If you are concerned about or struggling with mental health or know somebody who is, this resource will help you better understand mental health. Know more about mental health and get help if needed. You are not alone.
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 choices.
Mental health is defined as the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to change and to cope with adversity.
Mental health is an important topic for everyone. Whether we are thriving or struggling, it is important to reflect on how we are doing. Even though we may be thriving in a season of life, it does not mean that we always will be. On the contrary, seasons of struggling with mental health will not last forever with the proper care and support.
What Causes Mental Health Problems?2
There is no single cause for mental health struggles. A number of factors can contribute to risk for mental health conditions, such as:
- Early adverse life experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse
- 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
- Life stressors such as financial difficulties, unhealthy relationships, or instability in the home
Symptoms of Mental Health Problems?3
The following are signs that you or a loved one may want to speak to a medical or mental health professional. It is especially important to pay attention to sudden changes in thoughts and behaviors. Also keep in mind that the onset of several of the symptoms below, and not just any one change, may indicate a problem that should be assessed. The symptoms below should not be due to recent substance use or another medical condition.
- Confused thinking
- Prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
- Mood swings (feelings of extreme highs and lows)
- Excessive fears, worries, and anxieties
- Social withdrawal
- Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Strong feelings of anger
- Strange thoughts (delusions)
- Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there (hallucinations)
- Growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
- Suicidal thoughts
- Substance use
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Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions in the U.S.
Many people think that mental health problems are rare, but it is in fact very common. If someone you know is struggling with mental health, they should know they are not alone and it is healthy to talk about their struggles.
- 1 in 4 adults experiences a diagnosable mental health condition in a given year4
- 1 in 5 youth ages 13-18 experiences a severe mental health condition at some point during their life4
- 46% of people will experience a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life5
- African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans utilized mental health services at about half the rate of Caucasian-Americans in the past year6
- 60% of all adults and approximately 50% of all youth ages 8-15 with a mental health condition received no mental health services in the previous year6
- Approximately 6.7% of American adults – about 14.8 million people – live with major depression6
- Approximately 18.1% of American adults – about 42 million people – live with anxiety6
