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The importance of mental & emotional health
The Surgeon General's report defines mental health as "the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity." Mental or emotional health generally refers to an individual's thoughts, feelings and actions, particularly when faced with life's challenges and stresses.
Good mental health isn't just the absence of mental health problems. Although various cultures have differing expectations for health, many of the following characteristics are likely to be present in individuals with good mental health:
- A sense of well-being and contentment
- A zest for living – the ability to enjoy life, to laugh and have fun
- Resiliency – being able to deal with life's stresses and bounce back from adversity
- Self-realization – participating in life to the fullest extent possible, through meaningful activities and positive relationships
- Flexibility – the ability to change, grow, and experience a range of feelings, as life's circumstances change
- A sense of balance in one's life – between solitude and sociability, work and play, sleep and wakefulness, rest and exercise, etc.
- A sense of well-roundedness – with attention to mind, body, spirit, creativity, intellectual development, health, etc.
- The ability to care for oneself and for others
- Self-confidence and good self-esteem
Mental & emotional health problems
A mental or emotional health problem can be a short-term reaction to a stressor (such as a loss, painful event, illness, medication, etc.). If the situation does not abate or if the symptoms of distress are interfering with other aspects of life, assistance from a mental health professional may be needed. We do not generally avoid getting help for a physical problem (such as having a broken bone set by an orthopedist, or a cavity filled by a dentist). Yet some people believe it is shameful to seek help for an emotional health problem, or think that an emotional problem means you are "crazy."
In many situations, the sooner help is sought, the less ongoing difficulty there will be with the problem.
Just as with medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, there are some mental health problems (such as major depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder) that tend to run in families – either because of genetics or family interaction styles. The majority of people who experience mental health problems can overcome them or learn to live with them, especially if they seek help soon enough. Modern approaches to treatment can relieve symptoms and prevent long-term disabilities from mental health problems.
Causes and risks factors of mental health problems
Mental health problems can be the outcome of many different kinds of experiences in a person's life, from early childhood to later life events. A series of causes usually has to be considered in understanding the development of most mental health problems.
| Causes and risk factors of mental & emotional health problems | |
| Sociological | Experiential |
Environments that are chaotic, unsafe or dangerous (for example, living in a violent home; being homeless or in abject poverty) Traumas or serious losses early in life (such as the death of a parent in childhood, or being abused or neglected) Traumas are also triggered by shocking experiences like war, abuse or sudden shocking injury, Loss of social support (due to death of a loved one, divorce, moving away from friends and family, loss of a job, or loss of trust) |
Experiences that undermine self-confidence (such as social or work related failures) Learned helplessness and negative thought patterns (chronic or repeated stressful events leading to the belief of helplessness, reinforced by lack of control over the situation) |
| Medical | Substance abuse |
Chronic illness (such as heart disease, stroke, HIV, Parkinson's, cancer, or diabetes) that seriously restrict activity Side effects of medications (for example, blood pressure medications and numerous other drugs) Hormonal changes (stage of life adjustments, such as the onset or end of menstruation that affect mood) |
Substance abuse: alcohol and some drugs are known to have depressive effects, and the negative social and personal consequences of substance abuse can also be a contributing factor to depression (however, it is not clear which comes first – depression and attempts to control it with substances, or the use of substances that then cause depression) |
| Biological | Genetic |
Biological causes: An imbalance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin is known to affect the processing of thoughts and emotions. These causes may be due to environmental and/or genetic factors |
Genetic causes: people with close family members who suffer from depression are more prone to depression and may genetically inherit a preexisting condition but it is likely that environment plays a role in triggering the preexisting condition |
Self-help techniques that improve mental & emotional health
Many minor mental health problems can be relieved by some common-sense measures. If you find yourself feeling "blue," "out of sorts," "stressed out," or "in a funk," you can take steps, such as the following, to see if you feel better.
Self-help tips that promote good emotional and mental health
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If you find you are continuing to feel depressed or anxious to the extent that these feelings are interfering with your work or personal life, consult a mental health specialist for assistance. The sooner you get help, the less negative outcomes you are likely to experience as a result.
What is mental illness?
There is no precise definition of "mental illness," and in many ways, the term is misleading. There is much overlap between physical and mental disorders, and it is common for a condition to have elements of both. In general, it may be said that a mental illness is a condition that adversely impacts an individual's thought processes, emotions, behaviors and/or interactions with other people, or interferes with one's abilities to effectively manage one's life.
According to NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness):
- Mental illnesses are biologically-based brain disorders that are severe (debilitating to the degree of prohibiting work and personal and interpersonal functioning).
- Symptoms of mental illnesses typically begin to appear in adolescence or young adulthood. Mental illness affects about 5% of adults and 9% of children and teens in the United States.
- Misconceptions about mental illness abound. This unfortunately contributes to the fact that many mentally ill people do not seek treatment. Left untreated, mental illness can result in unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, incarceration and suicide. In fact, mental illness is the leading cause of disability (lost years of productive life) in the U.S.
- In order to conquer the stigma of mental illness, it’s important to understand that these conditions are not related to character, intelligence, or willpower.
- Mental illnesses are illnesses like any other, and with modern interventions, are highly treatable.
To Learn More...
Related links for mental & emotional health
Emotional Health (Princeton University ) – Written for college students, with special section on adjusting to college life; easy-to-understand explanations of common mental illnesses. (Princeton University )
What Are Some Specific Stress Reduction Methods? – Simple stress reduction suggestions, including diet, exercise, (University of Maryland Medical Center)
Mental Health America - Nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people live mentally healthier lives; includes fact sheets on many different mental illnesses and emotional problems.
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