A state of emotional, psychological, and social well-being that influences how a person thinks, feels, behaves, relates to others, and responds to life’s challenges.
Mental health exists on a continuum and can change throughout life. It is influenced by biological, psychological, social, environmental, and other factors.
Mental health is not synonymous with the absence of mental illness; a person can experience a mental health difficulty without having a diagnosed mental disorder, and mental health can change over time.
QUICK FACT
Everyone has mental health, just as everyone has physical health.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Mental illness: a broader group of diagnosable mental disorders; mental health refers more broadly to psychological and emotional well-being and functioning.
SEE ALSO
