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.

Although the terms are often used interchangeably, poor mental health and mental illness are not the same. A person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. Likewise, a person diagnosed with a mental illness can experience periods of physical, mental, and social well-being.


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


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.


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

More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.3
1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.4
1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.5
1 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.6
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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

Early adverse life 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 cancer or diabetes
Biological factors or chemical imbalances in the brain
Use of alcohol or drugs
Having feelings of loneliness or isolation

People can experience different types of mental illnesses or disorders, and they can often occur at the same time. Mental illnesses can occur over a short period of time or be episodic. This means that the mental illness comes and goes with discrete beginnings and ends. Mental illness can also be ongoing or long-lasting.

There are more than 200 types of mental illness. Examples of mental illnesses include:

a) anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder
b) mood disorders, including major depression and bipolar disorder (this also includes depressive moods that don’t meet the criteria for a primary mood disorder or depression)
c) schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (with psychotic symptoms), such as schizoaffective disorder and delusional disorder
d) personality disorders, such as antisocial personality and narcissistic personality.


What is mental health?
The is a very important question to ask, as mental health is a very important thing to maintain. There are many types of mental illness and disorders, with more being discovered every day. It is important to know when something that you are going through isn't normal behavior, as anything that affects your mood or how you function socially and psychologically can be considered a mental illness or disorder.

Always seek professional help when you experience signs and symptoms of a mental illness or disorder, as they are often treatable. Mental health is one of the most important aspects of overall health.