What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects the way we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Mental health is important at all stages of life, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood.

Throughout your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior may be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry.

Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse.

Family history of mental health problems

Mental health problems are common, but help is available. People with mental health problems can improve, and many make a full recovery.

Early warning signs

Not sure if you or someone you know has mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem:

Eating or sleeping too much or too little

Get away from usual people and activities

Have little or no energy

Feeling numb or like nothing matters

Have unexplained aches and pains.

Feeling helpless or hopeless

Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual

Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, nervous, angry, upset, worried, or scared

Yelling or fighting with family and friends.

Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships.

Having persistent thoughts and memories that you can't get out of your head.

Hearing voices or believing things that are not true.

Thinking of harming yourself or others

Inability to perform daily tasks such as taking care of your children or going to work or school

Mental health and wellness

Positive mental health enables people to:

Realize your full potential

Coping with the stress of life

Work productively

Make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Ways to maintain positive mental health include:

Get professional help if you need it

Connecting with others

Stay positive

Do physical activity

Helping others

Get enough sleep

Develop coping skills

Common mental health disorders

The most common types of mental illness are:

anxiety disorders

mood disorders

schizophrenia disorders

Anxiety disorders

According to the American Anxiety and Depression Association, anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness.

People with these conditions have severe fear or anxiety, which is related to certain objects or situations. Most people with an anxiety disorder will try to avoid exposure to whatever is causing them anxiety.

Examples of anxiety disorders include:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

The American Psychiatric Association defines GAD as a disproportionate concern that disrupts everyday life.

People can also experience physical symptoms, including

restlessness

fatigue

tense muscles

interrupted sleep

An anxiety symptom attack does not necessarily need a specific trigger in people with GAD.

They may experience excessive anxiety when encountering everyday situations that do not present a direct danger, such as housework or appointments. A person with GAD can sometimes feel anxiety without any triggers.

Panic disorders

People with panic disorder experience regular panic attacks, which involve sudden, overwhelming terror or a sense of impending disaster and death.

Phobias

There are different types of phobia:

Simple phobias: may involve a disproportionate fear of specific objects, settings, or animals. The fear of spiders is a common example. Learn more about simple phobias here.

Social Phobia: Sometimes known as social anxiety, it is the fear of being subject to the judgment of others. People with social phobia often restrict their exposure to social settings. Find out more here.

Agoraphobia: This term refers to the fear of situations in which escape can be difficult, such as being in an elevator or a moving train. Many people misinterpret this phobia as a fear of being outdoors. Read all about agoraphobia here.

Phobias are deeply personal, and doctors don't know all the types. There can be thousands of phobias, and what may seem unusual to one person may be a serious problem that dominates the daily life of another.

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

People with OCD have obsessions and compulsions. In other words, they experience constant, stressful thoughts and a powerful urge to perform repetitive acts, such as washing their hands.

Learn more about OCD here.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder can occur after a person experiences or witnesses a deeply stressful or traumatic event.

During these types of events, the person thinks that his or other people's life is in danger. They may feel scared or have no control over what is happening.

These feelings of trauma and fear can contribute to PTSD.

Find out how to recognize and treat PTSD.

Mood disorders

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

People with these conditions have significant mood swings, usually involving mania, which is a period of high energy and euphoria, 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 she previously enjoyed. They may feel long periods of sadness or extreme sadness.

Bipolar Disorder: A person with bipolar disorder experiences unusual changes in their mood, energy levels, activity levels, and ability to carry on with daily life. The periods of good mood are known as manic phases, while the depressive phases cause a low mood. Read more about the different types of bipolar here.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Reducing daylight triggers during the fall, winter, and early spring months trigger this type of major depression. It is more common in countries far from the equator. Learn more about SAD here.

Schizophrenia disorders

Mental health authorities are still trying to determine whether schizophrenia is a single disorder or a group of related illnesses. It is a very complex condition.

Signs of schizophrenia typically develop between the ages of 16 and 30, according to the NIMH. The individual will have thoughts that appear fragmented and may also have difficulty processing information.

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

I am looking for Mental Health | Help For Someone Else Mental Health Is A Critical Part Of Overall Health. If You are feeling distressed, There Is a hope.

What best describes the person you care about?

The person I care about has no concern at this time, but would like to be mentally healthy.

1. Encourage them to monitor their mental health regularly by taking one of our nine validated screens.

2. Learn ways to live well and stay well. Follow these tips yourself or share them with the person you care about.

Why is mental health important?

