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Mental Health Essay

Introduction

Mental health, often overshadowed by its physical counterpart, is an intricate and essential aspect of human existence. It envelops our emotions, psychological state, and social well-being, shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. With the complexities of modern life—constant connectivity, societal pressures, personal expectations, and the frenzied pace of technological advancements—mental well-being has become increasingly paramount. Historically, conversations around this topic have been hushed, shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding. However, as the curtains of misconception slowly lift, we find ourselves in an era where discussions about mental health are not only welcomed but are also seen as vital. Recognizing and addressing the nuances of our mental state is not merely about managing disorders; it's about understanding the essence of who we are, how we process the world around us, and how we navigate the myriad challenges thrown our way. This essay aims to delve deep into the realm of mental health, shedding light on its importance, the potential consequences of neglect, and the spectrum of mental disorders that many face in silence.

Importance of Mental Health

Mental health plays a pivotal role in determining how individuals think, feel, and act. It influences our decision-making processes, stress management techniques, interpersonal relationships, and even our physical health. A well-tuned mental state boosts productivity, creativity, and the intrinsic sense of self-worth, laying the groundwork for a fulfilling life.

Negative Impact of Mental Health

Neglecting mental health, on the other hand, can lead to severe consequences. Reduced productivity, strained relationships, substance abuse, physical health issues like heart diseases, and even reduced life expectancy are just some of the repercussions of poor mental health. It not only affects the individual in question but also has a ripple effect on their community, workplace, and family.

Mental Disorders: Types and Prevalence

Mental disorders are varied and can range from anxiety and mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia.

• Depression: Characterized by persistent sadness, lack of interest in activities, and fatigue.
• Anxiety Disorders: Encompass conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and specific phobias.
• Schizophrenia: A complex disorder affecting a person's ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.

The prevalence of these disorders has been on the rise, underscoring the need for comprehensive mental health initiatives and awareness campaigns.

Understanding Mental Health and Its Importance

Mental health is not merely the absence of disorders but encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Recognizing the signs of deteriorating mental health, like prolonged sadness, extreme mood fluctuations, or social withdrawal, is crucial. Understanding stems from awareness and education. Societal stigmas surrounding mental health have often deterred individuals from seeking help. Breaking these barriers, fostering open conversations, and ensuring access to mental health care are imperative steps.

Conclusion: Mental Health

Mental health, undeniably, is as significant as physical health, if not more. In an era where the stressors are myriad, from societal pressures to personal challenges, mental resilience and well-being are essential. Investing time and resources into mental health initiatives, and more importantly, nurturing a society that understands, respects, and prioritizes mental health is the need of the hour.

• World Leaders: Several influential personalities, from celebrities to sports stars, have openly discussed their mental health challenges, shedding light on the universality of these issues and the importance of addressing them.
• Workplaces: Progressive organizations are now incorporating mental health programs, recognizing the tangible benefits of a mentally healthy workforce, from increased productivity to enhanced creativity.
• Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges, witnessing the effects of stress and other mental health issues on students, are increasingly integrating counseling services and mental health education in their curriculum.

In weaving through the intricate tapestry of mental health, it becomes evident that it's an area that requires collective attention, understanding, and action.

  Short Essay about Mental Health

Mental health, an integral facet of human well-being, shapes our emotions, decisions, and daily interactions. Just as one would care for a sprained ankle or a fever, our minds too require attention and nurture. In today's bustling world, mental well-being is often put on the back burner, overshadowed by the immediate demands of life. Yet, its impact is pervasive, influencing our productivity, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Sadly, mental health issues have long been stigmatized, seen as a sign of weakness or dismissed as mere mood swings. However, they are as real and significant as any physical ailment. From anxiety to depression, these disorders have touched countless lives, often in silence due to societal taboos.

But change is on the horizon. As awareness grows, conversations are shifting from hushed whispers to open discussions, fostering understanding and support. Institutions, workplaces, and communities are increasingly acknowledging the importance of mental health, implementing programs, and offering resources.

In conclusion, mental health is not a peripheral concern but a central one, crucial to our holistic well-being. It's high time we prioritize it, eliminating stigma and fostering an environment where everyone feels supported in their mental health journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the primary focus of a mental health essay?

Answer: The primary focus of a mental health essay is to delve into the intricacies of mental well-being, its significance in our daily lives, the various challenges people face, and the broader societal implications. It aims to shed light on both the psychological and emotional aspects of mental health, often emphasizing the importance of understanding, empathy, and proactive care.

• How can writing an essay on mental health help raise awareness about its importance?

Answer: Writing an essay on mental health can effectively articulate the nuances and complexities of the topic, making it more accessible to a wider audience. By presenting facts, personal anecdotes, and research, the essay can demystify misconceptions, highlight the prevalence of mental health issues, and underscore the need for destigmatizing discussions around it. An impactful essay can ignite conversations, inspire action, and contribute to a more informed and empathetic society.

• What are some common topics covered in a mental health essay?

Answer: Common topics in a mental health essay might include the definition and importance of mental health, the connection between mental and physical well-being, various mental disorders and their symptoms, societal stigmas and misconceptions, the impact of modern life on mental health, and the significance of therapy and counseling. It may also delve into personal experiences, case studies, and the broader societal implications of neglecting mental health.

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• Mental Health Essay

Essay on Mental Health

According to WHO, there is no single 'official' definition of mental health. Mental health refers to a person's psychological, emotional, and social well-being; it influences what they feel and how they think, and behave. The state of cognitive and behavioural well-being is referred to as mental health. The term 'mental health' is also used to refer to the absence of mental disease. 

Mental health means keeping our minds healthy. Mankind generally is more focused on keeping their physical body healthy. People tend to ignore the state of their minds. Human superiority over other animals lies in his superior mind. Man has been able to control life due to his highly developed brain. So, it becomes very important for a man to keep both his body and mind fit and healthy. Both physical and mental health are equally important for better performance and results.

Importance of Mental Health 

An emotionally fit and stable person always feels vibrant and truly alive and can easily manage emotionally difficult situations. To be emotionally strong, one has to be physically fit too. Although mental health is a personal issue, what affects one person may or may not affect another; yet, several key elements lead to mental health issues.

Many emotional factors have a significant effect on our fitness level like depression, aggression, negative thinking, frustration, and fear, etc. A physically fit person is always in a good mood and can easily cope up with situations of distress and depression resulting in regular training contributing to a good physical fitness standard. 

Mental fitness implies a state of psychological well-being. It denotes having a positive sense of how we feel, think, and act, which improves one’s ability to enjoy life. It contributes to one’s inner ability to be self-determined. It is a proactive, positive term and forsakes negative thoughts that may come to mind. The term mental fitness is increasingly being used by psychologists, mental health practitioners, schools, organisations, and the general population to denote logical thinking, clear comprehension, and reasoning ability.

 Negative Impact of Mental Health

The way we physically fall sick, we can also fall sick mentally. Mental illness is the instability of one’s health, which includes changes in emotion, thinking, and behaviour. Mental illness can be caused due to stress or reaction to a certain incident. It could also arise due to genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, child abuse or trauma, social disadvantage, poor physical health condition, etc. Mental illness is curable. One can seek help from the experts in this particular area or can overcome this illness by positive thinking and changing their lifestyle.

Regular fitness exercises like morning walks, yoga, and meditation have proved to be great medicine for curing mental health. Besides this, it is imperative to have a good diet and enough sleep. A person needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night on average. When someone is tired yet still can't sleep, it's a symptom that their mental health is unstable. Overworking oneself can sometimes result in not just physical tiredness but also significant mental exhaustion. As a result, people get insomnia (the inability to fall asleep). Anxiety is another indicator. 

There are many symptoms of mental health issues that differ from person to person and among the different kinds of issues as well. For instance, panic attacks and racing thoughts are common side effects. As a result of this mental strain, a person may experience chest aches and breathing difficulties. Another sign of poor mental health is a lack of focus. It occurs when you have too much going on in your life at once, and you begin to make thoughtless mistakes, resulting in a loss of capacity to focus effectively. Another element is being on edge all of the time.

It's noticeable when you're quickly irritated by minor events or statements, become offended, and argue with your family, friends, or co-workers. It occurs as a result of a build-up of internal irritation. A sense of alienation from your loved ones might have a negative influence on your mental health. It makes you feel lonely and might even put you in a state of despair. You can prevent mental illness by taking care of yourself like calming your mind by listening to soft music, being more social, setting realistic goals for yourself, and taking care of your body. 

Surround yourself with individuals who understand your circumstances and respect you as the unique individual that you are. This practice will assist you in dealing with the sickness successfully.  Improve your mental health knowledge to receive the help you need to deal with the problem. To gain emotional support, connect with other people, family, and friends.  Always remember to be grateful in life.  Pursue a hobby or any other creative activity that you enjoy.

What does Experts say

Many health experts have stated that mental, social, and emotional health is an important part of overall fitness. Physical fitness is a combination of physical, emotional, and mental fitness. Emotional fitness has been recognized as the state in which the mind is capable of staying away from negative thoughts and can focus on creative and constructive tasks. 

He should not overreact to situations. He should not get upset or disturbed by setbacks, which are parts of life. Those who do so are not emotionally fit though they may be physically strong and healthy. There are no gyms to set this right but yoga, meditation, and reading books, which tell us how to be emotionally strong, help to acquire emotional fitness. 

Stress and depression can lead to a variety of serious health problems, including suicide in extreme situations. Being mentally healthy extends your life by allowing you to experience more joy and happiness. Mental health also improves our ability to think clearly and boosts our self-esteem. We may also connect spiritually with ourselves and serve as role models for others. We'd also be able to serve people without being a mental drain on them. 

Mental sickness is becoming a growing issue in the 21st century. Not everyone receives the help that they need. Even though mental illness is common these days and can affect anyone, there is still a stigma attached to it. People are still reluctant to accept the illness of mind because of this stigma. They feel shame to acknowledge it and seek help from the doctors. It's important to remember that "mental health" and "mental sickness" are not interchangeable.

Mental health and mental illness are inextricably linked. Individuals with good mental health can develop mental illness, while those with no mental disease can have poor mental health. Mental illness does not imply that someone is insane, and it is not anything to be embarrassed by. Our society's perception of mental disease or disorder must shift. Mental health cannot be separated from physical health. They both are equally important for a person. 

Our society needs to change its perception of mental illness or disorder. People have to remove the stigma attached to this illness and educate themselves about it. Only about 20% of adolescents and children with diagnosable mental health issues receive the therapy they need. 

According to research conducted on adults, mental illness affects 19% of the adult population. Nearly one in every five children and adolescents on the globe has a mental illness. Depression, which affects 246 million people worldwide, is one of the leading causes of disability. If  mental illness is not treated at the correct time then the consequences can be grave.

One of the essential roles of school and education is to protect boys’ and girls' mental health as teenagers are at a high risk of mental health issues. It can also impair the proper growth and development of various emotional and social skills in teenagers. Many factors can cause such problems in children. Feelings of inferiority and insecurity are the two key factors that have the greatest impact. As a result, they lose their independence and confidence, which can be avoided by encouraging the children to believe in themselves at all times. 

To make people more aware of mental health, 10th October is observed as World Mental Health. The object of this day is to spread awareness about mental health issues around the world and make all efforts in the support of mental health.

The mind is one of the most powerful organs in the body, regulating the functioning of all other organs. When our minds are unstable, they affect the whole functioning of our bodies. Being both physically and emotionally fit is the key to success in all aspects of life. People should be aware of the consequences of mental illness and must give utmost importance to keeping the mind healthy like the way the physical body is kept healthy. Mental and physical health cannot be separated from each other. And only when both are balanced can we call a person perfectly healthy and well. So, it is crucial for everyone to work towards achieving a balance between mental and physical wellbeing and get the necessary help when either of them falters.

Mental Health Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on mental health.

Every year world mental health day is observed on October 10. It was started as an annual activity by the world federation for mental health by deputy secretary-general of UNO at that time. Mental health resources differ significantly from one country to another. While the developed countries in the western world provide mental health programs for all age groups. Also, there are third world countries they struggle to find the basic needs of the families. Thus, it becomes prudent that we are asked to focus on mental health importance for one day. The mental health essay is an insight into the importance of mental health in everyone’s life. 

Mental Health

In the formidable years, this had no specific theme planned. The main aim was to promote and advocate the public on important issues. Also, in the first three years, one of the central activities done to help the day become special was the 2-hour telecast by the US information agency satellite system. 

Mental health is not just a concept that refers to an individual’s psychological and emotional well being. Rather it’s a state of psychological and emotional well being where an individual is able to use their cognitive and emotional capabilities, meet the ordinary demand and functions in the society. According to WHO, there is no single ‘official’ definition of mental health.

Thus, there are many factors like cultural differences, competing professional theories, and subjective assessments that affect how mental health is defined. Also, there are many experts that agree that mental illness and mental health are not antonyms. So, in other words, when the recognized mental disorder is absent, it is not necessarily a sign of mental health. 

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

One way to think about mental health is to look at how effectively and successfully does a person acts. So, there are factors such as feeling competent, capable, able to handle the normal stress levels, maintaining satisfying relationships and also leading an independent life. Also, this includes recovering from difficult situations and being able to bounce back.  

Important Benefits of Good Mental Health

Mental health is related to the personality as a whole of that person. Thus, the most important function of school and education is to safeguard the mental health of boys and girls. Physical fitness is not the only measure of good health alone. Rather it’s just a means of promoting mental as well as moral health of the child. The two main factors that affect the most are feeling of inferiority and insecurity. Thus, it affects the child the most. So, they lose self-initiative and confidence. This should be avoided and children should be constantly encouraged to believe in themselves.

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What Is Mental Health?

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Characteristics

Poor self-esteem.

Mental health is a term used to describe emotional, psychological, and social well-being. The quality of a person's mental health is often measured by how adaptively they can cope with everyday stressors.

Mental health allows people to use their abilities, be productive, make decisions, and play an active role in their communities.

Having poor mental health is often confused with having a mental illness . But mental health actually refers to a person's state of mental well-being whether or not they have a psychiatric condition.

History of Mental Health

A paper in the World Psychiatry journal states that mental health officially emerged as its own field of study in 1946 during the International Health Conference.

It was during this conference that the World Health Organization (WHO) was founded. The WHO Constitutions stated that mental "well-being" is an integral part of overall health, even in the absence of psychiatric illness.

Before mental health, "mental hygiene" was a term used in the 19th and 20th centuries to refer to the impact that mental processes have on overall health.

A mental hygiene movement had formed in the United States in 1908. Its goal was to advocate for people who were "mentally sick," or people who had psychiatric conditions, in a more humane way as historically, people with mental illnesses were abused, neglected, and lacked adequate care.

Though stigma surrounding mental illness still exists, more and more people have realized the importance of receiving treatment—like psychotherapy —for maintenance of their mental well-being, regardless of whether they have a mental illness.

Additionally, an abundance of research has found that positive mental health is linked with improved quality of life, including better productivity, closer social connections, higher educational achievement, and improved relationships.

Mental health refers not only to emotional well-being but also to how people think and behave. There are a number of different factors that have been found to influence mental health.

Life Satisfaction

A person's ability to enjoy life is frequently used as an indicator of mental health and wellness. It is often defined as the degree to which a person enjoys the most important aspects of their life. 

Some factors that have been found to play an important role in life satisfaction include the absence of feeling ill, good relationships , a sense of belonging, being active in work and leisure, a sense of achievement and pride, positive self-perceptions , a sense of autonomy, and feelings of hope.

The ability to bounce back from adversity   has been referred to as resilience . People who are resilient also tend to have a positive view of their ability to cope with challenges and seek out social support when they need it. Those who are more resilient are better able to not only cope with stress but to thrive even in the face of it.

Social support is important for positive mental health. Loneliness is linked with both physical and mental health issues including cardiovascular disease, depression , memory problems, drug misuse , alcohol misuse , and altered brain function.

Decreases in social support caused by life changes such as going to college, facing social adversity, changing jobs, or getting divorced can have a negative impact on mental health.

Fortunately, research suggests that it is not necessarily the number of supportive connections you have that it is the most important but rather the quality of these relationships.  

Flexibility

Having rigid expectations can sometimes create added stress. Emotional flexibility may be just as important as cognitive flexibility. Mentally healthy people experience a range of emotions and allow themselves to express these feelings. Some people shut off certain feelings, finding them to be unacceptable.

Lack of psychological flexibility has been linked to some types of psychopathology , while research suggests that increased flexibility is connected to better life balance and improved resilience.

Challenges to Mental Health

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that an estimated one in five U.S. adults experiences a mental health problem each year.  There are a number of risk factors that can increase the likelihood that a person may experience poor mental health.

Discrimination

Being treated unfairly due to personal characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity is linked with increased anxiety and depression.

Exposure to Trauma

Trauma is linked with anxiety, depression, changes in mood (increased anger and irritability), feelings of hopelessness, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Family History of Mental Illness

Research suggests that a variety of mental illnesses run in families such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder , major depressive disorder (MDD), and schizophrenia .

Low income is linked with increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Low income may also prevent someone from accessing necessary mental health services.

Medical Illness

Illnesses, particularly those that are chronic and force a person to adjust their lifestyle, can create psychological distress (especially depression).

Poor Access to Health Services

Access to health services is linked to positive long-term health outcomes. However, when people can't get access to the health care they need, their physical and mental health may suffer as a result.

Having low self-esteem often means you don't believe you're worthy of being happy or having positive relationships. People with low self-esteem are at higher risk of developing substance use disorders, anxiety, and depression.

Poor Social Skills

Having poor social skills is linked with loneliness and increased stress levels, as well as worsened physical health.

Social Inequalities

Lacking access to goods and services in society based on personal characteristics like your age, gender, religion, race, disability, or another social category can increase the risk of depression.

Substance Use

Substance use is linked with high rates of anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Impact of Mental Health

The state of a person's mental health has a significant impact on their quality of life. Taking care of your mental health allows you to contribute to your community, cope with stress, have quality relationships, and maintain physical health.

Mental health can help you to work toward your full potential in all aspects of your life. Improved mental health is also linked with better physical health. Research has found that positive mental health can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Poor mental health, on the other hand, is linked with issues like increased stress, sleep problems, smoking, and substance use . If your mental health is suffering, you might feel overwhelmed more easily, have trouble maintaining relationships, and experience low self-esteem.

