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Mental Health Essay

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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100 Mental Health Essay Topics

Essay topics on the subject of mental health are many and varied. If you are charged with writing an essay on mental health, you could choose to focus on any number of subtopics related to the field.

But to craft a well-written essay on mental health, there are a few basics you should keep in mind to ensure your writing is informative, authoritative, and most importantly, accurate.

To help you create a mental health essay that hits all the right marks, we’ve put together this guide covering everything from outlining to research to writing your conclusion. We’ve also created a list of 100 mental health essay topics to help get you started.

Getting Started: How to Write a Mental Health Essay

Before you start writing your mental health essay, it’s essential to understand the assignment’s requirements. Pay close attention to the prompt or question you’ve been given, as this will help you determine the focus and direction of your essay.

Once you understand what’s required, you can start brainstorming ideas and developing a thesis statement. This will be the foundation of your mental health essay, so it’s important to take the time to get it right.

Your thesis statement should be clear and concise, and it should state the main argument or point you will be making in your essay. For example, if you are writing an essay on the importance of early intervention programs for mental health, your thesis statement might look something like this:

“Early intervention programs are essential for improving mental health outcomes and preventing serious mental illness.”

Once you have your thesis statement, you can develop an outline for your essay. This will help you organize your thoughts and ensure that your argument flows smoothly.

Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In your introduction, you will want to grab the reader’s attention and give them an overview of what you will be discussing in your essay.

Your body paragraphs will be where you make your argument and support it with evidence. And in your conclusion, you will want to sum up your main points and leave the reader with a strong impression.

If you’re struggling to get started, try looking at some mental health essay examples. This can give you a better understanding of how to structure your own essay and the different elements you should include.

Doing the Research

Once you have a thesis statement and outline, it’s time to start doing research for your mental health essay. This is an important step, as it will help to ensure that your essay is accurate and well-informed.

When researching your mental health essay, you will want to look for reputable sources that are relevant to your topic. For example, try to find scholarly journal articles, government reports, or other reliable sources of information.

If you’re not sure where to start, try looking in the mental health section of your local library or searching for mental health essay examples online.

When taking notes from your research, be sure to record the author’s name, the title of the article, and the publication date. This will make it easier to create citations for your essay later on.

Writing the Essay

Now that you’ve done your research, it’s time to start writing your mental health essay. Begin with an introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and gives them an overview of your argument.

Your body paragraphs should each focus on one central point, and they should be supported with evidence from your research. Be sure to include in-text citations whenever you use information from a source.

And finally, conclude your mental health essay with a strong conclusion that sums up your main points and leaves the reader with a positive impression.

If you’re struggling to write your essay, try looking at some mental health essay examples for inspiration. Just be sure to use your own words and ideas, and don’t plagiarize.

Editing and Proofreading

Once you’ve finished writing your mental health essay, it’s important to edit and proofread it before you submit it. This will help to ensure that your essay is well-written and free of any errors.

Start by reading your essay aloud, as this can help you spot any errors or awkward phrases. Then, revise your essay for clarity and conciseness. And finally, proofread your essay carefully to catch any typos or grammatical errors.

If you’re struggling to edit and proofread your work, try reading your essay backwards. This will help you focus on each word and catch any errors you might otherwise miss.

You can also try using a grammar checker or having someone else read your essay. Just be sure to give yourself enough time to make revisions, as rushing this process can result in mistakes being missed.

With the detailed guide above, you should have no trouble writing a mental health essay on your own. But if you’re struggling to choose a topic, here are 100 mental health essay topics to consider:

Mental Health Essay Topics About Mental Illness

  • What are the most common mental illnesses?
  • How can mental illness be diagnosed?
  • What are the causes of mental illness?
  • How does mental illness impact a person’s life?
  • What are the treatments for mental illness?
  • Are there any effective preventative measures for mental illness?
  • How does society view mental illness?
  • Are there any stigma surrounding mental illness?
  • What are the challenges of living with mental illness?
  • How does mental illness affect relationships?

Mental Health Essay Topics About Mental Health Treatment

  • What are the different types of mental health treatment?
  • How effective is mental health treatment?
  • What are the side effects of mental health treatment?
  • How can mental health treatment be accessed?
  • Who provides mental health treatment?
  • What are the challenges of mental health treatment?
  • Can mental health treatment be forced?
  • What are the rights of mental health patients?
  • How does mental health treatment impact a person’s life?
  • Are there any alternatives to mental health treatment?

