What Is Mental Health?

Mental health includes your psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing. It is defined by the American Psychological Association as "the way your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors affect your life." Mental health impacts how we think, interact with others, and experience life.

When a person has mental health problems, it negatively affects how they think, act, feel, and interact. These problems may make it hard to cope with every day tasks.

Sometimes it can be difficult to determine if certain feelings and behaviors are normal or a sign of a problem. If the feelings or behaviors interfere with a person's daily life, then they can be considered a sign of a disorder.

Warning Signs

Some common warning signs include, but are not limited to:

• excessive worrying/fear

• extreme mood swings

• changes in sleeping or eating patterns

• suicidal thoughts

• inability to carry out daily tasks

• difficulty perceiving reality

• avoiding friends and social activities

If you are experiencing any of the above and feel they are concerning, let some you trust know.