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Mental Health Matters

What is Mental Health?

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 choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Who has It?

Everyone!!!

Just like you have physical health, you have mental health.

What is Mental Illness?

Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health problems, your thinking, mood, and behavior could be affected. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:

  • Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry

  • Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse

  • Family history of mental health problems

How will I Know?

Not sure if you or someone you know is living with mental health problems? Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem:

  • Eating or sleeping too much or too little

  • Pulling away from people and usual activities

  • Having low or no energy

  • Feeling numb or like nothing matters

  • Having unexplained aches and pains

  • Feeling helpless or hopeless

  • Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual

  • Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared

  • Yelling or fighting with family and friends

  • Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships

  • Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get out of your head

  • Hearing voices or believing things that are not true

  • Thinking of harming yourself or others

  • Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school

What is Positive Health?

Positive mental health allows people to:

  • Realize their full potential

  • Cope with the stresses of life

  • Work productively

  • Make meaningful contributions to their communities

Ways to maintain positive mental health include:

  • Getting professional help if you need it

  • Connecting with others

  • Staying positive

  • Getting physically active

  • Helping others

  • Getting enough sleep

  • Developing coping skills

Can I Get Better?

Most people with mental health problems can get better. Treatment and recovery are ongoing processes that happen over time. The first step is getting help. 

Recovery from mental disorders and/or substance abuse disorders is a process of change through which individuals:

  • Improve their health and wellness

  • Live a self-directed life

  • Strive to achieve their full potential

4 Dimensions of Recovery​

  • Health

  • Home

  • Purpose

  • Community

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