| Some people can get so depressed or problematic | | | | physical health, mental health is important at every |
| that they even reach a point where they question | | | | stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through |
| their own sanity. Many people actually wonder if they | | | | adulthood. |
| have really "gone over the edge." | | | | Everyone feels worried, anxious, sad or stressed |
| How about you? Try to answer these questions: | | | | sometimes. But with a mental illness, these feelings |
| Do you have feelings of sadness or irritability? Has | | | | do not go away and are severe enough to interfere |
| there been a loss of interest in pleasurable activities | | | | with daily life. It can make it hard to meet and keep |
| that you once enjoyed? Have you noticed any | | | | friends, hold a job, or enjoy life. |
| weight loss or change in your appetite? Have you | | | | Mental illnesses are quite common and affect about |
| noticed changes in your sleeping pattern? Are you | | | | one in five families in the U.S. These disorders such as |
| feeling guilty? Are you experiencing difficulty in | | | | depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia |
| concentrating, remembering things or making | | | | and many others are real diseases that one cannot |
| decisions? Have you had thoughts of suicide or | | | | get away from. Fortunately, they are often treatable. |
| death? If you answered "yes" to most of these | | | | Medicines and therapy can improve the life of most |
| questions, consider consulting your family physician as | | | | people with mental illnesses. But, it is more |
| your mental health maybe at risk. | | | | cost-effective to have a physician prescribe mood |
| Mental health, as defined by the Surgeon General's | | | | stabilizers instead of seeing a psychiatrist. However, |
| Report on Mental Health, "refers to the successful | | | | follow doctor's instructions on counseling and referrals |
| performance of mental function, resulting in | | | | to mental health professionals. |
| productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other | | | | People who are emotionally and mentally healthy are |
| people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope | | | | in control of their thoughts, feelings and behaviors. |
| with adversity." On the other end of the flow is | | | | They feel good about themselves and have good |
| mental illness, a term that refers to all "mental | | | | relationships. They can keep problems in perspective. |
| disorders." | | | | It's important to remember that people who have |
| Mental disorders are health conditions that are | | | | good emotional health sometimes have emotional |
| characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or | | | | problems or mental illness. Mental illness often has a |
| behavior associated with distress or impaired | | | | physical cause, such as a chemical imbalance in the |
| functioning. This notion of a continuum sees mental | | | | brain. Stress and problems with family, work, or |
| health on one end as "successful mental functioning" | | | | school can sometimes trigger mental illness or make it |
| compared to mental illness on the other end as | | | | worse. If you feel that you or someone you care |
| "impaired functioning." | | | | about is at risk, ask for help, it may not be easy at |
| Mental health is how we think, feel, and act as we | | | | first, but there are ways and steps that may save |
| cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle | | | | your own or someone else's life. |
| stress, relate to others, and make choices. Like | | | | |