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Mental Health

 

 

Key points

 

  • Mental health is a key component to overall health and is closely linked to physical health.
  • Factors at the individual, family, community, and society levels can influence mental health.
  • CDC promotes a public health approach to prevent mental health conditions before they develop or worsen.
  • If you live with a mental health condition or are experiencing mental distress, help is available.


Get help now‎

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.

 

Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7


Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741
Connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7

Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

 

Overview

 

Mental health is the component of behavioral health that includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Mental health is a state of well-being that enables us to cope with the stresses of life, realize our abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to our community.

 

Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health.

  • Mental health is closely linked to physical health.
  • For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical, long-lasting (chronic) conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for developing a mental health condition.
  • Addressing mental health and physical health needs can improve overall health.

Mental health is not simply the absence of a mental health condition—it is also about the presence of well-being and the ability to thrive.

  • Many factors influence our ability to thrive and experience optimal well-being, such as family and community relationships, access to opportunities, and environmental circumstances.
  • You can experience positive well-being even if you are living with a mental health condition. Having access to effective treatment that helps to manage symptoms along with presence of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments can help.
  • People who don't have a mental health condition may still face challenges to their mental health.

 

Taking care of our mental health is important at every stage of life.

  • Early and middle childhood (birth-11 years old): Mental health in childhood includes reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Children who experience good mental health have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, socially, and in their communities.
  • Adolescence (12-17 years old): Adolescence is a unique and formative time when many health behaviors and habits are established and carry over into adult years. Adolescence is also a time of important developmental changes. Physical, emotional, and social challenges, including exposure to poverty or violence, can make adolescents vulnerable to mental health problems.
  • Young adulthood (18-26 years old): Early adulthood can come with major transitions such as entering college and the workforce, securing housing, or starting a family. Positive mental health and well-being in young adulthood can help young people meet these transitional changes successfully.
  • Middle adulthood (27-64 years old): In middle adulthood, adults may face life stressors related to jobs, parenting, care giving, and relationships.
  • Older adulthood (65+ years old): As people age, they may experience life changes that impact their mental health, such as retirement, coping with a serious illness, or losing a loved one. Some may experience feelings of grief, social isolation, or loneliness.

     

Risk factors

 

Mental health is influenced by many factors at multiple levels—individual, family, community, and society. Risk factors increase the possibility of experiencing poor mental health while protective factors increase the possibility of experiencing positive mental health.

 

Examples of risk factors

  • Social drivers such as experiencing interpersonal and institutional discrimination
  • Lack of access to housing, healthcare, education
  • Lack of access to employment and economic opportunities
  • Adverse childhood experiences and other types of interpersonal violence
  • Social isolation
  • Poor emotional well-being or coping skills
  • Ongoing or chronic medical conditions, such as a traumatic brain injury, cancer, or diabetes
  • Use of alcohol or drugs

 

Examples of protective factors

  • Access to quality employment, housing, education
  • Strong social connection and stable, positive relationships
  • Positive coping skills
  • Living in safe communities with access to preventive care and mental and physical health services

Not all people who are exposed to a risk factor experience mental distress. Risk factors for mental distress may differ from risk factors for mental health conditions. People with no known risk factors may still experience mental distress, and some may also develop a mental health condition. However, studies have shown we can improve overall mental health if we work collectively at all levels to reduce risk factors while promoting protective factors. In addition, preventing risk factors and promoting protective factors are especially impactful for mental and physical health during critical developmental stages, such as in childhood and adolescence.

 

Types of mental health disorders

 

Healthcare professionals group mental health disorders according to the features they have in common.

They include:

  • anxiety disorders
  • mood disorders
  • schizophrenia disorders

Anxiety disorders

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders.

People with these conditions have severe fear or anxiety related to certain objects or situations. Most people with an anxiety disorder try to avoid exposure to whatever triggers their anxiety.

Below are some examples of anxiety disorders.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves excessive worry or fear that disrupts everyday living.

People may also experience physical symptoms, including:

  • restlessness
  • fatigue
  • poor concentration
  • tense muscles
  • interrupted sleep

Anxiety symptoms do not always have a specific trigger in people with GAD.

They may experience excessive anxiety when encountering everyday situations that do not pose a direct danger, such as chores or appointments. A person with GAD may sometimes feel anxiety with no trigger at all.

Panic disorder

People with panic disorder experience regular panic attacks involving sudden, overwhelming terror or a sense of imminent disaster and death.

Phobias

There are many types of phobias, and what may seem typical to one person might be a severe problem that dominates daily life for another.

Different types include:

  • Simple phobias: These may involve a disproportionate fear of specific objects, scenarios, or animals. A fear of spiders is a typical example.
  • Social phobia: Sometimes known as social anxiety, this is a fear of being watched or judged by others. People with social phobia often restrict their exposure to social environments.
  • Agoraphobia: The term “agoraphobia” refers to a fear of situations where getting away may be difficult, such as being in an elevator or a moving train. People sometimes misunderstand this phobia as a fear of being outside.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may experience constant, stressful thoughts and an urge to perform repetitive acts, such as hand washing.

PTSD

PTSD can occur after a person experiences or witnesses a stressful or traumatic event. During this type of event, the person thinks their life or other people’s lives are in danger. They may feel afraid or that they have no control over what is happening.

These sensations of trauma and fear may then contribute to PTSD.

