Mental health is an important part of our overall well-being. It affects how we feel, think, focus at work, how we handle stress and obstacles in life, and how we socialize and get along with other people. Mental and physical health are equally important factors of overall health. Mental illness increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.
Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the US. More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness sometime in their life. There are several factors that can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as early childhood trauma, experiences related to on-going medical conditions, biological factors, use of alcohol or drugs, or having few friends and feeling isolated or lonely. While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact them mentally.
It is important to be aware of your current mental health. You can take a screening at MHASCREENING.ORG for a quick, free and private way to assess and recognize signs of potential problems. Further resources include:
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 – Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Crisis Text line: Text “HELLO” to 741741 – Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Mental Health America: https://www.mhanational.org/finding-help
Source: cdc.gov and mhanational.org