Mental Health Essay Topics About Mental Health in the Workplace

  • What are the impacts of poor mental health in the workplace?
  • How can poor mental health in the workplace be prevented?
  • What are the challenges of addressing mental health in the workplace?
  • How can employers support employees with mental health issues?
  • How does mental health affect productivity in the workplace?
  • What are the legal implications of poor mental health in the workplace?
  • How does mental health discrimination impact the workplace?
  • What are some successful workplace mental health initiatives?
  • How can employers create a mentally healthy workplace?
  • What role does management play in supporting employees with mental health issues?

Mental Health Essay Topics About Mental Health in Schools

  • How does poor mental health affect academic performance?
  • What are the impacts of bullying on mental health?
  • How can schools create a positive and supportive environment for students with mental health issues?
  • What is the role of teachers in supporting students with mental health issues?
  • What are some effective intervention strategies for mental health issues in schools?
  • How can school counselors support students with mental health issues?
  • Are there any legal implications for schools regarding mental health?
  • What are the challenges of implementing mental health programs in schools?
  • What are some successful examples of mental health initiatives in schools?
  • How can the stigmatization of mental health be addressed in schools?

Mental Health Essay Topics About the Mental Health of Children

  • What are the most common mental health disorders in children?
  • How can mental health disorders in children be diagnosed?
  • What are the causes of mental health disorders in children?
  • How do mental health disorders impact a child’s life?
  • What are the treatments for mental health disorders in children?
  • Are there any effective preventative measures for mental health disorders in children?
  • How does society view mental health disorders in children?
  • Are there any stigma surrounding mental health disorders in children?
  • What are the challenges of living with a mental health disorder as a child?
  • How do mental health disorders affect relationships?

Mental Health Essay Topics About Mental Health Disorders

  • What’s the difference between paranoia and anxiety disorders?
  • How do depression and eating disorders differ?
  • What is PTSD, and how does it differ from other anxiety disorders?
  • What are the causes of schizophrenia?
  • Is there a difference between mental illness and insanity?
  • How do experts diagnose clinical vs. environmental mental illnesses?
  • Is there a genetic component to mental illness?
  • How do different cultures deal with mental illness?
  • What is the difference between a nervous breakdown and a mental breakdown?
  • What are some of the most common alternative therapies for mental illness?

Mental Health Essay Topics About The Mental Health Of Veterans

  • What are the most common mental health disorders among veterans?
  • How does military service impact mental health?
  • What are the risk factors for mental health disorders among veterans?
  • What are the treatments for mental health disorders among veterans?
  • Are there any effective preventative measures for mental health disorders among veterans?
  • What mental health issues are specific to veterans and not the civilian population?
  • How does the Veterans Affairs system deal with mental health disorders?
  • What are the challenges of diagnosing and treating mental health disorders among veterans?
  • What are some successful examples of mental health initiatives for veterans?
  • How can the stigma surrounding mental health be addressed among veterans?

Mental Health Essay Topics About Alternative Mental Health Therapies

  • What is art therapy, and how does it work?
  • What is music therapy, and how does it work?
  • What is drama therapy, and how does it work?
  • What are the benefits of using alternative mental health therapies?
  • Are there any risks associated with using alternative mental health therapies?
  • How do alternative mental health therapies compare to traditional therapies?
  • What are the challenges of using alternative mental health therapies?
  • Are there any successful examples of using alternative mental health therapies?
  • How can the stigma surrounding mental health be addressed through alternative therapies?
  • What role do alternative mental health therapies play in treating mental health disorders?

Mental Health Essay Topics About Outdated Mental Health Therapies

  • What are the differences in how mental health was treated 100 years ago and how it is treated today?
  • What are some outdated mental health therapies that are no longer used?
  • Why were mental health therapies from the ’50s considered effective at the time?
  • How have mental health therapies evolved over the past decade?
  • Are there any risks associated with using these outdated therapies?
  • What can we learn from these outdated therapies?

Mental Health Essay Topics About the Impact of Technology on Mental Health

  • How has social media impacted mental health?
  • Are there any benefits to using technology in treating mental health disorders?
  • Are there any risks associated with using technology to treat mental health disorders?
  • How does cyberbullying impact mental health?
  • What is the impact of social media on body image and eating disorders?
  • How does technology addiction impact mental health?
  • What are the challenges of treating mental health disorders exacerbated by technology?
  • What are some successful examples of using technology to treat mental health disorders?
  • How can the stigma surrounding mental health be addressed through technology?
  • What role does technology play in treating mental health disorders?