How to Stay Mentally Healthy

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that some of the ways that you can promote and maintain mental health include the below.  

Physical Exercise

Physical exercise can reduce stress and even improve the symptoms of anxiety disorders and depression. It reduces the body's levels of stress hormones and elevates levels of endorphins, which promote mood regulation and feelings of well-being.

Your workout doesn't need to be strenuous either. Try taking a 20-minute walk and you might just notice the effect it has on clearing and relaxing your mind.

Adequate Sleep  

Not getting enough sleep can worsen mental health and cause mental distress, especially in people with existing mental health conditions. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends getting at least seven hours per night.

Mental health conditions can make it extra challenging to fulfill your sleep requirements, but there are ways you can improve your sleeping habits.

Try adhering to a consistent sleep schedule (going to bed and waking up at the same times each night), limiting distractions like using your phone before bed, and making sure you get some exercise during the day. Be sure to consult a healthcare provider if your lack of sleep is causing mental distress.

Help Others 

One study found that helping behavior and other kinds of social interactions were linked with reduced stress and even longer lifespans.

Try volunteering in your community or even lending a hand to people in your everyday life. Performing small acts of kindness can make you and the recipient of your generosity feel a boost in mood and well-being.

Learn Coping Skills

Learning healthy coping mechanisms for managing stress can go a long way in improving mental health.

Some productive coping mechanisms include getting emotional support from loved ones, finding humor in your everyday life , and taking action to better your situation. It's all about finding what works best for you.

In cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a therapist works with patients to find the best coping skills for their unique circumstances.

Stay Connected to Others

Social interaction can reduce our stress levels, improve the symptoms of depression, and even benefit our physical health.

Research has found that social connection has positive impacts on health categories like cancer, weight management, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Having social interactions in a setting such as group therapy, for instance, might be especially helpful if you are coping with a specific mental health condition like post-traumatic stress disorder or an eating disorder .

Keep a Positive Outlook

There are many health benefits to using optimism and positive thinking in your everyday life.

One study found that participants with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) who practiced replacing thoughts of negative outcomes with thoughts of positive ones experienced less worry over time than participants who didn't imagine positive outcomes.

A Word From Verywell

There are many factors that influence mental health and overall well-being. Individual factors play an important part, but social, environmental, and financial circumstances can also either enhance or worsen mental health.

It is important to seek help if you are having difficulties. Talk to a doctor or mental health professional if you need help improving your mental health or addressing a psychological problem.

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Poulin MJ, Brown SL, Dillard AJ, Smith DM. Giving to others and the association between stress and mortality .  Am J Public Health . 2013;103(9):1649-1655. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.300876

Saxon L, Makhashvili N, Chikovani I, et al. Coping strategies and mental health outcomes of conflict-affected persons in the Republic of Georgia .  Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci . 2017;26(3):276-286. doi:10.1017/S2045796016000019

Martino J, Pegg J, Frates EP. The connection prescription: Using the power of social interactions and the deep desire for connectedness to empower health and wellness .  Am J Lifestyle Med . 2015;11(6):466-475. doi:10.1177/1559827615608788

Eagleson C, Hayes S, Mathews A, Perman G, Hirsch CR. The power of positive thinking: Pathological worry is reduced by thought replacement in generalized anxiety disorder .  Behav Res Ther . 2016;78:13-18. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.12.017

• Taylor, James, 1977.  Secret O' Life  Album: JT; Professional experience of 25 years as a practicing clinical psychologist.

By Leonard Holmes, PhD Leonard Holmes, PhD, is a pioneer of the online therapy field and a clinical psychologist specializing in chronic pain and anxiety.

Laura Harold is an editor and contributing writer for Verywell Family, Fit, and Mind.

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How to Write a Mental Health in College Students Essay

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Writing is a skill that takes time to build. Essays force you to practice research, critical thinking and communication skills – college is the perfect time for you to practice these. However, there’s only so much you can learn about writing through preparation. If you’ve been assigned an essay on mental health, you may not be sure where to begin. You might also wonder if you should choose mental health as a topic for a college paper. Here’s how to write a “mental health in college students” essay. 

• What Not to Do

If you’re trying to choose a topic for a college application essay, mental health is usually not the way to go. Your personal statement should show colleges why you’re the best candidate to attend their school. Because many students write about mental health , your essay may get lost in the crowd. In addition, your mental health journey is only a part of who you are. 

It can be difficult for many students to write about personal mental struggles without seeming overdramatic. Unless mental health struggles have shaped your whole life, it’s best to discuss other topics. If you mention mental health, stay brief and matter-of-fact. Don’t let it become the whole point of your essay. 

• Review the Instructions

If you’re writing this essay for a college course, start by looking over the assignment instructions. Don’t just listen to what your teacher says – look up the assignment on the syllabus to see if you can find a rubric or other relevant information. 

Highlight the important points to make sure you know what matters to your professor. The instructions are parameters you can operate in to create an essay you enjoy. Make sure you check word count, essay structure and review corrections on past essays. If you’re confused about something, don’t hesitate to ask your professor for clarification. 

• Do the Research 

Regardless of what class you’re writing for, this is the kind of topic that requires hard numbers. You don’t want to make general claims about rates of student anxiety or mental illness – to be credible, you need specifics. Be careful with your wording to avoid all-or-nothing statements. Everyone experiences mental health differently. 

Your professor may or may not allow you to pick the specific mental health topic you write about. However, you can ensure that your paper is well-researched and organized clearly. Before you start writing, create at least a basic outline showing the flow of ideas. This will make the writing phase much faster because you’ll always know what to say next. 

• Write It Out 

Writer’s block often stems from perfectionism. This paper won’t be perfect the first time, so don’t worry about writing it perfectly! Start with an interesting line that gets your reader’s attention and make sure you have a clear thesis statement. Taken by itself, this sentence should describe the contents of your entire paper. 

Build your paragraphs to the right word length by using specific examples. You should start each paragraph with a topic sentence that takes your reader one step in your paper’s argument. Then, describe a specific example that further explains this idea. You can find specific examples in your research or simply explain more about what you mean. 

• Edit Your Work

Editing is an important final step before you turn an essay in. It gives you an opportunity to look at your writing as a whole and ensure everything makes sense. If possible, you should set your first draft aside for a while before you reread it. This will help you see your work with fresh eyes so you can edit it. 

Editing involves strengthening your paper’s organization, rewriting specific sentences and checking for errors. You should make major edits first and then do a final read-through to catch punctuation and spelling mistakes. It can be helpful to read your paper out loud or have a friend look it over as well. 

One Key Takeaway for Writing a Mental Health in College Students Essay

Many students struggle with mental health while in school. Whatever topic you choose and however you organize your essay, make sure to write it with a sensitive tone. This topic is nuanced and shouldn’t be treated as a black-and-white issue. Write from an informed and compassionate point of view and offer your readers hope. 

Use this guide to write an essay on mental health in college students that astounds and delights your professor. Putting in the work will build research and communication skills you’ll use for years – whether you’re a psychology major, a premed student or studying the arts at school. 

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311 Powerful Mental Health Topics to Write about & Essay Examples

Research studies show that nearly 25% of American adults may have a mental illness in any given year. That is why it is crucial for all of us to become aware of such issues.

We gathered 225 brilliant essay topics about mental health, paper examples and ideas that would fit for any kind of essay: argumentative, persuasive, discursive, and so on. So…

Let’s dive in!

🏆 Best Mental Health Topic Ideas & Paper Examples

👍 good essay topics about mental health, 💡 simple & easy mental health essay topics, 🎓 most interesting mental health topics to write about, 🔎 interesting topics to write about mental health, ✍️ mental health essay topics for college, ❓ research questions about mental health.