Mood disorders

People may also refer to mood disorders as affective disorders or depressive disorders.

People with these conditions have significant mood changes, generally involving either mania, a period of high energy and joy, or depression. Examples of mood disorders include:

  • Major depression: An individual with major depression experiences a constant low mood and loses interest in activities and events that they previously enjoyed (anhedonia). They may feel prolonged periods of sadness or extreme sadness.
  • Bipolar disorder: A person with bipolar disorder experiences unusual changes in their mood, energy levels, levels of activity, and ability to continue with daily life. Periods of high mood are known as manic phases, while depressive phases bring on low mood.
  • Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Reduced daylight during the fall, winter, and early spring months triggers SAD, a type of major depression. It is most common in countries far from the equator.

Schizophrenia disorders

The term “schizophrenia” often refers to a spectrum of disorders characterized by features of psychosis and other severe symptoms. These are highly complex conditions.

According to the NIMH, signs of schizophrenia typically develop between the ages of 16 and 30. A person will have thoughts that appear fragmented, and may also find it hard to process information.

Schizophrenia has negative and positive symptoms. Positive symptoms include delusions, thought disorders, and hallucinations, while withdrawal, lack of motivation, and a flat or inappropriate mood are examples of negative symptoms.

 

Early signs

 

No physical test or scan reliably indicates whether a person has developed a mental health condition.

However, people should look out for the following as possible signs:

  • withdrawing from friends, family, and colleagues
  • avoiding activities they would usually enjoy
  • sleeping too much or too little
  • eating too much or too little
  • feeling hopeless
  • having consistently low energy
  • using mood-altering substances, including alcohol and nicotine, more frequently
  • displaying negative emotions
  • being confused
  • being unable to complete daily tasks, such as getting to work or cooking a meal
  • having persistent thoughts or memories that reappear regularly
  • thinking of causing physical harm to themselves or others
  • hearing voices
  • experiencing delusions

 

Myths vs. facts about mental health

 

There are several commonly held misconceptions about mental health. Here are some examples:

Myth Fact
A person with a mental health condition has low intelligence. Mental health disorders can affect anybody regardless of intelligence, income, or social status.
Teenagers do not have mental health issues. They have changes in their mood due to their fluctuating hormones. While teenagers may often have mood changes, it does not mean they do not have mental health conditions. Half of all mental health conditions begin by the age of 14.
People with mental health conditions are dangerous, violent, and unpredictable. Crimes committed by people with serious mental health disorders make up only 5% of all violent crimes.
Psychiatric medications are harmful. Mental health conditions, like other health conditions, are real. A healthcare professional may prescribe medication to help people manage their symptoms and day-to-day life.
People with bipolar disorder are moody. Bipolar disorder cycles can last from weeks to months and do not change quickly. However, changes in a person’s state of emotion may happen quickly.
A person with a mental health condition is weak. Such conditions would not affect strong people. Having a mental health condition is not related to choice or willpower. Anyone can have a mental health condition.
Bad parenting causes adolescents to have mental health conditions. Many adverse experiences and factors may influence a person’s mental health and well-being. Relationships with parents and guardians are just one factor. A person living in a supportive, loving home can experience similar mental health disorders to someone living in a home with caregivers who need support to provide a safe environment.
People with mental health needs cannot keep and perform well in a job. People with mental health conditions can perform well at work, especially in a workplace that supports and promotes mental well-being.

 

Mental health facts

 

For people who experience mental health symptoms that are serious, persistent, and interfere with daily functioning, it may indicate the presence of a mental health condition.

Mental health conditions are among the most common health conditions in the United States. Common mental health conditions include major depressive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, panic disorder, and others.

  • Nearly one in 4 U.S. adults (58.7 million people) live with a mental health condition.
  • Nearly one in 20 U.S. adults (14.6 million people) live with a serious mental health condition—for example, schizophrenia, bipolar, or major depression—that significantly interferes with the ability to carry out life's activities.
  • 1 in 7 children ages 3 to 17 (8 million children) has a current, diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition.

A person may experience multiple mental health conditions at the same time. Mental health conditions can be present for a short period of time or last for a long time. There is no single cause for developing a mental health condition. People living with a mental health condition can get better, recover, and thrive. Whether you live with a mental health condition or are experiencing mental distress, help and support are available. Treatments are available for mental health conditions, and treatment can help reduce the symptoms and severity of mental health conditions. Some mental health conditions can also be prevented.

 

Steps to help maintain mental well-being

 

According to the NIMH, the following steps can help a person manage their mental health by reducing their risk of illness, increasing energy levels, and controlling stress:

  • Regular exercise: Exercising for 45 minutes three to five times a week can help improve a person’s mental health.
  • Eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated: This can help a person maintain a constant supply of energy throughout the day.
  • Aim for good-quality sleep: A 2021 review found that significant improvements in sleep quality led to greater improvements in mental health.
  • Perform relaxing activities: Breathing exercises, meditation, wellness apps, and journaling can help reduce stress and improve overall health and well-being.
  • Practice mindfulness and gratitude: A person can identify and note things they are grateful for at the end of each day.
  • Look for positive social interactions: Connecting with people and maintaining meaningful relationships can help reduce stress and be a source of support and practical help in times of need.

 

 

!!! Help is out there !!!

 

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

 

 


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Copyright © 2000 - 2025    K. Kerr

Most recent revision April 21, 2025 06:39:58 PM