Mental Health Essay Topics About Trauma and Mental Health

  • What is trauma?
  • How does trauma impact mental health?
  • What are the risk factors for developing mental health disorders after trauma?
  • What are the treatments for mental health disorders caused by trauma?

With these 100 mental health essay topics combined with a list of helpful writing tips, you should be well on your way to writing a great mental health essay. Just remember to choose a topic you are passionate about and do some research to find reliable sources.

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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 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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
  • Mental Health in Asian Culture Shame and stigma that is associated mental illnesses is a major obstacle to the use of mental health care by many Asians.
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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, […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • The Connection Between Poverty and Mental Health Problems The daily struggle to earn a daily bread takes a toll on an individual mental health and contributes to mental health problem.
  • 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 […]
  • 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 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 […]
  • 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.
  • Psychiatry. Promoting Recovery in Mental Health It is vital for a mental health nurse to recognize the different benefits and disadvantages of both philosophies and consider various aspects of recovery and patients’ decision-making process.
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • Levinson’s “Rain Man”: Reaction to a Movie From a Mental Health Perspective The movie could equally be considered as a despoliation of several false impressions on autism and is inclined toward an improvement of appropriate knowledge of how to address autism.
  • Mental Health and Grief Counseling Issues One of the objectives of grief counseling is getting an individual to the last and most important stage of the process where someone accepts the reality of the loss they experienced. This would play a […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Mental Health and Wellness in Aging Population This research proposal will examine the aspects of wellness with regards to the dimensions of mental health and among the aged.
  • Mental Health in the United States The existing project serves as an assessment of the Downers Grove, Illinois community and a thorough review of how previous experience could be utilized to develop a decent strategy to address the mental health of […]
  • Mental Health Nursing of Cocaine Addiction The 1983 Mental Health Act is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that applies to the residents of England and Wales.
  • Vincent van Gogh’s Mental Health Problems It is seen that after 1888, his mental conditions worsened and he was often at a loss of control over his own mind.
  • Ethical Dilemma in Mental Health Patient Care My ethical response to the situation was that Catherine should only be attended to by the female staff especially when she was naked and that only the female staff needed to have access to the […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Physical Healthcare Among Mental Health Patients The need for such a review is motivated by the prevalence of mental disorders and the grave impact of unaddressed comorbidities.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • “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”.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 This paper seeks to evaluate the efficacy of one of these policies, particularly the Affordable Care Act, in promoting mental health practice. Through a sequence of amendments and extensions, the ACA represents the healthcare system’s […]
  • Stanford Health Care: The Impact of Culture on Mental Health The need to study the cultural aspect of the provision of healthcare services to African American patients is defined by their beliefs towards health, aging, and medicine.
  • Mental Health Nursing Analysis In addition, the authors suspected that the length of stay in a mental hospital and the probability of readmission within one month are determined by the patient conditions during admission and the dangers they pose […]
  • Question of Youngsters With Mental Health Problems It is projected that there will be a steady increase in the number of juvenile cases from 2011 up to 2025.
  • Current Mental Health Care Need The human psyche is a vulnerable system: the incredibly rapid rate of modern life often causes anxiety and stress, leading to various mental disorders.
  • Mental Health Nursing: A Treatment Plan for Mr. Pall In the context of this study, the ultimate goal of the nursing care intervention is to influence Pall’s behavior to reflect positive health outcomes. The main aim of administering this drug is to ensure 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
  • Critique to Website the Internet Mental Health
  • ABC Mental Health Clinic Case Analysis
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  • Improving Mental Health Care System in British Columbia
  • Relationship Among Mental Health, Hypertension and Telomere Length
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  • Insurance Barriers in Mental Health Population
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  • The Problem of Mental Health Recovery
  • Mental Health Care in Cannabis Addiction Case
  • 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
  • Debunking the Myths on Homelessness: Misconceptions About the Social Status and Mental Health
  • 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
  • Current Market Strategies for Mental Health Services
  • Effects of Drugs and Alcohol Use on Mental Health
  • Confidentiality in Mental Health
  • Mental Health Stigma From American Perspective
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  • Unconscious Mind and Mental Health Treatment
  • Burnout as a Mental Health Issue in the Workplace
  • Cannabis Effects on Mental Health
  • Social Media Users’ Personality and Mental Health
  • Consumer-Centered Mental Health Education
  • Mental Health Problems: Patient Care
  • Female Mental Health in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • Mental Health Issues Identification in Schools
  • Mental Health Nursing Skills in Practice
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  • Medi-Cal Expansion of Mental Health Services
  • Mental Health Patients in the Post-Anaesthesia Care Unit
  • Mental Health Promotion and Effective Interventions
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  • Explaining Mental Health Inequalities in Northern Sweden
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  • Mental Health Issues and Substance Abuse: Dual Diagnosis
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  • Understanding Student Perceptions of Mental Health
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • Eliminating Stigmatization in Mental Health Diagnoses
  • Mental Health Benefits in the Employee Benefits Package
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  • Mental Health Counselor: Ethics and Professionalism
  • The Critical Role of School Psychology in the School Mental Health Movement
  • Marijuana and Its Effects on Mental Health
  • Mental Health Administration
  • 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 Community Nursing
  • Mental Health: Bipolar Disorder Problem
  • Child’s Mental Health: Factors and Impacts
  • Supporting Children’s Mental Health
  • A Beautiful Mind: A Mental Health Portrayal
  • 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?
  • Dementia Research Ideas
  • Eating Disorders Questions
  • Depression Essay Topics
  • Insanity Defense Questions
  • Meditation Questions
  • Postpartum Depression Paper Topics
  • Anxiety Essay Topics
  • BPD Research Ideas
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IvyPanda. (2024, March 2). 311 Powerful Mental Health Topics to Write about & Essay Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/mental-health-essay-topics/