• A Mental Health Project This project will use a strength-based model, and as such, will focus on how the guidance and counseling practitioners can assist the target young people to collaborate with their peers, families, and the community with […]
• Mental Health Counseling Admission Essay The decision to apply for the clinical counseling in mental health program was mainly influenced by an internship that I had at the Carter Center of Mental Health.
• The Impact of Mental Health on Society It is not to say that mental health patients lack the skills or expertise to fulfill the assigned tasks. Indeed, it is not only the individuals but also society on the whole that suffers from […]
• Mental Health Practice Placement However, many people believe that the theory does not offer or is not a reflection of the prevalent actions and complexity of the mental health problems in a population.
• Mental Health Issues in the Wednesday Series The main essence of the plot is that the eldest child of the Addams family, a girl named Wednesday, is gloomy and gloomy.
• Social Media and Teenagers’ Mental Health This book highlights the impact of social media on adolescent mental health and offers several solutions to this problem. 1, 2020, pp.
• Therapy and Mental Health Counseling: Speech The scholars emphasize that, unlike medications, therapy is a journey that requires awareness and acceptance of the change to heal from stress and trauma.
• Importance of Mental Health Promotion in Society Mental health is an integral part of health which serves as the foundation for the well-being and effective functioning for a person and society.
• Mental Health Counseling Licensure and Certification in Florida The purpose of this paper is to analyze and compare the requirements and provisions for mental health counseling licensure and certification in Florida and discuss their impact on the public.
• How Social Class Influences Mental Health After a thorough evaluation of class differences in mental health, it becomes clearer that people from the working classes face more problems with mental health in comparison to people from the middle class: downward drift, […]
• Self-Care: Physical and Mental Health Also, there is a variety of approaches that can be used to improve self-care, and it is essential to introduce the client to all of them.
• Mental Health Counseling Settings One advantage of a private practice is that decision-making is free from the influence of government agencies, charities, and other groups. However, a government agency setting is likely to have countless bureaucracies that would hinder […]
• Interview With a Licensed Mental Health Counselor The interviewee acknowledged that burnout is a normal part of practice and anybody planning to become a licensed mental health counselor should be prepared to face burnout and deal with it in a manner that […]
• Institutional vs. Community Care in Mental Health A review article by Wysocki et al.”Long-term services and supports for older adults: A review of home and community-based services versus institutional care is focused on the analysis of institutional care as opposed to home […]
• Narrative Family Therapy: Adolescent Mental Health In the Video, the primary contributors are the couple and the narrative therapist. The narrative therapist tries first to comprehend the viewpoint of a patient on their lives and the dominant plot and changes that […]
• A Beautiful Mind: A Mental Health Portrayal He is the central character in the film and he ends up in conflict due to the struggles that he faces after being diagnosed with a mental disorder.
• A Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty Since the goal of obtaining a degree and moving toward the role of APRN prompted me to study in the MSN program, the primary choice was the specialty.
• Considerations and Benefits of Herbal Medicine in Mental Health Treatment However, when prescribing herbal medicine, regardless of its type, it is imperative that the patient is assessed for the risk factors of its use and the potential interactions with other medication.
• Mental Health and Spirituality How religion helps to define life purpose and provides a sense of meaning among people who are susceptible to depression Many religious people affirm that their lives have a sense of purpose and meaning.
• Debunking the Myths on Homelessness: Misconceptions About the Social Status and Mental Health The point of concern is that the housing market, particularly in the United States, does not have enough low-cost living space that is affordable to the economical marginals and people with low income.
• Mental Health Issues Among Immigrants The prevalence of issues associated with CBT and the treatment of frequently occurring issues among first-generation immigrants, which include anxiety, conduct, and ADHD disorders, is currently uncertain due to the lack of experimental and academic […]
• Phones and Teenagers’ Mental Health Connection This essay aims to discuss the connection between phones and teenagers’ mental health and explain why the use of smartphones is merely a reflection of problems that children would face either way.
• Social Justice and Mental Health However, it is difficult to imagine the U.S.taking nationwide action on mental health due to the absence of healthcare for physical health, which is widely accepted as a serious issue.
• Recent Studies on Covid-19 and Mental Health The participants of the studies that pursue the understanding of how COVID-19 leads to the emergence of mental stress reported their concerns about the potential infection that has not yet happened.
• Social Media and Mental Health The connection between the positivity of a message and its reception in social media is a crucial piece of information that needs to be incorporated into the current approach toward increasing the levels of public […]
• Nursing Care Plan for Mental Health Unilateral neglect Impaired environmental interpretation syndrome Acute confusion Chronic confusion Ineffective impulse control Impaired memory Impaired verbal communication Hopelessness Risk for compromised human dignity
• Code of Ethics for Mental Health Professions In the mental health profession, codes of ethics mainly address professional responsibilities, handling of clients, storage of clients’ information, and the relationships that should exist between the clients and the mental health workers.
• Wellness: An Analysis of Mental Health The complex nature of mental health calls for a humanities approach to enable conceptualization of the mind and brain for improved mental health care and human well-being.
• Psychological Imbalance: Mental Health Issues According to Moulden and Marshall, psychological imbalances are the major cause of the increased number of inmates with sexual offenses within Canadian prisons.
• Insurance Barriers in Mental Health Population With the help of the Affordable Care Act, access to mental health care among people with low income and from ethnic and racial minorities was improved significantly.
• The Role of the Multidisciplinary Teams in Mental Health Nursing Moreover, the effectiveness of the management of the personnel correlates with the effectiveness of the whole treatment and the decrease in time the patient would spend at the hospital.
• The Benefits of Fitness for Physical and Mental Health It is necessary to mention that I have been able to improve my sleep schedule and its quality because of exercise.
• Female Mental Health in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” The main role of a 19th-century woman was a loving nurturer, serving the needs of her family and obedient to her husband/father.
• The Impact of Mindset on Mental Health A positive stress mindset is about resilience to stress, and it is an attribute linked to the levels of desire that defines the focus of one’s enthusiasm and will. The knowledge of a self-awareness mindset […]
• Prisons as Mental Health Institutions The following list contains the group’s goals: Identification of the cause of unfavorable circumstances; Resolution of legal disputes regarding the perpetrators; Help the victim to improve their living conditions; Achieving the payment of a fine […]
• Mental Health Nursing Practice and Ethical Issues The purpose of the presented case and analysis is to evaluate the ethical aspects of providing care to a patient in a psychiatric ward.
• School-Based Yoga Program for Adolescents’ Mental Health The central aim of the research was to find the effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention. The central focus of the research was to validate the effectiveness of a yoga-based program.
• Mental Health Care in Cannabis Addiction Case Based on the experience of studying the stories of juvenile delinquents, Bowlby revealed the influence of early separation from the mother and the experiences of loss and separation associated with it on the violation of […]
• Mental Health Nursing Skills in Practice I found the nurse’s skills to be effective, as she maintained the conversation clearly and did not emphasize the fact that it was an experiment, which allowed the client to remain calm. A patient had […]
• Marijuana and Its Effects on Mental Health The effects of the use of marijuana can be comparable to those exhibited by the removal of this important part of the brain.
• Mental Health Community Nursing Mental health in the community is the pattern of mental health care in a particular community. The beginning of the twentieth century was favorable for the development of mental health centers as this was the […]
• Mental Health Practice in the UK The report from the Department of Health and the National Health Service outlined an endeavor to enhance the nation’s health care system by fixing the shortcomings of the mental health sector.
• Mental Health Issues Among LGBTQ (Queer) Youth Studies point to multiple factors that play a role in the risk of suicide among LGBTQ youth, such as gender, socioeconomic status, bullying, and school experience. There is a need for further research and interventions […]
• Strategies for Maintaining Good Mental Health Today, I want to inform you about mental health, including its definition, importance during different stages of development, and strategies for maintaining good mental health.
• The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Workers’ Mental Health The article “The mental health impact of the covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers, and interventions to help them: A rapid systematic review” gives examples of specific means to overcome the occupation problem.
• Meditation’s Impact on Physical and Mental Health It is a dependent variable, as it has been assessed before the assignments for the groups, after said assignment, and four months later to define the outcome of the study.
• Mental Health and Illness Stigmatization Manifestations She was unable to contain her sobbing and trembling as a direct result of the symptoms of her mental illness, which included her anxiety about being judged and rejected. The diagnosis was unexpected and challenging […]
• Empowering the Care for Mental Health: Strategic Suggestions In addition, there is the issue of correctness and completeness of information about available resources, which is essential because of the sparse and heterogeneous nature of the industry.
• Aspects of the Mental Health Essentials Reg maintains a cordial relationship with his ex-wife, who is consistently concerned about his state of health and well-being, which is one of the protective factors relevant to Reg.
• Mental Health Diseases in the Middle Ages and Today In the Middle Ages, the manner in which the conditions were addressed varied depending on the philosophical and religious beliefs of the patient as well as the caregiver.
• Mental Health Nurse’s Communication With Patients and Families To conclude, communicating with patients, carers, and families as a mental health nurse demands considering the needs of each individual. On the one hand, MHNs must be active, empathetic listeners with patients and their loved […]
• Mindfulness’ Role in Mental Health Promotion With the incorporation of mindfulness into therapy, one will be able to reduce stress by promoting active health education and learning to a patient.
• Social Distancing, Financial Crisis and Mental Health The lockdown leads to the inability of people to go to the hospital for mental health consultation and treatment due to the anti-COVID measures. It is possible to talk about the spread of mental health […]
• Mental Health Interventions for Police Officers The expected outcome of this study is a generalized classification of existing mental health interventions available for the police workforce and their assessment in terms of efficiency.
• Multicultural Community Mental Health Center In addition, acculturation enhances daily organization activities favourable to clients and the workplace, which promotes the achievement of the center’s goals. A trusted relationship leads to satisfaction for both the employee and the clients, which […]
• Head Injuries and Related Mental Health Issues A mental health professional examining a patient with a head injury may encounter a wide range of symptoms that are difficult to pin down.
• Effect of Job Satisfaction on Early Childhood Educators’ Mental Health in Canada The rationale for this research is that early childhood educators are frequent targets of violence and abuse in the workplace, which can impact their mental health.
• Advocacy Programs to Address Disparities in Mental Health and Addiction Management Due to the absence of coverage offered by state Medicaid programs, the problem with the community’s overall health likely resides in a population segment that is unable to receive care, especially individuals with mental health […]
• How a Mental Health Nurse Role Supports Interprofessional Practice A collaboration between medical doctors, therapists, nurses, and pharmacists to implement a personalized plan of care to improve the health outcomes of a patient is an example of interprofessional practice, Within the interprofessional practice, mental […]
• Mental Health Issues in the COVID-19 Pandemic The governments focused their response on the physical health of their citizens and containing the spread of the virus. In other words, the first step of the action plan is to find or establish the […]
• Mental Health Management in Indigenous People For this reason, the concept of tribal mental health must be actively introduced into the relevant healthcare practices and the associated health policies.
• Addressing Mental Health Inequities: A Focus on LGBTQ Communities The main bioethical principles of organ transplantation that should be considered are beneficence – to act for the benefit of a patient, non-maleficence – not to harm, autonomy respect for a person’s choice, justice fairness, […]
• Mental Health and Well-Being of Canadian Police Officers As found in the study by Tehrani, most police officers that worked during the pandemic have been emotionally affected by it, with the lowest indicators of mental health being strongly related to anxiety and depression […]
• Understanding Mental Health: A Personal Journey and Its Impact The main impact of mental health is that, when it is not well taken care of, it could lead to depression.
• Field Practicum in Mental Health Social Work The case is a mental illness diagnosis and treatment procedure for a client with a history of mental illness who is currently showing more clinical symptoms diagnosable using reliable diagnostic manuals as described in the […]
• COVID-19 Impact on Uber Drivers’ Mental Health Although a lot of research has focused on the working conditions of Uber drivers and other individuals characterised as working in the gig economy, and further studies still have considered the financial impact of the […]
• Nursing Burnout in the Mental Health Field Therefore, burnout in the mental health field is a major problem because it has a high prevalence and affects the service delivery of employees in the mental health field.
• Subjective Well-Being (SWB): Mental Health and Life Satisfaction Also recognized as self-reported Well-being Introduced by Ed Diener, a psychologist in 1984 Components entails: Positive Affect Life Satisfaction Negative Affect Physical health is influenced by the satisfaction of life and enjoyment of life
• Abortion and Mental Health as Controversial Issues There have been issues related to the use of face masks and the number of cases of infected people. The topic of autism is a huge controversy due to denial or a lack of awareness.
• Factors That Impact Mental Health The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that impact the individual’s mental health and well-being, possible approaches that could be used to address the issues and provide a strategy involving all resources available […]
• Code of Ethics in Clinical Mental Health Counseling For instance, the ACA’s ethical values involve upholding human development by using the multicultural method to support the potential, worth, and dignity of people in their cultural and social settings.
• The Impacts of Mental Health Among Nurses Therefore, it is essential to research the impacts of the mental health of nurses on their practice to ensure what methods can effectively improve the well-being of healthcare professionals.
• Mental Health Improvement Applications A vision problem in and of itself causes anxiety for many people, and the lack of adapted apps continues to be a problem.
• Refugee Mental Health & Transcultural Psychiatry Because of this, many refugees have resorted to seeking refugee camp mental health services to cope with their situation in a new country and feel less stress.
• Mental Health of Crime Offenders The research was created with the idea that women have a significant role in promoting global health because of the importance of their health. According to the findings, life skills training programs improved women’s mental […]
• Mental Health Equity for Queer (LGBTQ) People My support for mental health equity in the LGBTQ community as a clinical mental health counselor will require my understanding of cultural competency and how to can use it in practice.
• Mental Health in School-Age Children In contrast to the response to drug or placebo, a large group of patients is difficult to treat or do not respond to treatment.
• Erectile Disorder and Mental Health The sexual dysfunction from the DSM-5 is an erectile disorder is 302.72. I entirely agree that lifestyle change, exceptionally tailored physical activity, is an essential aspect of the therapy of erectile dysfunction and should be […]
• HIV-Positive Women’s Mental Health Problems Peer review implies the submission of the article describing the details of the research process and the design to a journal that then sends this article to the professionals working in the same field, who […]
• Children’s Mental Health During COVID-19 Pandemic The following questions can shed light on this topic: What creative interventions can schools implement to avoid harming their students’ mental well-being over prolonged periods of external pressure, such as during a pandemic?
• United Nations Policy Brief on Mental Health Recovery After COVID-19 Therefore, the lack of mental health support centers and poor financing are not the only reasons for the problem, as the brief’s authors suggest.
• Nursing Profession: Mental Health Issues, Shortages, and Lack of Diversity It is necessary to determine whether the limitations in access to nursing education and training, as well as discriminatory environments, result in the absence of diversity in the nursing workforce.
• Hospital Staff Mental Health During the Pandemic The second theme that was discussed in many of the studies reviewed is the variety of factors that were involved in this issue, worsening the conditions of the health workers.
• Mental Health Services Access for Veterans Given the extreme intensity of the job that veterans have performed as well as the variety of adverse effects that follow from it, ensuring improved outcomes in the area of mental health for them is […]
• Cats and Their Role in Mental Health Support Using this research design, it would be possible to determine whether cats or dogs are better as therapy animals, in addition to identifying the role of felines in mental health support.
• Mental Health of Physicians During the Pandemic It is obvious that the situation of constant tension in which the doctors were during the period of COVID-19 is extreme and actually a crisis.
• Ethics of Access to Sensitive Mental Health Data Not all clients wish to share the details of their mental issues and treatments with families or inmates, but their password storage practices might run counter to this need for security.
• Access to Mental Health Treatment in Peru The researcher looked through the lens of those within the community, those living in more rural areas, and the suburbs of the Capital of Lima.
• Tests in Mental Health Nursing Research This paper seeks to discuss the uses of non-parametric tests in the assigned articles and explore the issue of test selection with reference to mental health nursing research.
• Consumer Information on Mental Health Considering the specifics of the inpatient facility, online health information-seeking is more common in patients’ relatives that visit them and communicate with the staff.
• The Principles of Education in Mental Health Thus, the image of leaner may be represented as a sophisticated combination of mental and cognitive processes that are to be recognized and accounted for in the process of learning.
• Mental Health of Healthcare Workers After COVID-19 Concerning the objectives of Healthy People 2020, the examined topic is related to the category of Mental Health and Mental Disorders.
• Cooper Mental Health Counseling Advertising The goal of the campaign will be to attract the maximum number of clients to the psychological counseling clinic. The call to action in the case of this advertising campaign will be a call to […]
• Neuroscience on Mental Health Issues Over the years, a significant source of concerns regarding neurogenesis touches on scientists’ inability to quantify the number of neurons generated by the adult’s brain in a day. However, investigations on neurogenesis in the hippocampus […]
• Managing Mental Health Medications for Depression and its Ethical Contradiction The second objective is to discover ethical contradictions in such treatment for people of various cultures and how different people perceive the disorder and react to the medication.
• Mental Health Conditions: Manifestations and Biases On my side, I hold to the bias that mental health conditions can only receive medication for it to be restored to normal.
• Preliminary Care Coordination Plan for Mental Health As the shift from hospital care to community-based one has occurred, it is first important to engage the patients in these communities and breach the gap of the lack of information.
• Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation for Mental Health At the age of 10, Maria was raped, and after that, the patient began to engage in prostitution to help her family financially since her mother and grandmother could not support everyone.
• Nurses’ Mental Health and Stress at Workplace This is the first research to present the viewpoints of mental health nurses on a resilience program. Theoretical ideas of resilience and understanding of mental health nurses’ resilience emerged through constant comparative study and integration […]
• The Impact of Coronavirus Pandemic on Teens’ Mental Health The study of the impact of the global pandemic on the mental state of adolescents and ways to combat them is of particular interest for this research paper.
• Cultural and Ethical Perspectives of Nurse Mental Health As a result, the given subject involves specific cultural and ethical perspectives and analysis of these perspectives is vital to analyze and implement policies as well as see the overall trend of the issue.
• Mental Health Treatment Analysis For the pharmacological treatment to control PTSD, the recent symptomatology experienced, comorbid conditions, and evidence of the efficiency of treatments before medication initiation are the factors that a clinician has to consider.
• The Problem of Mental Health in Florida The health of children is one of the major concerns of the healthcare sector as they are the future of the nation.
• Administration Errors in a Mental Health Hospital The selection of a representative group from the population of interest is among the prerequisites for the production of reliable and generalizable results.
• Mental Health and Its Social Determinants The article chosen for the analysis strives to explore the correlation between the social determinants and the development of mental illnesses in people in different stages of their lives.
• Discussion of Nurses’ Mental Health Issues This is explained by the high complexity and demands of work, which is exacerbated by the increase in responsibility and the number of patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• “Parental Characteristics and Offspring Mental Health” by Jami The title of the article is “Parental characteristics and offspring mental health and related outcomes: A systematic review of genetically informative literature”.
• Effects of Tension in the Workplace Environment on the Mental Health of Nurses Due to the sharp increase in the need to focus, as well as the probability of workplace conflicts and the resulting emotional strain, workplace tensions in the nursing setting, specifically in nurses providing individual care, […]
• Gender Expectations: Impact on Mental Health Such feelings may be overwhelming, resulting in emotional distress and causing the individuals to attempt suicide to end the anguish. Alcohol and substance abuse may be the leading causes of suicide in Australia.
• Improving the Mental Health System The problem has brought attention to the WHO as well as the nursing arena to implement strategies to address the unmet needs in mental care, especially in the United States metropolitan areas.
• Social Media Damages Teenagers’ Mental Health Thus, the selected social group that could help improve teenagers’ mental health is sports coaches and organizers of sports activities in schools.
• Super Bowl LVI From Mental Health Perspective While individuals may never grasp entirely why they feel compelled to yell and shout from the stands, sports like the Super Bowl can be helpful for mental health in the context of leisure and the […]
• Therapeutic Techniques: Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing The technique involves focusing on one idea or word produced by the client; Aimed to help in a more detailed consideration of significant thoughts; Particularly relevant when working with patients who shift from subject […]
• The Problem of Mental Health Disparities Challenges and opportunities to meet the mental health needs of underserved and disenfranchised populations in the United States. The authors of this article explore ways to address psychological problems in adults arising from the gap […]
• Lifestyle Choices and Mental Health However, in this context, it is essential to clarify more information about the client’s lifestyle and verify the authenticity of the indicated factors.
• Mount Carmel Mental Health Hospital’s Framework It remains the only hospital with in-patient psychiatric and mental health care in Malta after the closing of the psychiatric unit at Mater Dei Hospital in 2020, and the construction of a new mental health […]
• Peplau’s Middle-Range Theory in Mental Health Nursing This paper addresses the topic of nursing theory by reviewing current research pertaining to hypothetico-deductive reasoning, suggesting the model’s potential value in the research of nurse education techniques and barriers to decision-making, and discussing the […]
• Mental Health Services for Healthcare Providers of Critical Patients For the examination of the specified problem, the suitable setting is one of the local hospitals willing to participate in the project, and the contact there will be an administrator with access to the essential […]
• Holes in Financial Plan of Mental Health Services In the case of the current project, first of all, it is hard to predict the real demand for mental health services among doctors.
• Community Outreach Program for Veterans’ Mental Health Outcomes The issue at the center of this document is the high level of suicide risk in the veteran population and the urgent need to address this problem through therapy to prevent suicide in veterans.
• Psychopharmacology and Mental Health Practice It is becoming increasingly necessary for a mental health practitioner to be familiar and knowledgeable about pharmacological aspects of the treatment of mental issues.
• Mental Health Needs of the New York Community That is why there is a clear need to study the physical and psychological state of the health of the population.
• Mental Health Disorder: Case Conceptualization Due to her developmental delays, she held back in kindergarten and is currently at risk of being held back again, and her attendance record is very poor.
• Negative Impacts of COVID-19 Lockdown on Mental Health Service Access The sampling of the selected study is relatively narrow, yet it allowed the researchers to conduct a detailed data analysis and was sufficient to identify the tendencies for follow-up visits.
• Social Interaction for Mental Health and Wellbeing Although, these features enable inmates to shape their social and health relationships, the likely hood of retreating the positive relationship between health and social incorporation found in several social backgrounds.
• Social Media and Women’s Mental Health From this point of view, the examination of the presented challenge is critical in order to ensure the mental health of the female population by timely addressing the mentioned obstacles and dispelling the illusions.
• Discussion of Students’ Mental Health This fact is revealed in the low number of students who decided to seek help from a mental health specialist in the past year.
• Are Nurses Within the Aged Care Sector Equipped and Trained to Care for Mental Health Patients? Access to psychological care, the role and responsibilities of service providers, and the management of mental health care are among the gaps and challenges in the field.
• Psychological Wellness and Mental Health It is impossible to imagine the development of the sciences and civilization as a whole without focusing on mental health and areas of wellness.
• Burden of Stigma in Mental Health Help Seeking Afterward, he understood the concept and opted to recommend the need for the suffering people to share their traumatic events and experiences with their peers and qualified mental health professionals.
• Residential Programs for Teens With Mental Health Issues So, in addition to various activities, it is necessary to introduce mandatory work with specialists in psychology into the plan. The first thing organizations need to include in the program is bringing the spine into […]
• Post-Modern Perspective on Mental Health Nursing This is due to the replacement of traditional cultural structures by the commoditization of social living, consumption, and failure to support the mental health needs that result in psychopathology.
• Mental Health in Sex Workers There are financial needs that make the sex work industry one of the “to-go” choices for young adults in need of money.
• Emotional Abuse and Role of Clinical Mental Health Counselor The main rationale for selecting the specified type of trauma is the fact that it is most likely to be unreported, both due to the fear stemming from the emotional violence and the lack of […]
• Mental Health and Exposure of Genes to the Environment Although the range of influence of a gene is determined by the size and functionality of the cell in which it is located, the formation of proteins, including those that form homeostasis, plays a key […]
• Motivational Interviewing for Mental Health Patients This is why it is imperative for the counsellor to be patient and honest with the client about their condition. Only when a patient is aware of their mental damage, can they amass the strength […]
• Building Provincial Mental Health Capacity in Primary Care Subsequently, to monitor the effectiveness of the project, evaluators scrutinized a mental health and addiction-oriented ECHO program in Ontario, Canada, at the end of the program.
• Mental Health Problems in Bisexuals Thus, the study appears to be insightful in the context of exploring the mental health of bisexuals. This article is informative, as it describes that the aforementioned factors appear to be influential considerably in the […]
• Mental Health in Bisexuals: Mental Health Issues The current research views the mental health of bisexuals from several different perspectives in order to evaluate all the possible mechanisms that could have contributed to mental health issues in bisexual individuals over the course […]
• Mental Health Counseling and Ethical Standards Relevant codes contribute to following the necessary rules to communicate and interact with clients and meeting the standards of professional collaboration.
• Mental Health of Community The Worcester Country Health Department has mental health services developed for both adults and youngsters. There are no eligibility criteria for using the materials and services of the department.
• Mental Health Project: Binge-Eating Disorder The result was the start of the Binge-Eating Disorder Association, a non-profit organization. The main role of the organization was to advocate, support, and help the binge-eating disorder society.
• Poverty, Partner Abuse, and Women’s Mental Health In general, the study aimed at investigating the interaction between poverty and the severity of abuse in women. The research question being studied in this article is how income intersects with partner violence and impacts […]
• Clinical Supervision in the Mental Health Practice Moreover, McNeill and Stoltenberg delved deeply into appreciating IDM’s refinement and evolution over time and the limitations it had at the time of the study. In this section of the book, McNeill and Stoltenberg explore […]
• Mental Health Crisis in Australian Young Men In particular, he organizes meetings of young people and tells them his story of beating depression and suicide survival in order to inspire them as the help from the side of the country’s health care […]
• Exploring Mental Health and Drug Use in West Africa The specific research objectives are the following: To explore the prevalence and occurrence of major mental health challenges in West African countries.
• Mental Health: T-Test and ANOVA in Clinical Practice The purpose of the study was to identify the causes of the first psychiatry consult and investigate patients’ perspectives on conditions that influence the reluctance in seeking mental health services and access in general.
• Community Risk Assessment: Mental Health Disorders: New York The identified area of focus in the community is the prevalence of mental health disorders. These resources will ensure an adequate and comprehensive assessment of the mental health conditions within the community.
• Mental Health and Struggles of African American Women This paper seeks to explore the origins of the strong black woman stereotype and its cultural portrayal and discuss the tolls of mental health and struggles that affect highly marginalized African American women in the […]
• Mental Health Issues: The Public Perception In order to address the issue, it is necessary to assess the current perception of people with mental health issues by the general public.
• The Intersection of COVID-19 and Mental Health However, using the statement of the study’s purpose, the research question appears to be the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental, neurological, and substance use services in 130 WHO Member States.
• Mental Health Issues of Disabled People in Prison There is a need to enforce the rights of disabled people in prisons by understanding the causes of mental health issues and developing the necessary support systems.
• Mental Health in the US: Roles of Stakeholders The mental health courts also play vital roles in the management of challenges posed by individuals experiencing mental disturbances.
• Counseling on Mental Health & Disorders in Children Victims of bullying are helpless to an assortment of negative results. Tormented teenagers are bound to encounter long-haul harm to confidence and feeling of depression.
• Adolescent Mental Health: Why It Is a Problem Adolescent mental health constitutes a considerable public health issue recognized, among other things, as one of the 2020 Topics and Objectives on the Healthy People.
• Mental Health Information Disclosure and Moral Panic Therefore, to facilitate the wellbeing of the citizens and at the same time make sure that the rights of the mentally disadvantaged should not be infringed, one must consider the connection between the development of […]
• Mental Health Patients and Moral Panic The goal of the study is to reveal the inappropriateness of a mental health-centered approach to gun control public policy and emphasize the need for information dissemination and education in the sphere of mental health.
• Perinatal, Infant and Child Mental Health Thus, such a shift in the emotional, physiological, and social status of women in transition to motherhood may result in the development or worsening of mental health issues.
• Mental Health Self-Support Group The reason for choosing the identified group was based on the convenience principle the meetings were held in the vicinity of my house.
• The Mental Health Within Virginia During COVID-19 This applies to both the organization of time and the organization of space. This way, by the end of the pandemic, people will remain as healthy as they were at the beginning and will return […]
• The Impact of the ACA on Mental Health Practice
• Stanford Health Care: The Impact of Culture on Mental Health
• Mental Health Nursing Analysis
• Question of Youngsters With Mental Health Problems
• Mental Health Patterns and Outcomes
• Current Mental Health Care Need
• Mental Health Nursing: A Treatment Plan for Mr. Pall
• Inter-Household Caregiving and Adult Children’s Mental Health
• Analysis of Mental Health in Crime
• The Psychiatric-Mental Health Assessment
• Maternal Mental Health and Prenatal Smoking
• Mental Health Paper: Depression
• Mental Health & Incidences of Homelessness in Australia
• Mental Health: Happiness and Social Interaction
• Mental Health Care: Various Issues
• Mental Health: Analysis of Schizophrenia
• Mental Health and Wellness in Aging Population
• Mental Health in Asian Culture
• Critique to Website the Internet Mental Health
• ABC Mental Health Clinic Case Analysis
• Drug Use and Mental Health Problems Among Adolescents
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center
• Improving Mental Health Care System in British Columbia
• Relationship Among Mental Health, Hypertension and Telomere Length
• Epidemiology Applied to Mental Health
• Mental Health Parity Act Analysis
• Mental Health in the United States
• Mental Health Service Provision in Australia
• Mental Health Condition Indicators
• Medication for Mental Health Conditions
• The Problem of Mental Health Recovery
• Mental Health Nursing of Cocaine Addiction
• Mental Health Nursing: Dementia
• A Comparative Study of Mental Health Between Players and Non Players
• Coronavirus Pandemic: Improvement of the Mental Health of the Patients
• Acceptability and Feasibility of Using Non-Specialist Health Workers to Deliver Mental Health Care
• Critique of Scottish Mental Health Strategy
• Mental Health and Suicidality in the United Kingdom
• Sedatives or Depressants in Individuals With a Mental Health Problem
• Ethical Dilemmas in Mental Health Treatment
• Crisis Intervention in Veteran’s Mental Health
• Levinson’s “Rain Man”: Reaction to a Movie From a Mental Health Perspective
• Current Market Strategies for Mental Health Services
• Vincent van Gogh’s Mental Health Problems
• Mental Health Care Analysis
• Effects of Drugs and Alcohol Use on Mental Health
• Confidentiality in Mental Health
• Mental Health Stigma From American Perspective
• Psychopathology. The United States National Mental Health
• Mental Health of Canadians Overview
• Unconscious Mind and Mental Health Treatment
• Ethical Dilemma in Mental Health Patient Care
• Burnout as a Mental Health Issue in the Workplace
• Mental Health and Grief Counseling Issues
• Teaching and Learning in Mental Health Nursing
• Mental Health Care Disparities in America
• Physical Healthcare Among Mental Health Patients
• Psychiatry. Promoting Recovery in Mental Health
• Cannabis Effects on Mental Health
• Social Media Users’ Personality and Mental Health
• Consumer-Centered Mental Health Education
• Mental Health Problems: Patient Care
• Optimal Mental Health Approaches: Depression & Anxiety
• Mental Health Issues Identification in Schools
• Prisoners’ Physical and Mental Health Care Needs
• Protective Factors Promoting Mental Health
• Medi-Cal Expansion of Mental Health Services
• Mental Health Patients in the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit
• Mental Health Promotion and Effective Interventions
• Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurses’ Roles
• Explaining Mental Health Inequalities in Northern Sweden
• The Role of Nurses in Managing Mental Health Issues
• Mental Health Care, Its Politics and Ethics
• Mental Health Issues and Substance Abuse: Dual Diagnosis
• Pre-Mental Health Counseling Assessment for Child
• Stigma Effects on Mental Health Treatment in Minorities
• Substance Abuser’s Mental Health Risks in 3D Model
• Understanding Student Perceptions of Mental Health
• Sociology of Mental Health and Gender
• Ethics in Psychology and the Mental Health Professions
• Mental Health Illness Problems Corrections
• Mental Health: Challenge of the Juvenile Justice System
• Mental Health as the Juvenile Justice System Challenge
• Psychological Assessment of Mental Health Issues
• Mental Health Among Latin American Adolescents
• Mental Health Care Services for Veterans
• Information Technology Company’s Employee Mental Health
• Soldiers’ Therapy in Military Mental Health Clinic
• Buddhist Traditional Healing in Mental Health
• Mental Health Strategies at the Workplace
• Mental Health: Research Methodologies Issues
• Mental Health Practice Model for Public Institutions
• Mental Health Disparities’ Data Collection
• Schizophrenia – Mental Health Disorder
• Female Mental Health in Sociocultural Conditions
• Mental Health: Screening and Assessment
• Mental Health Specialist Job and Career
• Mental Health Nursing: Health and Illness
• Human Resources for the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health
• Transitions in Late Life – Mental Health Concerns
• Child’s Mental Health and Depression in Adulthood
• Medical Ethics in Mental Health Care
• Refugees and Mental Health
• Mental Health Issues in the Criminal Justice System
• Effective Mental Health Counseling
• Community Interventions for Improving Mental Health
• NYS Office of Mental Health
• Eliminating Stigmatization in Mental Health Diagnoses
• Mental Health Benefits in the Employee Benefits Package
• Security at the New York State Office of Mental Health
• Mental Health Counselor: Ethics and Professionalism
• The Critical Role of School Psychology in the School Mental Health Movement
• Mental Health Administration
• The Connection Between Poverty and Mental Health Problems
• Ambulance Personnel and Critical Incidents: Impact of Accident and Emergency Work on Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being
• Mental Health & Culture on Weight and Eating Disorders
• Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder Problem
• Child’s Mental Health: Factors and Impacts
• Supporting Children’s Mental Health
• Mental Health and American Society
• Problems Related to Physical and Mental Health Issues
• What Are the Five Signs of Good Mental Health?
• What Impact Does Lack of Sleep Have on Our Physical Emotional and Mental Health?
• Who Suffers From Mental Health?
• How Can Technology Help Mental Health Professionals?
• How Does Mental Health Affect Poverty Rates?
• How Does Mental Health Effects Persons, Families, and Carers?
• Why Might the Experience of Child Sexual Abuse Lead to Mental Health Problems in Adulthood?
• What Causes Mental Health Problems?
• How Does Friendship Help With Your Mental Health?
• Why Should We Care About Mental Health?
• How Do Mental Health Problems Affect People With Anxiety Disorder?
• How Have COVID-19 Isolation Policies Affected Young Peoples’ Mental Health?
• How Does Technology Affect Mental Health?
• What Are the 4 Types of Mental Health?
• How Can Understand the Mental Health Benefits of Physical?
• What Is Another Word for Mental Health?
• How Might Developing Cultural Competence Improve Mental Health Services?
• How Does Music Therapy Promote Positive Mental Health?
• How Does Junk Food Affect Teenagers’ Mental Health?
• How Does Climate Weather Affect Mood Mental Health?
• How the Media Changes People’s Attitudes Towards Mental Health?
• How Does Occupational Stress Affect Mental Health?
• How Does Mental Health Affect Us Everday?
• How Does Physical Health Affect Mental Health Communications?
• How Do Society and Environment Affect People ‘S Mental Health?
• How Can Exercise Improve Your Mental Health?
• How Can I Help My Mental Health?
• How Can Injuries Cause Mental Health Issues?
• How Would Childhood Experiences Affect the Development of Their Mental Health?
• How Does Depression Affect Our Mental Health System?
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16 Personal Essays About Mental Health Worth Reading

