{"id":2060,"date":"2016-09-21T16:10:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T16:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-collegesuccess\/?post_type=chapter&p=2060"},"modified":"2016-09-26T18:53:01","modified_gmt":"2016-09-26T18:53:01","slug":"text-mental-health-basics","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-buffalo-wmopen-collegesuccess\/chapter\/text-mental-health-basics\/","title":{"raw":"Text: Mental Health Basics","rendered":"Text: Mental Health Basics"},"content":{"raw":"Knowing how to take care of your mental health when you\u2019re in college is just as important as maintaining your physical health. In fact, there\u2019s a strong link between the two: doctors are finding that positive mental health can actually improve your physical health.\r\n\r\nSo, what is \u201cmental health\u201d? Mental health<\/em> can be defined as a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.\u00a0Having good mental health doesn\u2019t necessarily mean being\u00a0happy or successful all the time. Most people feel depressed, lonely, or anxious now and then, but those with good mental health can take these feelings in stride and overcome them. When such feelings or moods persist and interfere with a person\u2019s ability to function normally, though, it may be a sign of a more serious mental health problem and time to seek help.\r\n\r\nThe term mental illness<\/em> refers to mental disorders or health conditions characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof) associated with distress and\/or impaired functioning.\u00a0Depression is the most common type of mental illness, and it affects more than 26 percent of the U.S. adult population.\u00a0It has been estimated that by the year 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of disability throughout the world, trailing only ischemic heart disease.\r\n\r\nEvidence has shown that mental disorders, especially depressive disorders, are strongly linked\u00a0to the occurrence and course of many chronic diseases\u2014including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and obesity\u00a0and many risk behaviors for chronic disease, such as physical inactivity, smoking, excessive drinking, and insufficient sleep. In other words, if your mental health is poor, you may be at greater risk for disease and poor physical health.\r\n

Mental Health Indicators<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nIn the public health arena, more emphasis and resources have been devoted to screening, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness than mental health. Little has been done to protect the mental health of those who are free\u00a0from mental illness. There are some known indicators of mental health, including the following:\r\n