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2024 Mental Health Essay Contest Awardee: Gold

Tenacity Through Tumultuousness

Max, california.

Max, 2024 NIH Mental Health Essay Contest awardee

For as long as I can remember, pockmarks and scars littered my body: irreparable symptoms from an invisible illness named major depressive disorder. Seemingly paradoxical, I owe my resilience to this battle with suicidality and self-harm; It is through these experiences that I connect, uplift, and challenge my community to shape a society that functions for us: a dream I strive to continue feeding.

At the age of 14, my entanglement with depression officially acquired a name. All it took was: hospitalization, IVs, six blood draws, and middle-of-the-night visits from the head doctor. My survival leads me to vouch for the validity of other teens’ mental healths – regardless of the severity or attached medical bills. On the cusp of adolescence, the only route for me to circumnavigate the stigmatization behind a diagnosis was to commit to the unthinkable–a route no one should feel forced to take. This goes to say that no matter the struggle, mental health is utterly vital to wellbeing: especially for teenagers. Yes, puberty is a difficult time, but that doesn’t negate the importance of equipping youth with the resources and courage to ask for help before it becomes too late. For me, I proudly tell my story so others can tell theirs. Baring my own healed scars, I hope others will soon, too, recognize the beauty in life’s hardships and complexities.

To uplift students like myself, I proudly serve my school district’s superintendent advisory board – a platform I utilize to advocate for my peers as well as spearhead Seity Health, an app Garden Grove Unified pilots to amplify student mental health support. With modern technology, the app layout is convenient to access via daily check-ins. However, I aim to encourage direct teacher mediation and training so our educators can better address the needs of their students firsthand. I’ve recognized my voice is crucial, empowering me to propose these ideas to the Superintendent. Through my own transparency and advocacy, I’ve encouraged students to take the leap of faith for support while ensuring adequate measures are implemented. Mental health was never a conversation for the shadows, and it’s my job as a survivor to bring its realities and resources to life.

Taking away from my past, I’ve utilized my experience to connect with similar folks to actualize change. Notably, my participation with nonprofit OCAPICA during their voter registration canvassing campaign specifically targeted the needs of community members. Over several weeks, I engaged in robust conversations with fellow neighbors door-to-door with questions such as, “Are you aware of the mental health services nearby?” and “Do you feel adequately supported?”. It was my own journey that allowed me to authentically relate to the marginalized neighborhoods in my area, opening dialogues that are essential to the functioning of support systems like OCAPICA. Compassion drives the community: through my own experience as a youth facing mental health struggle, I’ve propelled a deeper connection amongst my community through policy work and honesty.

All in all, my mental illness led me to a vital insight: in order to create future leaders, our current role models must remain cognizant of the challenges that threaten to uproot our youth.

The problem here is not mental illness; the problem here is stigmatization, lack of resources, and reduced emotional capacity that envelope already struggling adolescents. This generation’s ability to succeed is not hindered by our mental health: it is directly due to our perseverance in the face of this struggle that we become leaders.