Here are some of the most moving and illuminating essays published on BuzzFeed about mental illness, wellness, and the way our minds work.

BuzzFeed Staff

1. My Best Friend Saved Me When I Attempted Suicide, But I Didn’t Save Her — Drusilla Moorhouse

"I was serious about killing myself. My best friend wasn’t — but she’s the one who’s dead."

2. Life Is What Happens While You’re Googling Symptoms Of Cancer — Ramona Emerson

"After a lifetime of hypochondria, I was finally diagnosed with my very own medical condition. And maybe, in a weird way, it’s made me less afraid to die."

3. How I Learned To Be OK With Feeling Sad — Mac McClelland

"It wasn’t easy, or cheap."

4. Who Gets To Be The “Good Schizophrenic”? — Esmé Weijun Wang

"When you’re labeled as crazy, the “right” kind of diagnosis could mean the difference between a productive life and a life sentence."

5. Why Do I Miss Being Bipolar? — Sasha Chapin

"The medication I take to treat my bipolar disorder works perfectly. Sometimes I wish it didn’t."

6. What My Best Friend And I Didn’t Learn About Loss — Zan Romanoff

"When my closest friend’s first baby was stillborn, we navigated through depression and grief together."

7. I Can’t Live Without Fear, But I Can Learn To Be OK With It — Arianna Rebolini

"I’ve become obsessively afraid that the people I love will die. Now I have to teach myself how to be OK with that."

8. What It’s Like Having PPD As A Black Woman — Tyrese Coleman

"It took me two years to even acknowledge I’d been depressed after the birth of my twin sons. I wonder how much it had to do with the way I had been taught to be strong."

9. Notes On An Eating Disorder — Larissa Pham

"I still tell my friends I am in recovery so they will hold me accountable."

10. What Comedy Taught Me About My Mental Illness — Kate Lindstedt

"I didn’t expect it, but stand-up comedy has given me the freedom to talk about depression and anxiety on my own terms."

11. The Night I Spoke Up About My #BlackSuicide — Terrell J. Starr

"My entire life was shaped by violence, so I wanted to end it violently. But I didn’t — thanks to overcoming the stigma surrounding African-Americans and depression, and to building a community on Twitter."

12. Knitting Myself Back Together — Alanna Okun

"The best way I’ve found to fight my anxiety is with a pair of knitting needles."

13. I Started Therapy So I Could Take Better Care Of Myself — Matt Ortile

"I’d known for a while that I needed to see a therapist. It wasn’t until I felt like I could do without help that I finally sought it."

14. I’m Mending My Broken Relationship With Food — Anita Badejo

"After a lifetime struggling with disordered eating, I’m still figuring out how to have a healthy relationship with my body and what I feed it."

15. I Found Love In A Hopeless Mess — Kate Conger

"Dehoarding my partner’s childhood home gave me a way to understand his mother, but I’m still not sure how to live with the habit he’s inherited."

16. When Taking Anxiety Medication Is A Revolutionary Act — Tracy Clayton

"I had to learn how to love myself enough to take care of myself. It wasn’t easy."

Topics in this article

• Mental Health

Is it OK to discuss mental health in an essay?

Mental health struggles can create challenges you must overcome during your education and could be an opportunity for you to show how you’ve handled challenges and overcome obstacles. If you’re considering writing your essay for college admission on this topic, consider talking to your school counselor or with an English teacher on how to frame the essay.

Also Found On

Mental Health - List of Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

This section is dedicated to argumentative and persuasive essays on mental health awareness in the United States. Mental illness and psychological problems are social issues that require a solution. A student can represent their point of view and perspective through an argumentative essay about mental health. What causes this problem and which is the solution would be perfect subjects for this type of paper.

It’s always a challenging task for students to reflect on illnesses, so to get a hint on how to start writing, you can look at the thesis statement and research paper samples on mental health on our website.

As often, start with a coherent introduction, outline, and title planning the structure of a paper. Consult research essay topics and argumentative topics if necessary.

Having studied all the samples, topics for ideas, and mental illness essay examples compose the main part, giving reasons for the mental diseases, ways to cure them, and arguments on why a mental illness should be considered a severe health problem.

Supply of Mental Health Insurance Coverage

Introduction Affordable medical care provisions offers the best services for mental health, this is after the introduction of the Affordable Care Act. The act requires that all individuals and employers subscribe to the insurance benefit plan. Purity in mental health acts like a rectifier of unfairness in the health insurance. However due to the increasing mental problems the total spending has increased, based on results from the health insurance companies (Schroeder, 2012). Another evidence has suggested and found it prudent […]

Mental Health Counseling

I am a mental health social worker at a mental health agency. My major role in the agency is to counsel the mentally ill clients. The counseling is as a result of the ideology that individuals with serious mental illness are examined to encounter a variety of barriers that are likely to impede their development in career. Competencies for the course The mental health counseling has different competencies that include having genuine interest in others. In this, one is required […]

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Particularly most of the trained nurses theatres a vital role in mental health depending on field of specialty. Hence, in this level my main concept of concern will be based psychiatric nurses with which have chosen to pursue for my masters level. Regardless of the education, I am ascertained by the specialization and exposure as it gives skills to handle some of the technical responsibilities with most of the patients. This practitioners serve primarily in the care of mental health […]

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Social Media and Mental Health

Technology. Are we better off with it or without it? Can we keep up with the problems that it causes? These are the questions that are on everyone’s mind, especially those of us who deal with adolescents. Those of us who basically grew up last century (1950 – 1980) saw a lot of changes in technology. Those changes for the most part were ones that made daily life better. The television, computers, the internet, and different parts of the medical […]

Mental Health and Obesity

The obesity rate in America is at an all-time high, and it seems there is no end in sight. Obesity not only affects adults, but children as well. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines obesity as “Weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height.” (CDC, 2016) Soccer not only improves physical health and lessens obesity, but also mental health. Working out at least once a day makes a person […]

Effects of Childhood Trauma on Children Development

Anyone can experience trauma at any time. The trauma can be caused by nature, human beings or by oneself. People endure much when they experience trauma and their ability to handle it can determine the level of the effect of the trauma and their long-term well-being. Reportedly, children are incredibly susceptible to trauma because their brain and coping skills are still developing. Thus, they often grapple with long terms effects of uncontrolled trauma. While childhood trauma may vary regarding pervasiveness […]

Mental Health Concerns for Children in Foster Care

Child maltreatment often results in removal from the parental home and increases the risk for behavioral health concerns.  The foster care experience can further increase this risk.  It is therefore wise to consider aspects of mental health for children in foster care including prevalence, risk, treatment, and policy recommendations. Keywords: child maltreatment, foster care, mental health, behavioral health, adverse childhood experiences Children who have experienced maltreatment are often placed in foster care.  Not only does child maltreatment increase the risk […]

Veterans Mental Health Care

Mental health disparities affect a large amount of population across the United States. However, nobody is more affected by unstable mental health than those members of the military and their families. With the increase in the need for security in different areas of the world, military soldiers are deployed to assist in securing and protecting those areas. Often, these soldiers see combat and are affected in their mental state. Not only are the soldiers affected by the deployment, their families […]

Effects of Childhood Trauma on Development and Adulthood

It is no secret that experiencing childhood trauma can have many negative effects on an individual’s life both in childhood and adulthood. Trauma can include events such as physical or sexual abuse, surviving a serious car accident, witnessing a violent event, and more. As trauma is defined in the dictionary as a deeply distressing or disturbing experience, it is no surprise that a disturbing event during childhood can have negative effects throughout an individual’s lifetime. However, this paper will dive […]

The Mental Health Stigma

Mental health holds no bias on who it targets, no matter your gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or country you reside in, you or someone you know can suffer from a mental health disorder. Regardless of how merciless mental disorders can be, there is still an overbearing stigma behind it all. Some say it doesn’t exist, others say you are “crazy” and most importantly it is not acceptable to talk about in schools or at work without fear of being […]

Mental Health Problem Solution

As many know, mental illness has affected many individuals for quite some time, affecting individuals from every age spectrum, and for some disorders, every recorded era. Many have developed different ways to treat their illness. Some help and some showed no progress. But why is it still so relevant, yet irrelevant, in our current society? Many know it exists, yet, they stay narrowly-minded fixated to only physiological health issues. Many theorize that it may be because of some medical field’s […]

Applied Behavior Analysis and its Effects on Autism

Abstract During my research i have found several studies that have been done to support the fact that Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) does in fact make a positive impact on children with Autism through discrete trials. It is based on the thought that when a child is rewarded for a positive behavior or correct social interaction the process will want to be repeated. Eventually one would phase out the reward. Dr Lovaas, who invented this method, has spent his career […]

How Cyberbullying Impact on Mental Health

Abstract Cyberbullying has been at an all time high since the invention of technology. With the use of cell phones and the internet it now easier then ever for adolescents to bully one another through text messages, social media, and through email. The internet it an extraordinary piece of technology but it can also be used to bully others. The majority of adolescents who bully through the internet or text messages don’t understand or know the dangers and how harmful […]

Soldier’s Mental Health in all Quiet on the Western Front

All Quiet on the Western Front is a novel written by Erich Maria Remarque, and this book is based on the setting of World War 1. It explores the perspective of a German soldier named Paul Baumer going through his experience of being in the war and giving the readers the lens about the reality of war. The book also focuses on the soldiers’ feelings on the detachment from the civilian life they felt when returning home from the front. […]

The Impact of Friendships on a Woman’s Mental Health

Abstract Friendships are one of the most valuable relationships we have on this planet. I would almost say that we need it as much as we need food and water. Because God created us as relational creatures, we crave relationships with each other (Matthew 22:36-40 New International Version). We cannot survive without closeness to one another. In her article Roberto stated that “friendships are an important part of the informal social network of most older adults” (Roberto, 1997 p.1). There […]

The Negative Effects of Social Media on Mental Health

The rapid growth of social media began in the early 2000s and has not slowed down since. The most popular platforms include Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook which all allow people to share photos and videos of themselves, their family and friends, their everyday activities, express their own views and opinions and connect in so many other ways. It has given a voice to anyone with access to a computer or phone and also helps enhance learning opportunities. But social […]

Drug Abuse – Destructive Pattern

Drug abuse is the destructive pattern of using substances that leads to uncounted problems and diseases in the human body. It is a physical and psychological term which takes dependence on human activities. Drugs create bad effects on human life like anxiety, impaired social relations, depression, hopelessness, rejection etc. Impaired social relations and suicide are considered the worst consequences of addiction. The drugs have negative consequences on one's life. If the addicts were able to see the reality of their […]

Mental Health in Schools

Gun safety and mental health concerns have been at battle for many years and have currently escalated with the rise in school shootings across the country. Research about what schools have done to prevent such travesties are interesting to note. Are zero tolerance policies really effective? Or do these issues stem beyond the trigger? Student and teacher protestors can be seen outside state capital and national buildings urging lawmakers to make changes to the policies regarding state and national gun […]

Mental Health of Teens and the Catcher in the Rye

What people never understand is that depression isn't about the outside; it's about the inside, a quote asserted by Jasmine Warga. Associating with the black cloud of depression by concealing one's true feelings is the way many people were brought up by. Depression has a way of silently striking a person, similar to the way it overtook Holden Caulfield, in the book The Catcher in the Rye (genre: literary realism), written by J.D Salinger. Although Holden Caulfield was never clearly […]

