Understanding Mental Health

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Overview

Almost 6 in 10 people (58%) in the United States are concerned about their mental health, and 42% often feel anxious and depressed. Yet, only 20% indicate they are seeking mental health support consistently when needed, according to research findings from nonprofit Transamerica Institute. To help address this issue, this guide has been created to help educate people about mental health and how to access support. 

Always consult a medical professional for any mental health related concerns.  

What is Mental Health & Mental Illness? 

Caring for our health and well-being involves attending to the needs of both our body and mind. Our physical and mental health interact to allow us to function on a daily basis, so it is important to always consider both. Mental illnesses span a wide range of conditions, symptoms, and experiences, each existing upon a spectrum. This means diagnoses can be difficult at times, so it is essential to be assessed by an experienced mental health care professional that can find the right path for you. 

Why should we talk about it?

One in every five US adults live with mental Illness, which makes up roughly 57.8 million people in the US in 2021 according to the National Institute on Mental Health. With mental illnesses impacting so many people in so many different stages of life, understanding and evaluating our mental health and its connection to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being is a vital part of caring for ourselves.

As with any health concerns, doing the adequate research to better understand treatment options can help you or a loved one make the best decisions for your health care needs. 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.