NIH recognizes these talented essay winners for their thoughtfulness and creativity in addressing youth mental health. These essays are written in the students' own words, are unedited, and do not necessarily represent the views of NIH, HHS, or the federal government.

Page published May 31, 2024

May 2024: NIH Announces Winners of High School Mental Health Essay Contest

Dec. 2023: High School Students Invited to Reflect on Mental Health Stigma in National Essay Contest

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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.

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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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The Importance of Mental Health

It's not just a buzzword

Elizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer. She helps brands craft factual, yet relatable content that resonates with diverse audiences.

mental health and behavior essay

Akeem Marsh, MD, is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has dedicated his career to working with medically underserved communities.

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Risk Factors for Poor Mental Health

Signs of mental health problems, benefits of good mental health, how to maintain mental health and well-being.

Your mental health is an important part of your well-being. This aspect of your welfare determines how you’re able to operate psychologically, emotionally, and socially among others.

Considering how much of a role your mental health plays in each aspect of your life, it's important to guard and improve psychological wellness using appropriate measures.

Because different circumstances can affect your mental health, we’ll be highlighting risk factors and signs that may indicate mental distress. But most importantly, we’ll dive into why mental health is so important.

Mental health is described as a state of well-being where a person is able to cope with the normal stresses of life. This state permits productive work output and allows for meaningful contributions to society.

However, different circumstances exist that may affect the ability to handle life’s curveballs. These factors may also disrupt daily activities, and the capacity to manage these changes. That's only one reason why mental health is so important.

The following factors, listed below, may affect mental well-being and could increase the risk of developing psychological disorders .

Childhood Abuse

Childhood physical assault, sexual violence, emotional abuse, or neglect can lead to severe mental and emotional distress. Abuse increases the risk of developing mental disorders like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, or personality disorders.

Children who have been abused may eventually deal with alcohol and substance use issues. But beyond mental health challenges, child abuse may also lead to medical complications such as diabetes, stroke, and other forms of heart disease.

The Environment

A strong contributor to mental well-being is the state of a person’s usual environment . Adverse environmental circumstances can cause negative effects on psychological wellness.

For instance, weather conditions may influence an increase in suicide cases. Likewise, experiencing natural disasters firsthand can increase the chances of developing PTSD. In certain cases, air pollution may produce negative effects on depression symptoms.  

In contrast, living in a positive social environment can provide protection against mental challenges.

Your biological makeup could determine the state of your well-being. A number of mental health disorders have been found to run in families and may be passed down to members.

These include conditions such as autism , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , bipolar disorder , depression , and schizophrenia .

Your lifestyle can also impact your mental health. Smoking, a poor diet , alcohol consumption , substance use , and risky sexual behavior may cause psychological harm. These behaviors have been linked to depression.

When mental health is compromised, it isn’t always apparent to the individual or those around them. However, there are certain warning signs to look out for, that may signify negative changes for the well-being. These include:

  • A switch in eating habits, whether over or undereating
  • A noticeable reduction in energy levels
  • Being more reclusive and shying away from others
  • Feeling persistent despair
  • Indulging in alcohol, tobacco, or other substances more than usual
  • Experiencing unexplained confusion, anger, guilt, or worry
  • Severe mood swings
  • Picking fights with family and friends
  • Hearing voices with no identifiable source
  • Thinking of self-harm or causing harm to others
  • Being unable to perform daily tasks with ease

Whether young or old, the importance of mental health for total well-being cannot be overstated. When psychological wellness is affected, it can cause negative behaviors that may not only affect personal health but can also compromise relationships with others. 

Below are some of the benefits of good mental health.

A Stronger Ability to Cope With Life’s Stressors

When mental and emotional states are at peak levels, the challenges of life can be easier to overcome.

Where alcohol/drugs, isolation, tantrums, or fighting may have been adopted to manage relationship disputes, financial woes, work challenges, and other life issues—a stable mental state can encourage healthier coping mechanisms.

A Positive Self-Image

Mental health greatly correlates with personal feelings about oneself. Overall mental wellness plays a part in your self-esteem . Confidence can often be a good indicator of a healthy mental state.

A person whose mental health is flourishing is more likely to focus on the good in themselves. They will hone in on these qualities, and will generally have ambitions that strive for a healthy, happy life.