Mental Health and Social Media

On June 14th, 2017, 12-year-old Mallory Grossman took her life away after being told to kill herself on Snapchat. A girl who was extremely involved, bright, and enthusiastic, was completely tormented by bullies online. It all started at school, but she could never escape the bullying once she got home and hopped on social media. They sent the 12-year-old mean messages through posts on Instagram and Snapchat, calling her “fat”, “a loser”, and even more cruel, proposing her to kill […]

The Dark Side of Adoption: Mental Health in Adoptees

To an outsider, the idea of adoption may seem as a very fruitful endeavor – the birth family gets spared of the financial and time-consuming burden that can come with having another child while the said adoptee gets placed into a more stable environment, with a family who can provide for them in ways the birth family cannot. While on paper this ideology might ring with a perfect tune, to those who have lived as adoptees know the tone to […]

The Brain of a Psycopath

Psychopathy refers to a complex condition that encompasses affective and interpersonal traits like lack of behavior control, guilt, remorse, lack of empathy promiscuity and glibness (Kiehl). A lot is known about psychopathy assessment however, little is known about the associated brain disturbances. It's a severe mental disorder and believed to affect about 1% of global population (Kiehl). This paper discusses three areas of psychopaths brain including amygdala, the prefrontal cortex and extended paralimbic structures. Psychopaths have minimal activity both in […]

Exercise Benefits for Physical and Mental Health

Everyone knows that exercise helps your physical health and can help you lose weight, but is that the most important part of exercise? The more research that is done on overall health we are finding that exercise doesn’t just help your physical health, but also can help release stress, help your immune system, improve mental health, and help impact the body in almost every way. There is more to it than just going out and running or lifting weights and […]

Importance of Mental Health

What is Mental Health? According to(mentalhealth.gov) “mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being, which affects how we think, feel, act, relate to others and handle stress and everyone is affected by it.” In life, you are faced with countless challenges and some being more extreme than the other. For example, dealing with the loss of a loved one now, although that's something very hard to deal with eventually people with bounce back and cope overtime but sadly some […]

Domestic Violence and Women’s Mental Health

Domestic violence occurs worldwide irrespective of culture, geographical and historical period. There are many factors that cause or lead to domestic violence and they are: Unmet role expectations. Unmet role expectations on the part of the wife or husband could lead to domestic violence in the family. If women fail to fulfil basic domestic responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning, managing household budgets and taking care of child, it often leads to domestic violence. Child care was a source of argument […]

Marijuana Mental Health Depression

Within the past five years there has been an increase in availability for marijuana and an increase in attitudes for marijuana. 20 states have legalized marijuana for medical use (NORML). 8 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use (NORML). Fifty-seven percent of American adults support the legalization, and 69% of American adults believe alcohol is more harmful to your health than marijuana (pewsearch.org). Due to the increased interest of marijuana, it has raised some questions especially concerning mental […]

The Unfamiliar Childhood Disorder – Reactive Attachment Disorder

The purpose of this paper is that a study was conducted for the diagnosis of Reactive attachment dsorder (RAD). This study was assessed with using the Relationships Problem Questionnaire (RPQ) and Reactive Attachment Disorder – Checklist (RAD-C). Chronbach's alpha of was used to test inter-rater, reliability and test-retest reliability (Thrall, Hall, Golden, & Sheaffer, 2009). There were fifty-three parents and caregivers who participated in the study. The first group were composed of children and adolescents who had former diagnoses of […]

Mental Health Screenings and the Effect on Gun Violence

Historically speaking, guns were used for hunting and for protection. In the late 1700's, the Revolutionary War began from Britain's pursuit to take away the colonists weaponry and oppress them. Lexington and Concord was the beginning of the fight for freedom. When Britain surrendered at Yorktown in 1781, the colonists had won their independence. The first constitution called the Articles of Confederation was ratified by all thirteen colonies in 1781 and was in place until 1789 when the U.S Constitution […]

Crime and Punishment: Women Mental Health in Prison

An unsafe living environment is a risk factor for many future crimes, as young women who run away from home to avoid abuse are more likely to get involved in drug distribution, prostitution and property crime (DeHart, 2008). Drug distribution, prostitution and property crime (such as robbery and theft) become their only source of fast and reliable income while substance abuse is an unfortunate and tragic by-product of the drug trade, as many women self-medicate in an attempt to cope […]

Schizophrenia: Mind and Mental Health

Psychological clarity is something that everyone strives for. A mind that is free from abundant clutter and jumbled thoughts that bring on stress and negativity. Everyone wants a mind that is able to recognize what is presented to it. A reliable psyche that is free from hallucinations and unwanted paranoia. Even though clarity can be achieved, certain illnesses can hinder individuals from reaching it. There are a multitude of disorders that affect the mind in more ways than one. The […]

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How To Write An Essay On Mental Health

Introduction to mental health as an essay topic.

When writing an essay on mental health, it's essential to understand its complexity and significance in today's society. Mental health refers to the state of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and it also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. In your introduction, define mental health and its importance in maintaining overall well-being. Clarify the specific aspect of mental health you plan to explore, whether it's discussing a particular mental disorder, examining the impact of mental health on various life aspects, or analyzing mental health policies. This introduction should provide a clear context for your essay and highlight its relevance.

Exploring the Various Aspects of Mental Health

Dedicate the main body of your essay to a thorough exploration of your chosen aspect of mental health. If focusing on a specific mental disorder, discuss its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. For a broader approach, you might analyze the factors that contribute to good or poor mental health, such as genetics, environment, lifestyle, and societal influences. Include current research and statistics to back up your points and provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Remember to handle the subject with sensitivity and empathy, especially when discussing conditions that may affect your readers or their loved ones.

Addressing Challenges and Misconceptions

Another critical aspect of your essay should be addressing the challenges and misconceptions surrounding mental health. Discuss the stigma often associated with mental illness and its impact on individuals seeking help or treatment. Examine the barriers to accessing mental health care, such as cost, lack of resources, or cultural attitudes. You can also explore common misconceptions about mental health and how they hinder societal understanding and support for those affected. This section is crucial in shedding light on the obstacles faced in the realm of mental health and advocating for a more informed and supportive approach.

Concluding with the Importance of Mental Health Awareness

In your conclusion, summarize the main points discussed in your essay and reflect on the significance of mental health awareness and support. Emphasize the need for open dialogue, education, and comprehensive care to promote mental well-being. Discuss how increasing mental health awareness can benefit individuals and society as a whole, leading to a more empathetic and healthier community. Your conclusion should not only tie together your analysis but also inspire readers to recognize the importance of mental health and advocate for better support and resources in their communities.

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100+ argumentative essay topics on mental health | example & outline, bob cardens.

• September 2, 2022
• Essay Topics and Ideas

Argumentative Essay Topics on Mental Health. Mental health is an important and often overlooked topic. In this article, we’ll explore some argumentative essay topics related to mental health .

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Argumentative Essay Topics about Mental Health

1. Is there a connection between mental health and physical health? 2. How does mental illness affect a person’s ability to function in society? 3. What are the most effective treatments for mental illness? 4. Are there any effective prevention strategies for mental illness? 5. What is the relationship between mental health and substance abuse? 6. How does poverty affect mental health? 7. What are the most common mental disorders? 8. What are the consequences of untreated mental illness? 9. What are the risk factors for developing mental illness? 10. How can mental illness be effectively diagnosed?

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Argumentative essay topics about depression

1. Depression is a real mental health condition.

2. Depression is more than just feeling sad.

3. Depression can lead to serious physical health problems.

4. Depression is treatable with medication and therapy.

5. People with depression can lead happy, fulfilling lives.

6. Untreated depression can be deadly.

7. Depression is often misunderstood and stigmatized.

8. Depression is not a sign of weakness or a character flaw.

9. Anyone can develop depression, even people who seem to have it all together.

10. There is no single cause of depression, but there are risk factors that can make someone more likely to develop the condition.

Argumentative Essay Topics on Mental Health. Mental health is an important and often overlooked topic. In this article, we’ll explore some argumentative essay topics related to mental health.

Argumentative essay about mental health in schools

1. Mental health should be taught in schools. 2. There should be more support for mental health in schools. 3. Mental health should be taken more seriously in schools. 4. Schools should do more to prevent mental health problems. 5. Schools should do more to help students with mental health problems. 6. Mental health problems are increasing in schools. 7. school counselors are not trained to deal with mental health issues 8. most school don’t have a mental health policy 9. lack of awareness about mental health among school staff 10. stigma and discrimination against mental health patients

Argumentative essay on mental health stigma

Argumentative essay topics about mental health can be very controversial and sensitive. However, there are many people who are open to discussing these topics and raising awareness about mental health. Here are twenty argumentative essay topics about mental health that you can use for your next essay.

1. How does society view mental health? 2. Do we need to break the stigma around mental health? 3. How can we better support those with mental health conditions? 4. What is the link between mental health and addiction? 5. How does trauma affect mental health? 6. What are the most effective treatments for mental health conditions? 7. Are there any natural remedies for mental health conditions? 8. How does diet affect mental health? 9. How does exercise affect mental health? 10. What is the link between sleep and mental health? 11. What are the warning signs of a mental health condition? 12. When should someone seek professional help for a mental health condition? 13. How can family and friends support someone with a mental health condition? 14. What are the most common myths about mental health? 15. How does stigma impact those with mental health conditions?

16. How can we destigmatize mental health? 17. What is the link between mental health and violence? 18. How does mental health affect overall health? 19. What are the most common mental health disorders? 20. What are the most effective treatments for mental health disorders?

Mental health debate topics for students

1. The definition of mental health 2. The different types of mental illness 3. The causes of mental illness 4. The treatments for mental illness 5. The side effects of mental illness 6. The impact of mental illness on society 7. The cost of mental health care 8. Mental health in the workplace 9. Mental health in the media 10. Stigma and discrimination against those with mental illness 11. The impact of trauma on mental health 12. Mental health during pregnancy and postpartum 13. Children’s mental health 14. Geriatric mental health 15. Global perspectives on mental health 16. Religion and mental health 17. Cultural competence in mental health care 18. Social media and mental health 19.Nutrition and mental health

20. Exercise and mental health

Expository essay topics about mental illness

1. How does mental illness affect one’s ability to work? 2. What are the most common types of mental illness? 3. How can mental illness be prevented? 4. What are the most effective treatments for mental illness? 5. How does mental illness impact relationships? 6. What are the financial costs of mental illness? 7. How does stigma affect those with mental illness? 8. What are the most common myths about mental illness? 9. How does mental illness differ from addiction? 10. What are the early warning signs of mental illness?

Debates about mental health

1. The definition of mental health is contested and argued by professionals in the field. 2. Some people argue that mental health is a social construction, while others believe that it is a real and valid medical condition. 3. Mental health is often stigmatized in society, and those who suffer from mental illness are often seen as weak or crazy. 4. Mental health is often viewed as something that can be cured, when in reality it is a lifelong battle for many people. 5. Mental illness is often seen as an individual responsibility to deal with, when in reality it affects not just the individual but also their families and loved ones. 6. It is often said that people with mental illness are not able to function in society, when in fact many people with mental illness are high-functioning individuals. 7. Mental health is often viewed as an all-or-nothing proposition, when in reality there is a spectrum of mental health conditions that range from mild to severe. 8. People with mental illness are often treated differently than other people, and they are often discriminated against. 9. There is a lot of misinformation about mental health, and this leads tomisunderstanding and fear. 10. Mental health is a complex issue, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to addressing it.

Persuasive topics related to mental health

1. The link between mental health and physical health. 2. The benefits of therapy and counseling. 3. The importance of early intervention for mental health issues. 4. The impact of trauma on mental health. 5. The correlation between mental health and substance abuse. 6. The connection between mental health and chronic illness. 7. The relationship between mental health and chronic pain. 8. Mental health in the workplace. 9. Mental health in the military. 10. Mental health in schools. 11. Children’s mental health issues. 12. Teens and mental health issues. 13. Elderly mental health issues. 14. Cultural issues and mental health. 15. Religion and mental health. 16. The stigma of mental illness. 17. Mental health awareness and education. 18. Mental health advocacy. 19. Funding for mental health services. 20. Access to mental health care.

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• School Education /

Importance of Mental Health Essay

• Updated on  
• Apr 9, 2024

Essay on the Importance of Mental Health : A person in good mental health may learn and work efficiently, overcome obstacles in life, realise their full potential, and contribute back to their community. It is an essential component of health and welfare that upholds our ability to make decisions, build relationships, and have an impact on the world around us both as people and as a society. A fundamental human right is mental health. Furthermore, it is for socio-economic, communal, and personal growth.

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Table of Contents

• 1.1 Understanding Mental Health and Its Importance
• 1.2 Benefits of Good Mental Health
• 1.3 Conclusion
• 2 100-word Paragraph on the Importance of Mental Health

Essay on the Importance of Mental Health in 500 Words

Mental wellness goes beyond simply being free from mental illness. Everybody experiences it differently, and it falls on a complex range with varying degrees of difficulty and distress, in addition to perhaps having quite distinct social and therapeutic impacts.

Mental health issues encompass a range of mental states and disorders, including psychosocial disabilities and mental disorders, that are linked to considerable suffering, impaired functioning, or self-harm risk. Although it’s not always the case, people with mental health disorders are more likely to have lower levels of mental well-being.

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Understanding Mental Health and Its Importance

An emotionally calm and fit individual can handle emotionally challenging circumstances with ease and always feels lively and fully alive. One needs to be physically fit to be emotionally powerful. Even though mental health is a personal matter and what affects one person may not affect another, mental health problems are often caused by several important factors.

Our emotional state, such as anger, depression, fear, irritation, and negative thinking, impacts how fit we are. Regular exercise contributes to a high level of physical fitness because physically fit people are happier and more capable of handling stressful and depressing conditions.

It is suggested that mental fitness entails psychological well-being. It indicates feeling good about our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, all of which enhance our capacity to enjoy life. It strengthens the inner capacity for self-determination. It is a proactive, optimistic term that eschews any potential negative ideas. Cognitive fitness is widely used to characterise the capacity for reason, comprehension, and rational thought by psychologists, mental health professionals, corporations, educational institutions, and the general public.

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Benefits of Good Mental Health

Numerous advantages of good mental health support general well-being and quality of life. The first benefit is that it increases resilience, which makes it simpler for people to handle the highs and lows of life. Resilience fosters self-development and fortitude in the face of adversity, making it feasible to effectively manage stressors and adapt to differences and barriers. Additionally, a person’s ability to effectively manage negative emotions like sadness or anxiety as well as several positive emotions like contentment, happiness, and peace are all made possible by having good mental health. 

Furthermore, the establishment and upkeep of wholesome relationships are critically dependent on mental health. People who are in good mental health have good communication skills, empathy, and support for one another, which promote relationships and interactions that are constructive. Additionally, there is a strong correlation between better mental and physical health outcomes. People who place a high priority on their mental health are also more likely to practice healthy habits that improve physical health overall and lower their risk of disease, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and enough sleep. Finally, mental health improves performance and productivity across a range of life domains, including work, school, and personal objectives. Better concentration, judgement, and creativity are fostered by a focused and clear mind, which eventually results in greater success and fulfilment.

The general well-being and quality of life are contingent upon mental health. One of the body’s most potent organs, the mind, controls how every other organ functions. Our body as a whole works differently when our minds are unsettled. Being in excellent mental and physical condition is the key to success in anything in life. People should emphasise preserving the state of their minds in the same manner that they manage their physical well-being, given the adverse effects of mental illness. The physical and mental states of an individual are inextricably linked.

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100-word Paragraph on the Importance of Mental Health

Quick Read: Essay on Mental Health in English

Ans: Elements of mental well-being include psychological, social, and emotional health. It affects our feelings, thoughts, and actions. It affects our capacity for stress management, social interaction, and intelligent decision-making. Every stage of life—from childhood and adolescence to adulthood—values mental health.

Ans: Some advice for enhancing your mental health Make an effort to de-stress. Look for methods to be creative and learn. Take some time to enjoy the outdoors. Make connections with other people. Take care of your physical well-being. Make an effort to get better sleep.

Ans: Organisations around the world will have the opportunity to come together in observance of World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2024, with the theme “Mental health is a universal human right.” 

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• Search More Search for this keyword Advanced search
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• Volume 5, Issue 6
• What is mental health? Evidence towards a new definition from a mixed methods multidisciplinary international survey
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• Laurie A Manwell 1 , 2 ,
• Skye P Barbic 1 , 3 ,
• Karen Roberts 1 ,
• Zachary Durisko 1 ,
• Cheolsoon Lee 1 , 4 ,
• Emma Ware 1 ,
• Kwame McKenzie 1
• 1 Social Aetiology of Mental Illness Training Program , Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario , Canada
• 2 Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology , Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western , London, Ontario , Canada
• 3 Department of Psychiatry , University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia , Canada
• 4 Department of Psychiatry , Gyeongsang National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University , Jinju , Republic of Korea
• Correspondence to Dr Laurie A Manwell; lauriemanwell{at}gmail.com

Objective Lack of consensus on the definition of mental health has implications for research, policy and practice. This study aims to start an international, interdisciplinary and inclusive dialogue to answer the question: What are the core concepts of mental health?

Design and participants 50 people with expertise in the field of mental health from 8 countries completed an online survey. They identified the extent to which 4 current definitions were adequate and what the core concepts of mental health were. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted of their responses. The results were validated at a consensus meeting of 58 clinicians, researchers and people with lived experience.

Results 46% of respondents rated the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC, 2006) definition as the most preferred, 30% stated that none of the 4 definitions were satisfactory and only 20% said the WHO (2001) definition was their preferred choice. The least preferred definition of mental health was the general definition of health adapted from Huber et al (2011). The core concepts of mental health were highly varied and reflected different processes people used to answer the question. These processes included the overarching perspective or point of reference of respondents (positionality), the frameworks used to describe the core concepts (paradigms, theories and models), and the way social and environmental factors were considered to act . The core concepts of mental health identified were mainly individual and functional, in that they related to the ability or capacity of a person to effectively deal with or change his/her environment. A preliminary model for the processes used to conceptualise mental health is presented.

