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Mental Health

like physical health, is something we all have. It affects how we think, feel and act. It’s our sense of life satisfaction and purpose, connection, belonging and resilience.

We all have a state of mental health, and it varies. It can range from good to poor or anywhere in between, depending on our life experiences and phases in life.

Mental Illnesses Are Common

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illnesses each year. So, if you know five people, you know someone who lives with a mental illness, whether you realize it or not.

While not everyone has a mental illness, they don’t discriminate. Mental illnesses can affect anyone, no matter race, gender, age, occupation, religion or financial status.

Mental Illnesses Are

Treatable medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feelings, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.
Not imaginary. They’re very real and very common.
Diagnosed by a medical professional.
Conditions that can vary from mild to severe and have symptoms that can also vary based on available care and support to manage them.

The connection between mental health and mental illnesses

We all have a state of mental health, and some of us also have a mental illness.

What’s important to understand is: Having a mental illness doesn’t necessarily mean a person has poor mental health. Just as a person with poor mental health may not have a mental illness. However, stigma leads people to believe that everyone with a mental illness has poor mental health and poor management of their mental illness, but that certainly isn’t the case. People with a mental illness can thrive and live full, healthy and productive lives, as long as stigma doesn’t get in the way of them receiving the care and support they deserve.

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