Some people think that only people with mental illness should pay attention to their mental health.

But the truth is, your emotions, thoughts, and attitudes affect your energy, productivity, and overall health. Good mental health strengthens your ability to cope with everyday problems and the most serious crises and challenges. Good mental health is essential to creating the life you want.

Just like brushing your teeth or getting a flu shot, you can take steps to promote your mental health. A great way to start is by learning how to deal with stress.

How stress hurts

Stress can eat away at your well-being like acid devours your stomach. In reality, stress can contribute to stomach aches and many other problems, such as:

Headaches

insomnia

Eat excessively

Back pain

High blood pressure

irritability

vulnerability to infection

Stress can also lead to serious mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety disorders. If you think you have such a problem, you can get help.

Of course, you can't magically eliminate all sources of stress. But you can learn to deal with them in a way that promotes the well-being you want and deserve.

Learn more about how stress really hurts.

The evidence

The concrete steps we suggest are not based on guesswork, fads, or advice from Grandma (although she probably got a lot right). They represent hundreds of research studies with thousands of participants, often conducted over decades and endorsed by major universities or government agencies.

This research shows that how well you feel is largely up to you. No matter how stressful your situation is, you can take steps to promote your well-being.

We are not talking about big changes in your lifestyle either. We are talking about sensible steps that, if used consistently, can increase your comfort and increase your ability to build a rewarding life.

About the Live Your Life Well Campaign

Mental Health America is the nation's leading non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health. We have worked with communities, families, schools, and individuals across the country to ensure that all people have the opportunity to thrive. Founded 100 years ago to improve the conditions of people with mental illness, we have worked tirelessly since then to promote understanding of anxiety disorders, depression, and other mental health issues. Our more than 200 affiliated offices serve veterans returning from war, victims of natural disasters, children at risk of substance abuse, and millions of others across the country.

We are now launching the Live Your Life Well campaign to provide tools to people like you who are stressed out by the many demands of modern life.

We want you to know that you can thrive even in the face of stress. We want you to know that you can build more of the life you want.

We also want you to know that your mental health is one of your greatest assets. It helps you focus on work, overcome obstacles, get along with those around you, and even fight illness. And there are simple and effective tools you can use to support this vital asset.

3. Educate yourself on risk factors and early warning signs.

4. Get tips to improve mental health.

The person I care about shows symptoms of a mental health condition. They are doing well at home, at work, or at school, but not as easy as before. Something is wrong."

Encourage them to take a mental health exam, print the results, and take them to a doctor or mental health provider.

Suggest our interactive "where to get help" feature.

Find an affiliate in your community. You can contact an affiliate as a stakeholder or encourage the person who cares to do so. There may be limits to what another person can share.

Learn more about mental health conditions. Educate yourself so you can be a good caregiver.

Find out about the different treatments.

Find a therapist.

Use this worksheet with a friend or loved one to think ahead and chart the steps they can take to get help and feel better.

If you are the parent of a child or adolescent who shows signs of a mental health problem:

Get tips for starting a conversation

Learn more about what to do and where to go

The person I care about is starting to have problems with family, friends, work, school, or other areas of her life. Things are getting worse and sometimes various problems develop.

Take a mental health test, print the results, and take them to a doctor. Or discuss the results with a close friend or family member.

Try our interactive "where to get help" feature.

Find your local MH

Find a therapist.

Find a support group.

Learn more about mental health conditions.

Find strategies to support a friend or loved one who is dealing with mental illness.

Things are getting bad for the person I care about. He or she seems to be losing control of their life and their ability to work, go to school, or be there for friends and family.

Call TALK or text if you are in crisis.

Find your local MH for services in your area.

Find a therapist.

Find a support group.

Plan for crisis situations by establishing a psychiatric advance directive.

Is hospitalization necessary?

What Is Mental Health? | Definition, common disorders, early signs

What is mental health?

Mental health and wellness

Common mental health disorders

The most common types of mental illness are:

I am looking for Mental Health | Help For Someone Else Mental Health Is A Critical Part Of Overall Health. If You are feeling distressed, There Is a hope.

What best describes the person you care about?

1. Encourage them to monitor their mental health regularly by taking one of our nine validated screens.

2. Learn ways to live well and stay well. Follow these tips yourself or share them with the person you care about.

3. Educate yourself on risk factors and early warning signs.

4. Get tips to improve mental health.

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