Conclusions Answers to the question, ‘ What are the core concepts of mental health ?’ are highly dependent on the empirical frame used. Understanding these empirical frames is key to developing a useful consensus definition for diverse populations.

• MENTAL HEALTH
• mental illness
• social determinants of health
• human rights
• primary health care

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007079

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Strengths and limitations of this study

Our study identifies a major obstacle for integrating mental health initiatives into global health programmes and health service delivery, which is a lack of consensus on a definition, and initiates a global, interdisciplinary and inclusive dialogue towards a consensus definition of mental health .

Despite the limitations of a small sample size and response saturation, our sample of global experts was able to demonstrate dissatisfaction with current definitions of mental health and significant agreement among subcomponents, specifically factors beyond the ‘ability to adapt and self-manage’, such as ‘diversity and community identity’ and creating distinct definitions, ‘one for individual and a parallel for community and society’.

This research demonstrates how experts in the field of mental health determine the core concepts of mental health, presenting a model of how empirical discourses shape definitions of mental health.

We propose a transdomain model of health to inform the development of a comprehensive definition capturing all of the subcomponents of health: physical, mental and social health.

Our study discusses the implications of the findings for research, policy and practice in meeting the needs of diverse populations.

Introduction

A major obstacle for integrating mental health initiatives into global health programmes and primary healthcare services is lack of consensus on a definition of mental health. 1–3 There is little agreement on a general definition of ‘mental health’ 4 and currently there is widespread use of the term ‘mental health’ as a euphemism for ‘mental illness’. 5 Mental health can be defined as the absence of mental disease or it can be defined as a state of being that also includes the biological, psychological or social factors which contribute to an individual’s mental state and ability to function within the environment. 4 , 6–11 For example, the WHO 12 includes realising one's potential, the ability to cope with normal life stresses and community contributions as core components of mental health. Other definitions extend beyond this to also include intellectual, emotional and spiritual development, 13 positive self-perception, feelings of self-worth and physical health, 11 , 14 and intrapersonal harmony. 8 Prevention strategies may aim to decrease the rates of mental illness but promotion strategies aim at improving mental health. The possible scope of promotion initiatives depends on the definition of mental health.

The purpose of this paper is to begin a global, interdisciplinary, interactive and inclusive series of dialogues leading to a consensus definition of mental health. It has been stimulated and informed by a recent debate about the need to redefine the term health . Huber et al 15 emphasised that health should encompass an individual's “ability to adapt and to self-manage” in response to challenges, rather than achieving “a state of complete wellbeing” as stated in current WHO 6 , 12 definitions. They also argued that a new definition must consider the demographics of stakeholders involved and future advances in science. 15 Responses to the article suggested the process of reconceptualising health be extended “beyond the esoteric world of academia and the pragmatic world of policy” 16 to include a “much wider lens to the aetiology of health” 17 along with patients and lay members of the public. Huber et al's 15 definition of health could include mental health but it is not clear that this would be satisfactory to patients, practitioners or researchers. We aimed to compare the satisfaction of mental health specialists, patients and the public with Huber et al ’s definition and other currently used definitions of mental health. We also asked them what they considered to be the core components of mental health.

Participants and procedures

A pool of 25 researchers in mental health was identified through literature/internet searches to capture expertise in (1) ‘community mental health’ and ‘public mental health’, (2) ‘human rights’ and ‘global mental health’, (3) ‘positive mental health’ and ‘resilience’, (4) ‘recovery’ and ‘mental health’, and (5) ‘natural selection’ and ‘evolutionary origins’ of ‘mental health’. Each of these five areas was assigned to an author with expertise in that area who then conducted a series of literature/internet searches using the key terms listed above. Proposed participants were identified based on their expert contributions, such as published papers, presentations, community outreach, and other evidence of work in their field that had implications for mental health. Each author presented their list to the research team which then narrowed the number to 5 per category for a total of 25 initial participants. An additional 31 individuals were added, which included people with lived experience of mental illness as well as the mentors of the Social Aetiology of Mental Illness (SAMI) Training Programme (funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and includes a multidisciplinary group of experts with diverse interests, including biological, social and psychological sciences); all of these participants were identified through the SAMI/Centre for Addiction and Mental Health network. Fifty-six participants were sent the survey in the first round. Two subsequent rounds were completed using a snowballing technique: each person in round 1 was asked to indicate up to three other people they thought should receive the survey, which was then distributed to those identified individuals. This was repeated in round 2.

The ‘What is Mental Health?’ survey was created and distributed electronically using the SurveyMonkey platform. Respondents were asked to describe their areas of expertise, and list or describe the core concepts of mental health. Respondents ranked four definitions (without citations) of mental health 12 , 15 , 18 (McKenzie K. Community definition of Mental Health. What Is Mental Health Survey. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, personal communication, 15 January 2014) and a fifth choice of ‘None of the existing definitions are satisfactory’ in order of preference (1=most preferred, 5=least preferred), and could rate multiple definitions as most and/or least preferred (see table 1 ). Respondents were asked to state, ‘What was missing and why?’ from these definitions.

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Current definitions of mental health and participant rank ordering from most to least preferred

Data analysis

Thematic analysis 19 was used to evaluate the core concepts of mental health, followed by triangulation (ie, multiple methods, analysts or theory/perspectives) to verify and validate the qualitative data analysis. 20

First, multiple analysts with knowledge from different disciplines reviewed the data. 20 Our collective areas of expertise encompass the following: animal models of human behaviour; arts; clinical, cognitive, political and social psychology; ecology; education; epidemiology; evolutionary theory; humanities; knowledge translation; measurement; molecular biology; neuroscience; occupational therapy; psychiatry; qualitative and quantitative research; social aetiology of mental illness; toxicology and transcultural health. All transcripts were reviewed by each coder first independently, then collectively, to become familiar with the data and create a mutually agreed on code book using NVivo 10. Codes were organised into themes, and compared and contrasted manually and through NVivo10 coding queries within each major theme and across response items. Initial models derived from the data were created and validated by the multidisciplinary research team.

Second, method triangulation was used to assess the consistency of our findings. 20 Preliminary results from the survey were presented and discussed at the 4th Annual Social Aetiology of Mental Illness Conference (20 May 2014) at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto (Toronto, Ontario, Canada). Attendees were divided into five focus groups of 10–12 people facilitated by a project leader and 2 trained note takers. The two consecutive 1 h focused discussions used the ORID method (Objective, Reflective, Interpretive and Decisional) 21 in order to elicit feedback on the methods and results of the survey. All responses from each of the five groups were transcribed by two recorders and disseminated to the research team for individual and collaborative review.

A second round of data analysis was conducted to validate the results according to key areas of interest and critique reported by the conference participants.

Survey respondents

Fifty-six surveys were distributed in the first round, 28 in the second and 38 in the third. Fifty people completed the survey (rounds 1, 2 and 3 had 32, 12 and 6 respondents, respectively) with a total response rate of 41%. Two-thirds of respondents (66%) were male and one-third were female (34%). Respondents’ current country of residence/employment included Canada (52%), UK (20%), USA (14%), Australia (6%), New Zealand (2%), Brazil (2%), South Africa (2%) and Togo (2%). The majority of respondents (72%) held academic positions at postsecondary institutions and were conducting research in the broad field of mental health. Sixty per cent were also involved in giving advice to mental health services or managing them. Thirty-four per cent of respondents were clinicians.

Survey items

Respondents had diverse expertise (see table 2 ). Forty-six per cent of respondents rated the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) 18 definition as their most preferred. However, 30% stated that none were satisfactory. The WHO definition 12 was preferred by 20%. The least preferred definition of mental health was the general definition of health adapted from Huber et al 15 (see table 1 ).

Self-reported areas of expertise

Analysis of the three open-ended items established four major themes— Positionality, Social/Environmental Factors, Paradigms/Theories/Models and the Core Concepts of Mental Health —and five-directional relationships between them ( figure 1 ). Positionality represented the overarching perspective or point-of-reference from which the Core Concepts were derived; whereas Paradigms/Theories/Models represented the theoretical framework within which the Core Concepts were described. Core Concepts represented factors related to the individual; these were distinguishable from the Social/Environmental Factors related to society. Five significant relationships between these themes were established ( figure 1 ). First, respondents’ theoretical framework (Direction A) influenced the overarching point-of-reference they used to describe the core concepts and vice versa (Direction B). Positionality and Paradigms/Theories/Models significantly influenced the core concepts respondents provided and the corresponding descriptions (Direction C). Respondents described how social and environmental factors impacted the core concepts (Direction D) and reciprocally, how the core concepts could influence society (Direction E) ( tables 3 and 4 ). Feedback from the conference focus groups showed support for these five-directional relationships but questioned whether there was evidence for other direct relationships, specifically the impact of Social/Environmental Factors on both Paradigms/Theories/Models and Positionality . A second round of data analysis confirmed these relationships were not explicitly reported by respondents in the survey. Respondents did not discuss how social factors (ie, education or employment) would impact the adoption of a particular paradigm, theory or model (ie, quality of life, evolutionary theory or biomedical model).

Theme—Positionality

Theme—Core Concepts

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Themes of Positionality, Core Concepts, Social/Environmental Factors, and Paradigms/Theories/Models. *Indicates answers specifically from the third open-ended question asking respondents to state “what is missing” from the definitions provided for ranking.

The theme of Positionality demonstrated how respondents positioned their conceptualisations of mental health within an explicit or implicit framework of understanding ( table 3 , figures 2 and 3 ). Several respondents described the core concepts in terms of binary or conflicting dynamics or as categorical or continuous . Some respondents pointed to the mutual exclusivity of ‘mental health’ and ‘mental illness’ while others described these concepts as distinct points separated on a continuum or as overlapping. Respondents specified the complexity of mental health, for example, positioning mental health explicitly outside of, and specifically in between, the individual and society. Several respondents framed the core concepts of mental health as descriptive versus prescriptive , arguing that these must be empirically determined and defined (ie, describing what is ) rather than prescribed according to values and morals (ie, describing what should be ). In accordance with Hume's Law (ie, an ‘ought’ cannot be derived from an ‘is’), 22 several respondents cautioned that problems of living, such as ‘poverty, vices, social injustices and stupidity’, should not be defined ‘as medical problems’. Many respondents described mental health in relation to hierarchical levels , and/or temporal trajectories , and/or context ( table 3 , figure 3 ). Respondents articulated the multiple levels at which mental health can be understood (ie, from the basic unit of the gene, through the individual and up to the globe) and how meaning changes across time (ie, mental health described as functioning in line with our evolutionary ancestors, to current developmental mechanisms and including expectations of a peaceful death and spiritual existence) and across context (ie, from region, to race, to culture, to epistemology). In the second round of data analysis, we searched for bias in participants’ reporting of evidence-based models and bias against other sources of information; there was support for objective and subjective sources in conceptualising mental health.

Positionality. The overarching perspective or point-of-reference used to describe the constructs of mental health and illness.

Complexity. Descriptions of mental health in relation to hierarchical levels, and/or spatial directions, and/or temporal trajectories.

A second theme of Paradigms/Theories/Models developed as respondents discussed the need to perceive health through various frameworks (eg, recovery, resilience, human flourishing, quality of life, developmental and evolutionary theories, cultural psychiatry and ecology). Some respondents noted that current definitions of mental health treat problems of living as medical problems, rather than adaptive responses to the conditions that people experience, and that alternative explanations should be considered: “An evolutionary approach to these conditions suggests that anxiety and depression (as responses to social stressors) evolved to help the individual take corrective action that could ameliorate the negative effects of these stressors”. Some respondents emphasised that ‘low’ mental health did not equate to mental illness, but rather a state of hopelessness and lack of personal autonomy, whereas ‘high’ mental health was demonstrated by ‘meaningful participation, community citizenship, and life satisfaction’. Others referenced Westerhof and Keyes's 23 two-continuum model describing mental illness and mental health as related by two distinct dimensions.

The Core Concepts of mental health ( figure 1 , table 4 ) largely described factors relating to the individual—as opposed to society—that are observed in correlation with mental health and which are necessary, to some degree or another, but not normally sufficient on their own to achieve mental health. Concepts related to agency, autonomy and control appeared frequently in relation to an individual's ability or capacity to effectively deal with and/or create change in his or her environment (Directions D–E). Agency/autonomy/control reappeared as an essential component of other core concepts: agency may be required in order to engage in meaningful participation (eg, ‘sense of being part of a vibrant society, with agency to make change for you and others, and supportive relationships and governance’) and in dignity (eg, ‘a state of mind that allows one to lead one's life knowing that one’s dignity and integrity as a human being is respected by others’). A cluster of concepts describing the self signified (1) the subjective experience of the individual as fundamental to well-being and (2) the importance of one's ability, confidence and desire to live in accordance with one's own values and beliefs in moving towards the fulfilment of one's goals and ambitions ( figure 1 ).

Social and Environmental Factors reflected the societal factors external to the individual that affect mental health. Although many respondents listed the basic necessities for general health/mental health (eg, housing, food security, access to health services, equitable access to public resources, childcare, education, transportation, support for families, respect for diversity, opportunities for building resilience, self-esteem, personal and social efficacy, growth, meaning and purpose, and sense of safety and belonging, and employment), some also recommended approaches to achieving social equity (eg, “mental health needs to be protected by applying antiracism, antioppression, antidiscrimination lens to prevention and treatment”) ( figure 1 , Direction D). A distinct category of human rights developed from responses to the third open-ended question (eg, “What is missing?”) ( figure 1 ). Several respondents suggested that a basic standard, analogous to a legal definition, is required ( table 3 ) and/or that “a human rights, political, economic and ecosystem perspective” should be included.

The international exploratory ‘What is Mental Health?’ survey sought the opinions of individuals, across multiple modes of inquiry, on what they perceived to be the core concepts of mental health. The survey found dissatisfaction with current definitions of mental health. There was no consensus among this group on a common definition. However, there was significant agreement among subcomponents of the definitions, specifically factors beyond the ‘ability to adapt and self-manage’, such as ‘diversity and community identity’ and creating distinct definitions, “one for individual and a parallel for community and society.” The Core Concepts of mental health that participants identified were predominantly centred on factors relating to the individual, and one's capacity and ability for choice in interacting with society. The concepts of agency, autonomy and control were commonly mentioned throughout the responses, specifically in regard to the individual's ability or capacity to effectively deal with and/or create change in his or her environment. Similarly, respondents pointed to the self as an essential component of mental health, signifying the subjective experience of the individual as fundamental to well-being, particularly in relationship to achieving one's valued goals. Respondents suggested that mentally healthy individuals are socially connected through meaningful participation in valued roles (ie, in family, work, worship, etc), but that mental health may involve being able to disconnect by choice, as opposed to being excluded (eg, having the capacity and ability to reject social, legal and theological practices). In contrast, Social and Environmental Factors reflected respondents’ emphasis on factors that are external to the individual and which can influence the core concepts of mental health. Many respondents reiterated the basic necessities for general health/mental health, similar to the foundations of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, 24 and their recommendations for achieving social equity.

Descriptions of the core concepts of mental health were highly influenced by respondents’ Positionality and Paradigms/Theories/Models of reference, which often propelled the discourse of “What is mental health?” in opposing directions. The debate as to whether mental health and illness are distinct constructs, or points of reference on a continuum of being, was a common theme. Respondents were either, adamant in asserting the distinction between the descriptive or prescriptive nature of the core concepts, or, ardent in integrating them, producing ideas such as describing mental health as a life free of poverty, discrimination, oppression, human rights violations and war. Respondents’ made repeated references to human rights, suggesting that a basic standard, analogous to a legal definition, is required, and that ‘a human rights, political, economic and ecosystem perspective’ should be included. Again, in the tradition of Hume's ‘ought–is’ distinction, several respondents cautioned that problems of living, such as ‘poverty, vices and social injustices…’ should not be defined ‘as medical problems’. The significance of this issue cannot be understated: while we asked respondents what the core concepts of mental health are , overwhelmingly they answered in terms of what they should be. This finding is similar to other issues in public health policy that address instances of ‘conflating scientific evidence with moral argument’. 15 , 22 Indeed, a primary criticism of the WHO definition of health is that its declaration of “complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing” 6 is prescriptive rather than descriptive. 15 Such a definition “contributes to the medicalization of society” and excludes most people, most of the time, and has little practical value “because ‘complete’ is neither operational nor measurable.” 15

Accordingly, we propose a transdomain model of health ( figure 4 ) to inform the development of a comprehensive definition for all aspects of health. This model builds on the three domains of health as described by WHO 6 , 12 and Huber et al, 15 and expands these definitions to include four specific overlapping areas and the empirical, moral and legal considerations discussed in the current study. First, all three domains of health should have a basic legal standard of functioning and adaptation. Our findings suggest that for physical health, a standard level of biological functioning and adaptation would include allostasis (ie, homeostatic maintenance in response to stress), whereas for mental health, a standard level of cognitive–emotional functioning and adaptation would include sense of coherence (ie, subjective experience of understanding and managing stressors), similar to Huber et al 's 15 proposal. However, for social health, a standard level of interpersonal functioning and adaptation would include interdependence (ie, mutual reliance on, and responsibility to, others within society), rather than Huber et al 's 15 focus on social participation (ie, balancing social and environmental challenges). Our results provide further insight into how these domains interact to affect overall quality of life. Integration of mental and physical health can be defined by level of autonomy (ie, the capacity for control over one's self), whereas integration of mental and social health can be defined by a sense of ‘us’ (ie, capacity for relating to others); the integration of mental and physical health can be defined by control (ie, capacity for navigating social spaces). The highest degree of integration would be defined by agency , the ability to choose one's level of social participation (eg, to accept, reject or change social, legal or theological practices). Such a transdomain model of health could be useful in developing cross-cultural definitions of physical, social and mental health that are both inclusive and empirically valid. For example, Valliant's 25 seven models for conceptualizing mental health across cultures are all represented, to varying degrees, within the proposed transdomain model of health . The basic standard of functioning across domains which is proposed here is congruent with Valliant's 25 criteria for mental health to be ‘conceptualised as above normal’ and defined in terms of ‘multiple human strengths rather than the absence of weaknesses’, including maturity, resilience, positive emotionality and subjective well-being. In addition, Valliant's 25 conceptualisation of mental health as ‘high socio-emotional intelligence’ is also represented in the transdomain model's highest level of integration of the three areas for full individual autonomy. Finally, Valliant's 25 cautions for defining positive mental health—being culturally sensitive, recognising that population averages do not equate to individual normalcy and that state and trait functioning may overlap, and contextualising mental health in terms of overall health—are all addressed within the transdomain model .

