According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental health is:
"Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices."
Mental health is important throughout the lifespan and while there is no single factor that can affect mental health, there are several risk factors that can make an individual more susceptible to mental illness. These factors include:
(Obtained from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/)
Mental health is an important component of overall health and can have affects on physical health as well. Mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety can manifest physical symptoms that can lead to adverse health effects when experienced long-term. Chronic conditions such as pain disorders or autoimmune disorders can also have an affect on mental health. Mental and physical health are part of a delicate system and affect one another it multiple ways, intertwined at all levels.
Mental health can change throughout the lifespan, and is dependent on many factors. In some cases, the demands placed on a person may exceed their ability to cope or their mental and physical resources. This is especially dangerous for individuals within marginalized communities, as they are more likely to be exposed to external, environmental factors that can negatively impact mental health.
Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States.
(Obtained from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/)
