Understanding Mental Health

Prioritizing mental health applies to each and every one of us. If you’re looking for tips to modify your thinking, better understand mental health conditions, where to get help, or find additional resources – you’ve come to the right place.


Mental health is a broad topic with many facets. It includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being and affects how we feel, think, and act. If you struggle with mental health symptoms, you are not alone. While it may seem brave to go it alone, it actually takes strength to reach out for help.


We’re glad you’re here.

Depression

There are different forms of depression that affected more than 16 million people in the United States last year. We all feel down or have a bad day occasionally. But a persistent feeling of sadness, dread or hopelessness is not healthy, and could be a sign of depression.

Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health illnesses in the United States. It’s normal to feel anxious before a test, on the first day of work or in a new social situation. But when feeling anxious is relentless and impacts your daily life and decisions you make, it may be time to speak with a mental health professional.


Addiction

Addiction is a complex condition that comes in many forms and can happen to anyone, not just those who struggle with substance abuse or gambling. It’s when the brain continually chooses the “reward” of a behavior, despite negative consequences.

Eating Disorders

28.8 million people in the United States will have an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge-eating disorder in their lifetime. The good news is that they’re very treatable and help is available. 

Strengthening Your Mental Fitness

Life is not without challenges, and we all feel stress and anxiety at times. Learning how to effectively manage stress and implementing practices of self-care may improve mental health and well-being.

SHARE:

Mayo Clinic Connect

Connect with others like you for support, practical information, and answers to your questions about mental health issues or caring for someone with mental health concerns. Ask questions and get answers.

Mayo Clinic Newsletter

Stay current on the latest health and wellness information from Mayo Clinic’s experts.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy below.

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. “Mayo,” “Mayo Clinic,” “MayoClinic.org,” “Mayo Clinic Healthy Living,” and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

© 1998-2024 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved.