Introduction to Mental Health

According to the National Institute of Mental Illness (NIH), mental illnesses includes many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe.

Two categories used to describe these conditions:

Any mental illness (AMI) is any mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder. AMI can vary in impact, ranging from no impairment to mild, moderate, and even severe impairment.

Serious mental illness (SMI) is a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.

Mental illnesses include, but are not limited to:

Major Depression*
Anxiety*
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)*
Mood disorders
Personality disorders
Eating disorders*
Schizophrenia
Suicide
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Illnesses marked with an asterisk* will be further addressed under this topic. If you would like to learn more about other mental health illnesses, please click here.

To learn about all mental health and wellness terms, from anxiety to TMS and beyond, please click here for the glossary.

Factors that can cause mental illness-

Heredity: One may inherit the predisposition for mental illness
Physical health problems: Some physical conditions have been associated with mental illness.
Injury: Head injuries from accidents and violence can damage the brain and create conditions for impaired mental functioning
Environmental conditions: Exposure to toxic materials like house paint with lead, can result in brain damage.
Stress: Stress is not the primary cause of a mental illness, but with a vulnerable person they may exhibit some form of mental illness.
Drugs: Both legal and illegal drugs can contribute to the onset of mental health problems.

What does it mean to be mentally healthy?

To be mentally healthy, it is the ability to:

Perceive reality in terms of facts and are able to think clearly
Are in touch with your entire range of feelings
Can respond to a situation and express those feelings in an appropriate way

Resiliency is the ability to handle, recover and heal from distressing or traumatic events effectively.

Those who are resilient are able to trust and form caring relationships, have good problem-solving skills, are independent and persistent, and believe that their life has meaning and purpose. Click here to learn more.

Characteristics of people who are mentally healthy:

Realistic- They see the world in terms of facts and actual events. They accept what they can’t change and accept things how they are.
Accepting- Having a positive yet realistic attitude about themselves and others. They don’t demand perfection in anyone including themselves. They cope when life doesn’t go their way and not everything in life will be to their liking. They also respect differences among people and value diversity.
Autonomous– Being inner directed and not being controlled by the desires or wishes of others. They do not try to please other people or “go with the crowd.”
Authentic– They are not afraid to be themselves. “What you see is what you get.” Not pretending to be someone you aren’t to gain approval from others.
Intimate- Comfortable with themselves and capable of establishing appropriate physical and emotional intimacy (closeness) with other people.
- Intimacy is not just sexual contact. True intimacy is developed by communicating and sharing feelings with someone else.
Creative- Being creative means open to new experiences, being curious and adventurous. They participate in activities for enjoyment even if they aren’t talented in that activity.
Self-Esteem- They generally like themselves despite what others may say or do. They also accept that they won’t automatically succeed at everything they try.
Have Value- They value life and discover a purpose for living. They know who they are.
Optimistic- A way of looking at life seeing possibilities and opportunities in life versus being pessimistic, where one sees barriers and pitfalls.
Comfortable Being Alone- They are comfortable being alone as they are with others and don’t feel helpless. They can satisfy their own needs without being dependent on others.