Transdomain Model of Health. This model builds on the three domains of health as described by WHO 6 , 12 and Huber et al 15 and expands these definitions to include four specific overlapping areas and the empirical, moral, and legal considerations discussed in the current study. There are three domains of health (ie, physical, mental, and social), each of which would be defined in terms of a basic (human rights) standard of functioning and adaptation . There are four dynamic areas of integration or synergy between domains and examples of how the core concepts of mental health could be used to define them.

Strengths and limitations of the current study

We are unaware of any study to date that has asked this research question to a group of international experts in the broad field of mental health. Although our survey sample was small (N=50), it was diverse with regard to place of origin and expertise; it was also further validated by participants (N=58) at a day-long conference on mental health through discussion, debate and written responses. The current study included global experts who dedicate their research and professional lives to advancing the standards of mental health. Of particular note was that little to no consensus among the selected group of experts on any particular definition was found. In fact, this was simultaneously a limitation and strength of the study: the small sample size limited the scope of the core concepts of mental health, but indicated that it was sufficient to demonstrate that there are highly divergent definitions that are largely dependent on the respondents’ frame of reference. It is possible that saturation was not achieved in regards to the diversity of responses. Further, more than half of the survey respondents were from Canada, which may have influenced the preference towards the PHAC definition of mental health. Although there were advantages to using a snowball sampling method, another type of sampling method (eg, cluster sampling, stratified sampling) may have resulted in more varied responses to the survey items. The next logical step would be to survey experts in countries currently not represented and then ultimately survey members of the general public with regard to their conceptual and pragmatic understanding of mental health. One of the a priori objectives for the survey was to eventually create a consensus definition of mental health that could be used in public policy; this objective was not communicated in the survey, nor did we actually ask this question. Our results indicate that finding consensus on a definition of mental health will require much more convergence in the frame of reference and common language describing components of mental health. Even we, as authors, have been challenged by consensus. For example, some of us wish to emphasise that future work should focus on developing an operational definition that can be applied across disciplines and cultures. Others among us suggest further exploring what purpose a definition of mental health would or should serve, and why. In contrast, others among us wish to emphasise the process of conceptualising mental health versus the outcome or application of such a definition. What we hoped would be a straightforward, simple question, designed to create consensus for a definition of mental health, ultimately demonstrated the nuanced but crucial epistemological and empirical influences on the understanding of mental health. Based on the results of the survey and conference, we present a preliminary model for conceptualising mental health. Our study provides evidence that if we are to try to come to a common consensus on a definition of mental health, we will need to understand the frame of reference of those involved and try to parse out the paradigms, positionality and the social/environmental factors that are offered from the core concepts we make seek to describe. Future work may also need to distinguish between the scientific evidence of mental health and the arguments for mental health . Similar debates in bioethics 22 , 26–28 demonstrate the theoretical and practical limitations of science for proscribing human behaviour, especially with regard to individual freedom and social justice.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that any practical use of a definition of health will depend on the epistemological and moral framework through which it was developed, and that the mental and social domains may be differentially influenced than the physical domain. A definition of health, grounded solely in biology, may be more applicable across diverse populations. A definition of health encompassing the mental and social domains may vary more in application, particularly across systems, cultures or clinical practices that differ in values (eg, spiritual, religious) and ways of understanding and being (eg, epistemology). A universal (global) definition based on the physical domain could be parsed out separately from several unique (local) definitions based on the mental and social domains. Understanding the history and evolution of the concept of mental health is essential to understanding the problems it was intended to solve, and what it may be used for in the future.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to extend their gratitude to their colleagues for their generous feedback, constructive critiques and recommendations for the project, and to the many volunteers who organised the conference. Special thanks to Nina Flora, Helen Thang, Andrew Tuck, Athena Madan, David Wiljer, Alex Jadad, Sean Kidd, Andrea Cortinois, Heather Bullock, Mehek Chaudhry and Anika Maraj.

• Whiteford HA ,
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• ↵ WHO . 2008 Policies and practices for mental health in Europe—meeting the challenges. http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/96450/E91732.pdf .
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• ↵ WHO . 1948 Constitution of the World Health Organization , 2006 http://www.who.int/governance/eb/who_constitution_en.pdf
• ↵ WHO . Prevention of mental disorders . Geneva : 2004 . http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/en/prevention_of_mental_disorders_sr.pdf
• Sartorius N
• ↵ WHO . Mental health: strengthening mental health promotion, 2001 ; Fact Sheet No. 220 Geneva, Switzerland , 2001 . Updated August 2014: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en/
• ↵ Health Education Authority (HEA) . Mental health promotion: a quality framework. London : HEA , 1997 .
• ↵ Mental Health Foundation (MHF) . What works for you? London : MHF, 2008 .
• Knottnerus JA ,
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• ↵ Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) . The human face of mental health and mental illness in Canada 2006 . Ottawa, ON : Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada , 2006 .
• Stanfield RB
• Westerhof GJ ,
• Valliant GE

Contributors All the authors contributed to the conceptualisation of the project. LAM wrote the manuscript. SB, KR, ZD, CL and KM contributed to the content and editing of the manuscript. LAM, SB, KR, ZD, CL and EW created the survey and conducted data analyses. SB, KR and LAM presented findings at the conference. LAM, SB, KR, ZD and EW led the focused discussion groups. KM supervised the project. LM is the guarantor.

Funding This work was performed with grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for the Social Aetiology of Mental Illness Training Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Competing interests None declared.

Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

Data sharing statement No additional are data available.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Psychiatry & Mental Health — Mental Health

Argumentative Essays About Mental Health

Hook examples for mental health essays, the personal experience hook.

Share a personal anecdote or experience related to mental health. Describe your journey or the experiences of someone close to you, highlighting the challenges and the importance of mental well-being.

The Stigma-Breaking Hook

Begin by discussing the stigma surrounding mental health. Explain how society's perceptions can hinder individuals from seeking help and why it's crucial to challenge these stereotypes.

The Statistics and Prevalence Hook

Start with shocking statistics or data on the prevalence of mental health issues. Highlight the scale of the problem and its impact on individuals and communities.

The Historical Perspective Hook

Explore the historical treatment of mental health. Discuss how society's understanding of mental illnesses has evolved over time and the significance of these changes.

The Celebrities and Advocacy Hook

Highlight the advocacy efforts of well-known figures who have openly discussed their mental health struggles. Explain how their stories have helped reduce stigma and raise awareness.

The Impact on Daily Life Hook

Discuss how mental health issues affect everyday life, including relationships, work, and overall well-being. Share relatable scenarios to engage readers emotionally.

The Psychological Insights Hook

Introduce a psychological concept or theory related to mental health. Explain its relevance and how it can provide valuable insights into human behavior and emotions.

The Global Mental Health Hook

Examine mental health on a global scale. Discuss disparities in access to mental health care and the impact of cultural factors on mental well-being.

The Resilience and Recovery Hook

Share stories of individuals who have overcome mental health challenges and emphasize the themes of resilience, recovery, and hope. Showcase the importance of seeking help and support.

The Call to Action Hook

Conclude your essay with a compelling call to action. Encourage readers to prioritize their mental health, seek help when needed, and advocate for better mental health care and awareness.

Proposal Essay Examples on Mental Health

When delving into the realm of proposal essays , it's crucial to explore a diverse array of topics that capture the complexities of societal issues. In this context, mental health emerges as a critical area deserving attention and analysis. Below, you'll find a curated list of proposal essay topics centered around mental health, aiming to spark insightful discussions and potential solutions.

• The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health Awareness
• Improving Access to Mental Health Services in Rural Communities
• Addressing Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness in Schools
• Implementing Mental Health Education Programs in the Workplace
• Enhancing Support Systems for Veterans' Mental Health
• Exploring Alternative Therapies for Managing Anxiety and Depression
• Promoting Mental Wellness Among College Students
• Integrating Mental Health Screening into Primary Care Settings
• Combatting Loneliness and Isolation Among the Elderly
• Creating Support Networks for Families of Individuals with Mental Illness

Melvin Udall Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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Why Do Teenagers Commit Suicide

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The Effects of Mental Health on Our Life

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The Importance of Understanding of Self-knowledge and The Subconscious Mind

Mental illness that affect millions of people, the topic of mental disorders in winnie the pooh, the importance of mental health awareness, mental illnesses: definition, kinds and its effects on society, the effects of the stigmatization of mental illness on the society, the theme of mental illness in "the woman in the window" written by a.j. finn, research of stigmatization of mental illness, the history of the treatment of mental illness in the middle ages, the cultural beliefs concerning mental illnesses in the south asian community, the effect of mental illnesses on art throughout different time periods, the perception of mental illnesses by senegalese people, supportive homes for people with serious mental illness, the problem of ignorance about mental illness, an examination of the six mental illnesses and its impact on human life, the special needs of the criminal justice on mental illness cases, serial killers with mental illnesses, the interrelation between mental illness and drug addiction, child abuse as a reason for childhood mental illness, bridging the gap between police officers and citizens with mental illnesses in canada.

A mental illness, referred to as a mental disorder or psychiatric disorder, is a condition characterized by disrupted behavioral or mental patterns that result in considerable distress or impairment to an individual's personal functioning.

Anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, eating disorders, sleep disorders, sexuality related disorders, other disorders.

Genetic and biological factors: Having a family history of mental illness can elevate the likelihood of experiencing such conditions. Additionally, specific genetic variations and imbalances in brain chemistry can contribute to an individual's susceptibility to mental health disorders. Environmental factors: Adverse childhood experiences, including trauma, abuse, neglect, or growing up in a stressful and unstable environment, increase the vulnerability to developing mental health issues. Psychological factors: Certain traits like high levels of neuroticism or low self-esteem can also contribute to an individual's susceptibility to mental health problems. Substance abuse: Alcohol and drug abuse is strongly associated with an increased risk of mental health disorders. Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions and chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, or neurological disorders, can be linked to a heightened risk of mental illness.

Emotional disturbances: persistent sadness, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, or a general sense of emptiness. Cognitive impairments: mental health disorders can affect cognitive processes such as thinking, concentration, memory, and decision-making. Individuals may experience difficulties in focusing, problem-solving, or retaining information. Behavioral changes: withdrawal from social activities, changes in sleep patterns, appetite fluctuations, increased substance use, self-harm, or engaging in risky behaviors. Distorted perceptions: hallucinations (perceiving things that are not there) or delusions (strongly held beliefs that are not based on reality). Impairment in functioning: mental illness often interferes with an individual's ability to function effectively in their daily life. This can include challenges in personal relationships, occupational difficulties, impaired academic performance, or a decline in overall quality of life. Physical symptoms: headaches, digestive problems, fatigue, or unexplained aches and pains.

Psychotherapy: also referred to as talk therapy, involves collaborating with a trained therapist to explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Its purpose is to gain insights, develop coping skills, and foster positive transformations. Medication: certain mental disorders can be aided by medication, such as antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, or mood stabilizers. These medications assist in regulating brain chemistry and alleviating symptoms. Lifestyle changes: adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, balanced nutrition, sufficient sleep, and effective stress management, can contribute to enhancing mental well-being. Support groups: becoming part of support groups or engaging in group therapy can provide a sense of community and empathy, allowing for the exchange of experiences and receiving support from peers. Alternative therapies: some individuals find alternative treatments like yoga, meditation, art therapy, or acupuncture beneficial. These practices can reduce stress, promote relaxation, and enhance emotional well-being. Hospitalization or intensive treatment programs: in severe cases or during mental health emergencies, hospitalization or intensive treatment programs may be required to ensure safety, stabilization, and access to specialized care.

The significance of the subject of mental illness cannot be overstated, as it holds profound relevance for individuals, families, and society at large. The far-reaching impact of mental health conditions on countless people globally necessitates attention and understanding. These conditions impose substantial suffering, impair daily functioning, and tragically, may even lead to loss of life. Recognizing and comprehending mental illness is imperative to foster awareness, combat societal stigma, and enable timely intervention. Prioritizing mental health enables the enhancement of overall well-being and life quality for those affected, while also driving the development of effective treatment methods, improved accessibility to resources, and the cultivation of supportive environments that nurture healing and resilience.

The topic of mental illness is immensely deserving of an essay due to its profound significance in today's society. Exploring mental illness provides an opportunity to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and promote understanding. By delving into this subject, one can shed light on the experiences of individuals facing mental health challenges, the impact on their lives, and the broader societal implications. It allows for an examination of the available resources, treatment approaches, and the need for improved mental healthcare systems. Addressing mental illness in an essay contributes to reducing stigma, fostering empathy, and inspiring action to create a more compassionate and supportive environment for those affected.

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. 2. World Health Organization. (2019). Mental disorders. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders 3. Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 617-627. 4. National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Mental health information. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/index.shtml 5. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 6. Greenberg, G. (2013). The book of woe: The DSM and the unmaking of psychiatry. New York, NY: Penguin Books. 7. Corrigan, P. W., Druss, B. G., & Perlick, D. A. (2014). The impact of mental illness stigma on seeking and participating in mental health care. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 15(2), 37-70. 8. Pincus, H. A., Davis, W. W., & McQueen, L. E. (2017). "Subthreshold" mental disorders: A review and synthesis of studies on minor depression and other "brand names." British Journal of Psychiatry, 190(4), 288-294. 9. Sartorius, N. (2017). Stigma and mental health. Lancet Psychiatry, 4(10), 777-778. 10. Patel, V., Saxena, S., Lund, C., Thornicroft, G., Baingana, F., Bolton, P., ... & Unützer, J. (2018). The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development. The Lancet, 392(10157), 1553-1598.

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What is Mental Disorder? An essay in philosophy, science, and values

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This resource by Derek Bolton tackles the problems involved in the definition and boundaries of mental disorder.

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5 Strategies for Improving Mental Health at Work

• Morra Aarons-Mele

Benefits and conversations around mental health evolved during the pandemic. Workplace cultures are starting to catch up.

Companies are investing in — and talking about — mental health more often these days. But employees aren’t reporting a corresponding rise in well-being. Why? The author, who wrote a book on mental health and work last year, explores several key ways organizations haven’t gone far enough in implementing a culture of well-being. She also makes five key suggestions on what they can do to improve the mental health of their employees.

“I have never felt so seen.”

• Morra Aarons-Mele is a workplace mental health consultant and author of  The Anxious Achiever: Turn Your Biggest Fears Into Your Leadership Superpower (Harvard Business Review Press, 2023). She has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, O the Oprah Magazine, TED, among others, and is the host of the Anxious Achiever podcast from LinkedIn Presents. morraam

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Mental Health Stigma

How medical psychiatry may worsen mental-health stigma, challenging the received wisdom about mental health..

Posted April 25, 2024 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

• Seeing mental illness as having a biological cause tends to make stigma worse, not better.
• Trauma-based explanations of mental illness do not seem to have these negative effects.
• We should reconsider public messaging about mental health in light of these findings.

In the 1980s and 90s, an emerging theory was that mental disorders like depression , bipolar disorder , or schizophrenia were due to faulty brain chemicals, and ultimately, faulty genes.

This message was popularized by books like Nancy Andreasen’s 1985 The Broken Brain , Solomon Snyder’s 1986 Drugs and the Brain , and Jon Franklin’s 1987 Molecules of the Mind .

In this view, schizophrenia was due to dopamine imbalances. Depression involved serotonin imbalances. Bipolar disorder involved lithium imbalances. And drugs like Prozac worked by reversing these imbalances.

While simplistic versions of many of these theories were disproven , the “chemical imbalance” metaphor still has a powerful grip on the professional and public imagination .

Journalists, doctors, and activists thought that this messaging would help end stigma by showing that you’re not to blame for your mental health problems, any more than you’re to blame for breast cancer.

New research, however, is calling this received wisdom into question. This research is showing that medical framings of mental health problems actually make some kinds of stigma worse , not better.

Challenging the Received Wisdom

Over the last decade, a group of psychologists have investigated new questions about mental health stigma .

For example, if I think that your mental illness is caused by your brain or your genes, how does that affect my desire to interact with you? This is known as the desire for social distance .

Similarly, if I think that your mental illness is caused by your brain or your genes, how does that affect my belief that you will recover? This is known as prognostic optimism .

The upshot of this research is that biological explanations of mental illnesses have their own dangers. They tend to increase people’s desire for social distance . If I think your mental illness is caused by your brain or genes, I’m more likely to see you as potentially dangerous and unpredictable, and to want to keep my distance from you. They also decrease prognostic optimism: If I see your mental illness as having a biological cause, I have less hope that you’re going to recover.

On the plus side, these mindsets do reduce the perception of blame: If I think your schizophrenia or depression is caused by your genes, I’m less likely to blame you for it.

One of the most troubling findings in this new research is that, by several measures, stigma towards schizophrenia has actually gotten worse over the last 30 years, not better. This may be related to the greater acceptance of the medical paradigm.

Making Stigma Worse?

Research carried out last year, while confirming those main findings, raised new puzzles of its own. This research was led by sociologist Marta Elliott of the University of Nevada, Reno and published in August, 2023 in Psychiatric Services [1]. Elliott sought to better understand what happens when conditions like schizophrenia, depression, or addiction are presented as having a genetic, versus an environmental, cause. Her team also wanted to know what happens when we combine different sorts of explanations, such as biological and environmental ones.

As they put it, “to our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to manipulate multiple attributions and treatability and to test their independent and interactive effects on stigma with a large sample representative of the U.S. adult population.”

To this end, they recruited over 1,600 participants and presented various hypothetical scenarios to them (“vignettes”). In one vignette, a man consults a physician and is told his mental disorder is genetic. In another, he is told his mental disorder is caused by trauma. In yet another, he is told his mental disorder is caused by both genes and trauma.

The participants were then asked questions, such as how willing they would be to spend an evening socializing with the man or making friends with him.

Predictably, biological explanations increase the desire for social distance, regardless of which mental illness is in question. The desire for social distance was far stronger for schizophrenia and addiction than for depression.

