Mental health refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and it affects how we think, feel, and act. It helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood
. Mental illnesses are disorders that affect a person’s thinking, mood, and/or behavior, ranging from mild to severe. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one-in-five adults live with a mental illness
. Mental disorders are characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behavior, and they are usually associated with distress or impairment in important areas of functioning
. Mental health conditions include mental disorders, psychosocial disabilities, and other mental states associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning, or risk of self-harm
. Mental health is a basic human right, and it is crucial to personal, community, and socio-economic development
. Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health, and they can affect each other
. It is important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors
