health important for overall health? Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

What can poor mental health lead to? ›

Complications sometimes linked to mental illness include:
  • Unhappiness and decreased enjoyment of life.
  • Family conflicts.
  • Relationship difficulties.
  • Social isolation.
  • Problems with tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.
  • Missed work or school, or other problems related to work or school.
  • Legal and financial problems.
Dec 13, 2022

What is the hardest mental illness to live with? ›

What Is the Hardest Mental Illness to Live With?
  • Schizophrenia.
  • Severe Bipolar Disorder.
  • Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
  • Major Depression and Treatment-Resistant Depression.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Eating Disorders.
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • So, What is the hardest mental illness to live with?
Dec 29, 2023

How serious is mental health? ›

Without treatment, the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering. Untreated mental health conditions can result in unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide, and poor quality of life.

Who is most affected by mental health issues? ›

Women between the ages of 16 and 24 are almost three times as likely (26%) to experience a common mental health issue as males of the same age (9%). Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety as men. 25.7% of women and 9.7% of men aged 16 to 24 report having self-harmed at some point in their life.

What is good mental health? ›

Concepts in mental health. Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.

What illnesses are caused by stress? ›

Chronic stress is linked to other conditions, both psychological and physical. These can include: Diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome, Type II diabetes, and arthritis.

What are the 10 benefits of good mental health? ›

In this post, we will summarize the top 10 benefits of mental health therapy, including improved mental health symptoms and quality of life, improved physical health, improved coping strategies and resilience, improved problem-solving and decision-making skills, improved self-esteem and self-confidence, improved social ...

What are 3 impacts on your mental health? ›

Biological factors, e.g. physical health, genetics, diet, sleep, age. Psychological factors, e.g. beliefs, mental health diagnoses, perception, addictions. Social factors, e.g. relationships, family, culture, work, money, housing.

How does mental health affect one's success in life? ›

“This includes a sense of balance and empowerment to set boundaries and address life and work goals, step by step.” In addition to the impact that mental health has on your day-to-day life, serious mental health issues can affect your relationships, career, education and long-term goals.

How does mental health affect other people's lives? ›

Mental health conditions often has a 'ripple effect' on families, creating tension, uncertainty, stress and sometimes significant changes in how people live their lives. Different family members are likely to be affected in different ways.

How does health and well-being impact your life? ›

Better relationships: When you feel good about yourself, your interactions with others improve. More confidence: Achieving wellness goals related to health and fitness boosts self-esteem and self-efficacy. Stronger resilience: Prioritizing well-being equips you with resilience against life's challenges.

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