New Puzzles

Elliott's research, however, raised two new puzzles. First, she found no negative impact on public stigma when mental illness was presented as caused by life trauma. If I see your depression as the result of, say, profound grief , I’m just as likely to want to socialize with you or be friends with you. Knowing that your mental health problems stem from negative life events seems to have a powerful humanizing influence on how people think about those who suffer from mental illnesses.

Second, when offered an explanation that combined life trauma with genetics , participants’ desire for social distance increased almost as much as it did when the biological account was presented alone. It’s as if the “genetic” part of the explanation cancels out the humanizing impact of the traumatic event.

It seems to me that one possible explanation for these findings is that if I see your mental illness as a meaningful response to the problems of life, I’m less likely to see it as defining your very identity .

The authors note that these results may have implications for how psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, as well as the media, discuss mental illness: “Portraying mental illness in exclusively genetic terms may perpetuate stigma, encourage discrimination , and harm the mental health of people living with psychiatric diagnoses.”

As psychologists Eleanor Longden and John Read put the point, when it comes to mental illness, it may be time to start seeing “ people with problems ” rather than “patients with illnesses.”

Elliott, M., Ragsdale, J. M., and LaMotte, M. E. 2024. Causal Explanations, Treatability, and Mental Illness Stigma: Experimental Study. Psychiatric Services 75: 131-138. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20230169

Justin Garson, Ph.D., is a philosopher and author of Madness: A Philosophical Exploration (Oxford, 2022) and The Biological Mind: A Philosophical Introduction, Second Edition (Routledge, 2022).

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A Mississippi Exhibition Takes on a Provocative Topic

A 183-canvas painting by Noah Saterstrom explores mental illness, his family’s struggle with it — and the state’s response to those impaired by it.

The artist Noah Saterstrom. As part of the exhibition “What Became of Dr. Smith” at the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson, the museum will show Saterstrom’s 122-foot-long painting that depicts episodes in the life of his great-grandfather, who was a traveling optometrist, and his descendants. Credit... Eric Ryan Anderson for The New York Times

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By Jane L. Levere

• April 24, 2024

This article is part of our Museums special section about how institutions are striving to offer their visitors more to see, do and feel.

If museum exhibitions are meant to inspire and unsettle, the Mississippi Museum of Art has embraced its mission wholeheartedly, shining a light on a topic that is still largely taboo: mental illness and the state’s response to it.

Its exhibition “What Became of Dr. Smith” is thought-provoking, heart-wrenching and deeply personal, focusing on a contemporary, Nashville-based artist’s reckoning with a mental disorder; the struggles of his great-grandfather, who was institutionalized for the last 40 years of his life; and the history of the Mississippi State Insane Hospital, the state’s former public mental health hospital on whose grounds were recently found the remains of 7,000 unidentified people institutionalized there.

On display through Sept. 22, the exhibition at the Mississippi Museum of Art, in Jackson, will have three parts: a 122-foot-long painting comprising 183 canvases by Noah Saterstrom that depict episodes in the life of his great-grandfather, Dr. David Smith, a traveling optometrist, and his descendants, including Saterstrom; historical artifacts illustrating Dr. Smith’s life; and a third section on the Asylum Hill Project , exploring the history of the Mississippi State Insane Hospital.

In an essay for the exhibition’s catalog, Saterstrom said that in the mid-2010s he began working on a painting, “Road To Shubuta,” which he described as “the visual story of my ancestors’ Civil War-era flight from Natchez. Slave-owning members of the ruling class, they escaped to the east in an attempt to evade the Union occupation.” The painting was acquired by the Mississippi Museum of Art in 2018, which featured it in an exhibition from late 2017 until July 2018.

Saterstrom wrote that when he traveled to Jackson for the 2017 exhibition’s opening, he visited the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to explore his great-grandfather’s life, a mystery to him little discussed by his maternal grandmother, that traveling optometrist’s daughter.

With the help of the state’s librarian, Saterstrom wrote, he “pieced together a detailed picture of Dr. Smith’s life before his institutionalization. The story that unfolded was cinematic in scope. But while I’d gone into the task not expecting to like everything I learned (a speculation that’s proven true), what I did not anticipate was that Dr. Smith’s story would be as much a lens through which to see my own experience of mental illness as it is a generations-removed take of a man locked away for life.”

Saterstrom, 49, obtained his fine arts degree from the University of Mississippi in 1998 and, newly married, moved to Glasgow in the summer of 1999 to continue his art studies. “Within two years,” he wrote, “I was back in the U.S., divorced, and in the midst of an episode of depersonalization so intense I became convinced that not only did I not exist, but I had never existed.”

He continued: “I stopped painting, I went to therapy and I breathed rhythmically. I tried everything to feel anything but a ghost.”

What eventually pulled him back “from the existential abyss,” he said in the essay, was painting scenes from old family photograph albums. He said he painted as many of the photographs as he could, “not only because I thought they’d make good paintings, but because when I studied them, my memories became mine again.”

He added, “This was how my memories came back to me and how I came to love painting again.”

After years of research with the Mississippi state librarian and on his own, Saterstrom said he became obsessed with his great-grandfather’s life, noting that “the closer I came to piecing together the mystery of his life, the more I identified with him. It became impossible to work on anything else until I painted his life and did my best to capture as much of his story as I could. Painting everything I found about Dr. Smith became a way for me to try to understand why I made it through, but he remained lost.”

The canvases, created from early 2022 to early 2024, are displayed in one continuous work in the museum’s Barksdale Galleries.

Also on display in the galleries are photographs of Saterstrom’s great-grandfather and other members of his family; letters from Dr. Smith and his wife; newspaper clippings about episodes in Dr. Smith’s life; and even his great-grandfather’s traveling optometrist case, which Saterstrom’s family discovered in 2006 in a secret passageway in his grandmother’s house in Natchez.

The exhibition also provides information on the Asylum Hill Project, created in response to a discovery by a construction worker in 2012 of multiple burials in the last remaining undeveloped area of the campus of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, in Jackson. Archaeological exhumations began in late 2022 and are expected to continue until at least 2028.

The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities at U.M.M.C. is administering the Asylum Hill Project and is collaborating with the museum to use Saterstrom’s exhibition as a platform to discuss mental health issues and the history of the asylum. Jennifer E. Mack, lead bioarchaeologist of the Asylum Hill Project, will discuss its work at the museum on Tuesday. The museum will offer exhibition-related programming to U.M.M.C. medical, ophthalmology and psychiatry students in the fall.

Megan G. Hines, curator of the exhibition, said in a telephone interview that she hoped it would “bring about more open feelings about mental health issues and about treatment of mental health issues. These subjects have been taboo, difficult to talk about in the past.”

Dr. Ralph Didlake, a retired surgeon and director of the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, said in a telephone interview that the unknown asylum patients whose remains were being studied “represent all of us, every demographic, all ages.”

Saterstrom’s exhibition, Dr. Didlake said, will provide “a great opportunity to talk about the stigma surrounding mental health challenges.”

“Art,” he added, “makes us think and reflect.”

The timing of the Mississippi exhibition is fortunate: The theme of the annual meeting of the American Alliance of Museums in Baltimore in May will be “thriving museums, healthy communities.” The association also said the meeting would “explore the nexus between culture and health.”

Among those speaking during the meeting’s keynote program will be Susan Magsamen, founder and director of the International Arts + Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the opera singer and 2023 Kennedy Center honoree Renée Fleming, a longtime advocate for research exploring the intersection of the arts, health and neuroscience.

“What art can do,” Saterstrom wrote, “is remind us that every moment is valuable, even the unbearable ones, and every moment is worthy of note, even the mundane ones. It is the accumulation of these extraordinary instances and ordinary days that make us human and give contour to our lives.”

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Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders Among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• 1 Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• 2 Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• 3 Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• 4 Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• 5 Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• 6 Department of Electrical and Software Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• 7 Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Question   What is the prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness?

Findings   In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the prevalence of current and lifetime mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness was high, with male individuals exhibiting a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of any mental health disorder compared to female individuals.

Meaning   These findings demonstrate that most people experiencing homelessness have mental health disorders, with current and lifetime prevalence generally much greater than that observed in general community samples.

Importance   Several factors may place people with mental health disorders, including substance use disorders, at increased risk of experiencing homelessness and experiencing homelessness may also increase the risk of developing mental health disorders. Meta-analyses examining the prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness globally are lacking.

Objective   To determine the current and lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness and identify associated factors.

Data Sources   A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and AMED) was conducted from inception to May 1, 2021.

Study Selection   Studies investigating the prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness aged 18 years and older were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis   Data extraction was completed using standardized forms in Covidence. All extracted data were reviewed for accuracy by consensus between 2 independent reviewers. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the prevalence (with 95% CIs) of mental health disorders in people experiencing homelessness. Subgroup analyses were performed by sex, study year, age group, region, risk of bias, and measurement method. Meta-regression was conducted to examine the association between mental health disorders and age, risk of bias, and study year.

Main Outcomes and Measures   Current and lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness.

Results   A total of 7729 citations were retrieved, with 291 undergoing full-text review and 85 included in the final review (N = 48 414 participants, 11 154 [23%] female and 37 260 [77%] male). The current prevalence of mental health disorders among people experiencing homelessness was 67% (95% CI, 55-77), and the lifetime prevalence was 77% (95% CI, 61-88). Male individuals exhibited a significantly higher lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders (86%; 95% CI, 74-92) compared to female individuals (69%; 95% CI, 48-84). The prevalence of several specific disorders were estimated, including any substance use disorder (44%), antisocial personality disorder (26%), major depression (19%), schizophrenia (7%), and bipolar disorder (8%).

Conclusions and Relevance   The findings demonstrate that most people experiencing homelessness have mental health disorders, with higher prevalences than those observed in general community samples. Specific interventions are needed to support the mental health needs of this population, including close coordination of mental health, social, and housing services and policies to support people experiencing homelessness with mental disorders.

Read More About

Barry R , Anderson J , Tran L, et al. Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders Among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness : A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis . JAMA Psychiatry. Published online April 17, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.0426

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‘The Age of Magical Overthinking’ tries to pinpoint our mental health crisis

Amanda montell casts a wide net in her new essay collection. maybe too wide..

Every generation has its own crisis, the linguist and podcaster Amanda Montell writes. In the 1960s and ’70s, young Americans organized against “physical tyrannies” such as voter suppression and workplace discrimination. But times have changed.

The 21st century brought a shift in our attention from external threats to internal ones, Montell says. Rates of anxiety and depression among U.S. teens and adults have spiked. Loneliness is a public health threat . We’re glued to our phones, alienated from loved ones and surrounded by misinformation.

People everywhere, Montell writes, are facing a crisis of the mind.

From this grim landscape emerges “ The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality ,” Montell’s third book and a sweeping look at mental health, behavioral science, misinformation and online culture in the 2020s. In it, she argues that the ills of the internet era are best explained by looking back on humanity’s history, when our minds developed shortcuts to improve our odds of survival. Those shortcuts are called cognitive biases, and they may lead us to do strange things like fall for a conspiracy theory or accept mental health advice from an untrained influencer .

Montell leads us through an engaging roundup of “21st century derangement,” from celebrity worship to tradwife discourse , examining how cognitive biases may contribute. But by positioning her work as a response to America’s broad struggle with mental health, Montell promises more than she delivers. Rather than focusing on a tour of our shared cognitive glitches, she juggles meta-commentary on such vast topics as the modern mind and the internet, dropping balls along the way.

The book opens with an account of Montell’s struggles with anxiety and overwhelm, as well as the steps she took to feel better. “My most cinematic attempt at mental rehab involved picking herbs on a farm in Sicily under a light-pollution-free sky,” she writes.

Eventually, she had an aha moment: The same cognitive biases she encountered while researching toxic social groups for her second book, “ Cultish ,” could explain why the internet age felt like a “mass head trip.” Glutted with more information in a day than we can ever hope to process, we fall back on mental habits developed when humans were simpler creatures, Montell writes. For example, social media celebrity worship could be fueled by the “halo effect,” where we assume a person with one good quality (writing hit pop songs) has other good qualities (a perfectly tuned moral compass). Or perhaps we spend hours comparing ourselves with other people on Instagram because the “zero-sum bias” has convinced us that life is a game of winners and losers.

Montell backs up her connections in many instances with nods to evolutionary biology. For early humans, it made sense to attach ourselves to the strongest and most powerful, so now we glom onto Taylor Swift or Charli XCX. Resources like mates and status were limited in ancient human communities, Montell notes, so it’s natural that we view hot people on Instagram as immediate threats to our survival.

Montell finds examples of cognitive bias in internet culture flash points, such as the millennial obsession with New Age therapy-speak. Faced with big problems, such as anxiety or depression, our minds seek big explanations, such as childhood trauma or a scarcity mind-set, rather than examining all the smaller problems at play.

In other spots, she shares stories from her own life. In her late 20s, she struggled to end an abusive relationship, terrified that giving up meant she’d wasted years of her life — a classic “sunk cost fallacy.” Humans are social creatures, Montell notes, afraid of inviting scrutiny by admitting mistakes.

“My hope is for these chapters to make some sense of the senseless,” Montell says early on. “To crack open a window in our minds, and let a warm breeze in.” And indeed, in some moments, her sharp descriptions of behavioral foibles and her talent for cutting through doublespeak clear room for hope: Maybe noticing our warped thinking will make its effects less painful. Maybe our generational “crisis” is a story of not-enough-neurons encountering too-many-terabytes.

When confidence in Montell’s analysis wavers, it’s because the targets are too broad, the claims imprecise. For instance, we’re never quite sure of the shape of the national mental health crisis she repeatedly references. Early on, she draws a distinction between Americans’ current mental health struggles and 20th-century battles against bodily oppression. This neat separation doesn’t reflect reality — “The Age of Magical Overthinking” was published after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization and during ongoing fights for voter access, health care and the right to protest. It also doesn’t reflect what science has shown about illnesses like depression, which are often tied up with a person’s physical and political well-being. Ultimately, we’re left with the sense that Montell’s crisis of the mind begins and ends with the vague feelings of anxiety and dread many people feel after scrolling on social media apps.

Montell implies that the breakdown of Americans’ mental health began after 2000, brought on by internet access and introspection. Conflating “the internet” with social media, she draws loose connections between online scrolling and mental turmoil, making no reference to the complicated science around how social media use affects our brains. Some studies have found bumps in anxiety and depression associated with social media use, but more recent meta-analyses call their methods and findings into question . To date, researchers have found no consistent causal link between spending time on social apps and experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Of course, future research may uncover new ways to measure how social media use or other online activities affect the mental health of different populations. Perhaps we should rely on a different measure altogether, like qualitative research into young people and their families. Rather than critique the existing science or offer an alternative lens, Montell picks two studies that support her thesis and hand-waves at the dire state of things.

Finally, although Montell says cognitive biases affect everyone, she aims her jabs at the safest of targets: “Disney adults,” “male girlbosses,” “Facebook-addicted Karens.” Readers hoping for fresh or counterintuitive takes on internet culture — and its heroes and villains — may walk away disappointed.

Montell says from the jump that her analysis of 2020s malaise is “not a system of thought,” likening her work instead to a Buddhist koan — meant to be pondered, not understood. That’s fine, and “The Age of Magical Overthinking” ultimately features interesting topics, fun research and vivid stories. But in Montell’s effort to critique the spirit of our times, she asks imprecise questions and offers unsatisfactory answers.

Tatum Hunter is a consumer technology reporter at The Washington Post based in San Francisco. Her work focuses on health, privacy and relationships in the internet era.

The Age of Magical Overthinking

Notes on Modern Irrationality

By Amanda Montell

Atria/One Signal. 272 pp. $28.

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May National Health Observances: Physical Fitness, Mental Health, Older Adults, and Women’s Health

Each month, we feature select National Health Observances (NHOs) that support our mission to improve health across the United States. In May, we’re raising awareness about physical fitness, mental health, older adults’ health and well-being, and women’s health.

Use our list of resources below to promote these NHOs with your networks. 

• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month In May, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) celebrates National Physical Fitness and Sports Month to promote the benefits of being physically active. Encourage others to get moving by using our Move Your Way ® Community Resources and Activity Planner — and be sure to join the LinkedIn group to engage and share ideas with other organizations about implementing Move Your Way. You can also help older adults get moving with guidance from the Physical Activity Guidelines Midcourse Report . Find strategies to get youth involved in sports by using the National Youth Sports Strategy . Share our MyHealthfinder physical activity page for tips and info to make getting active a part of your routine. And lastly, check out these Healthy People 2030 physical activity evidence-based resources to implement in your community.  
• Older Americans Month This year’s theme for Older Americans Month — led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) — is “Powered by Connection,” recognizing the impact relationships can have on our health and well-being. Kickstart conversations in your community by exploring ACL’s activity ideas and digital materials . Check out our Healthy Aging initiative with resources and info to support older adults. MyHealthfinder has information on older adults’ general health , safety , vaccination needs , and oral health . You can also encourage older adults to stay active using these Move Your Way materials and the Physical Activity Guidelines Midcourse Report . Finally, learn about the Healthy People 2030 objectives to improve health and well-being for older adults .  
• Mental Health Awareness Month The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors Mental Health Awareness Month in May to highlight the importance of mental health and wellness and to celebrate recovery from mental illness. Make sure to use SAMHSA’s toolkit to start the conversation with your community and share the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for those who need support during a mental health crisis. Explore the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) mental health resources to get the latest information on related topics and research. Healthy People 2030 also has a list of evidence-based resources you can share with your networks to help develop mental health programs or policies. Last but not least, share these MyHealthfinder resources on mental health and relationships .  
• National Women’s Health Week (5/12–5/18) Join the Office on Women’s Health (OWH) in celebrating National Women’s Health Week and empower women and girls to prioritize their health and well-being. We have MyHealthfinder resources to share, including information about getting a yearly well-woman visit , getting regular physical activity , choosing the right birth control , and having a healthy pregnancy . Share our Move Your Way website for tips to help girls and women get active. And if you’re a health care provider, share this Dietary Guidelines fact sheet to encourage pregnant and postpartum people to build a healthy eating routine. Don’t forget to also explore Healthy People 2030 objectives focused on improving women’s health .

We hope you’ll use these resources to promote important NHOs with your networks. Together, we’ll continue to improve health across the nation!

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