Understanding Mental Health

Overview

Caring for your health and well-being involves paying attention to the needs of both your body, and mind – they are connected parts that make up your complete self. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines ‘health’ as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being,” and not merely absence of physical disease. The interaction of both physical and mental health is important to consider, since the comorbidity (or co-occurrence) of both mental disorders and medical conditions is greatly connected. In fact, 68 percent of adults with a mental disorder also have a medical condition, and 29 percent of adults with medical conditions also have mental disorders, according to research from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation  (p. 4) in 2011. Mental illnesses span a wide range of conditions, each often existing on a spectrum, making it difficult at times to diagnose and treat if not assessed and handled carefully by an experienced mental healthcare professional. What some may not know is that mental illnesses are actually quite common: the National Institute on Mental Health reports that about one in five adults (about 44.7 million in 2016) will have a mental illness in any given year, beginning at any age, but often presenting itself earlier in life. And in 2014, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAHMSA) found that 21.5 million adults (8.1 percent) had a substance use disorder (p. 5). With mental illnesses impacting so many at any point in one’s life, understanding and evaluating our mental health and its connection to our overall well-being is an essential part of caring for ourselves.

What does it mean to be mentally healthy?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defines mental health as our “emotional, psychological, and social well-being,” as it impacts our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Research has found that many factors can affect our mental health, including biological predispositions (like genes and brain chemistry), individual life experiences, and a family history of mental illness. The quality of our mental health can also influence how we interact with others, how we make decisions, and how we handle stress, so it is important to care for our mental health at every stage of life.

Caring for your mental health

Paying attention to symptoms and implementing a regular mindset of staying mentally healthy is crucial for caring for your overall health. Nonprofit Transamerica Institute and its Transamerica Center for Health Studies 2018 survey Stressed Out: Americans and Healthcare, found that, when asked what their most important health related priorities are right now, people's top response was “self-care – taking actions to care for my physical, mental, and emotional health” (55 percent). It is also important to know the elements of being mentally healthy, and know the signs that may indicate the need for assessing your mental health. To be mentally healthy or have positive mental health means functioning in daily activities that result in fulfilling relationships, working productively, coping with the stresses of life, and being able to realize one’s own potential. Other elements of maintaining a healthy mental state include:

• Getting enough sleep
• Developing effective and healthy coping skills
• Connecting with and helping others
• Being physically active and maintaining a balanced diet

Signs and symptoms of mental illnesses will of course vary, but paying regular attention to your mental state and addressing its importance as you would with any health-related concern is part of maintaining your overall health. If you find that some areas of your mental health could need improvement, even if you do not suspect a mental illness, taking a step back to be mindful and addressing your daily needs can make all the difference on your quality of life.

This guide aims to get individuals to consciously evaluate their mental health and give them a starting point to learn how they can best address their mental healthcare needs.