"There is no health
without mental health. "
Mental Health
When we talk about mental health, we’re talking about our mental well-being: our emotions, our thoughts and feelings, our ability to solve problems and overcome difficulties, our social connections, and our understanding of the world around us.
In the course of a lifetime, not all people will experience a mental illness, but everyone will struggle or have a challenge with their mental well-being (i.e., their mental health) just like we all have challenges with our physical well-being from time to time.
Mental Illness
According to Johns Hopkins, about 1 and 4 American's suffer from a mental illness.
A mental illness is an illness the affects that way people think, feel, behave, or interact with others. There are many different mental illnesses, and they have different symptoms that impact peoples’ lives in different ways.
With the right tools, anyone can live well—however they define well—and find meaning, contribute to their communities, and work towards their goals.
Did you know diet impacts your mental health?
Diet & Mental Health
Many studies are finding a link between what we eat and how we feel. Studies have even found that healthy diets can help with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
When you stick to a diet low in processed foods and high in fruits and vegetables, you're setting yourself up for fewer mood fluctuations, an overall happier outlook and an improved ability to focus.
On the contrary, in a new study of 120 children and adolescents, consuming fast food, sugar and soft drinks was associated with a higher prevalence of diagnosed attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (Pediatrics, Vol. 139, No. 2, 2017). What's more, these diets in adults can increase anxiety and other debilitating mental conditions.
Mental Health
Health isn’t like an on/off switch. There are different degrees of health. People move on a continuum ranging from great or good health to so-so health to poor health to illness or disability. For example, some people have good health and have no problems going about their lives. Some people experience serious health problems, and their poor health has a very negative impact on their life. Some people have serious health problems that last for a long time, and others have serious health problems that resolve very quickly. Many people fall somewhere in the middle—they’re generally in good health, though the occasional problem may come up. Mental health is the same way.
Just as someone who feels unwell may not have a serious illness, people may have poor mental health without a mental illness. We all have days where we feel a bit down, or stressed out, or overwhelmed by something that’s happening in our lives. An important part of good mental health is the ability to look at problems or concerns realistically. Good mental health isn’t about feeling happy and confident 100% of time and ignoring any problems. It’s about living and coping well despite problems.