Healthier Relationships

If your mental health is in good standing, you might be more capable of providing your friends and family with quality time , affection , and support. When you're not in emotional distress, it can be easier to show up and support the people you care about.

Better Productivity

Dealing with depression or other mental health disorders can impact your productivity levels. If you feel mentally strong , it's more likely that you will be able to work more efficiently and provide higher quality work.

Higher Quality of Life

When mental well-being thrives, your quality of life may improve. This can give room for greater participation in community building. For example, you may begin volunteering in soup kitchens, at food drives, shelters, etc.

You might also pick up new hobbies , and make new acquaintances , and travel to new cities.

Because mental health is so important to general wellness, it’s important that you take care of your mental health.

To keep mental health in shape, a few introductions to and changes to lifestyle practices may be required. These include:

  • Taking up regular exercise
  • Prioritizing rest and sleep on a daily basis
  • Trying meditation
  • Learning coping skills for life challenges
  • Keeping in touch with loved ones
  • Maintaining a positive outlook on life

Another proven way to improve and maintain mental well-being is through the guidance of a professional. Talk therapy can teach you healthier ways to interact with others and coping mechanisms to try during difficult times.

Therapy can also help you address some of your own negative behaviors and provide you with the tools to make some changes in your own life.

The Bottom Line

So why is mental health so important? That's an easy answer: It profoundly affects every area of your life. If you're finding it difficult to address mental health concerns on your own, don't hesitate to seek help from a licensed therapist .

World Health Organization. Mental Health: Strengthening our Response .

Lippard ETC, Nemeroff CB. The Devastating Clinical Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect: Increased Disease Vulnerability and Poor Treatment Response in Mood Disorders . Am J Psychiatry . 2020;177(1):20-36. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.19010020

 Helbich M. Mental Health and Environmental Exposures: An Editorial. Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2018;15(10):2207. Published 2018 Oct 10. doi:10.3390/ijerph15102207

Helbich M. Mental Health and Environmental Exposures: An Editorial. Int J Environ Res Public Health . 2018;15(10):2207. Published 2018 Oct 10. doi:10.3390/ijerph15102207

National Institutes of Health. Common Genetic Factors Found in 5 Mental Disorders .

Zaman R, Hankir A, Jemni M. Lifestyle Factors and Mental Health . Psychiatr Danub . 2019;31(Suppl 3):217-220.

Medline Plus. What Is mental health? .

National Alliance on Mental Health. Why Self-Esteem Is Important for Mental Health .

By Elizabeth Plumptre Elizabeth is a freelance health and wellness writer. She helps brands craft factual, yet relatable content that resonates with diverse audiences.

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Mental health

  • Affordable, effective and feasible strategies exist to promote, protect and restore mental health.
  • The need for action on mental health is indisputable and urgent.
  • Mental health has intrinsic and instrumental value and is integral to our well-being.
  • Mental health is determined by a complex interplay of individual, social and structural stresses and vulnerabilities.

Concepts in mental health

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in. Mental health is a basic human right. And it is crucial to personal, community and socio-economic development.

Mental health is more than the absence of mental disorders. It exists on a complex continuum, which is experienced differently from one person to the next, with varying degrees of difficulty and distress and potentially very different social and clinical outcomes.

Mental health conditions include mental disorders and psychosocial disabilities as well as other mental states associated with significant distress, impairment in functioning, or risk of self-harm. People with mental health conditions are more likely to experience lower levels of mental well-being, but this is not always or necessarily the case.

Determinants of mental health

Throughout our lives, multiple individual, social and structural determinants may combine to protect or undermine our mental health and shift our position on the mental health continuum.

Individual psychological and biological factors such as emotional skills, substance use and genetics can make people more vulnerable to mental health problems.

Exposure to unfavourable social, economic, geopolitical and environmental circumstances – including poverty, violence, inequality and environmental deprivation – also increases people’s risk of experiencing mental health conditions.

Risks can manifest themselves at all stages of life, but those that occur during developmentally sensitive periods, especially early childhood, are particularly detrimental. For example, harsh parenting and physical punishment is known to undermine child health and bullying is a leading risk factor for mental health conditions.

Protective factors similarly occur throughout our lives and serve to strengthen resilience. They include our individual social and emotional skills and attributes as well as positive social interactions, quality education, decent work, safe neighbourhoods and community cohesion, among others.

Mental health risks and protective factors can be found in society at different scales. Local threats heighten risk for individuals, families and communities. Global threats heighten risk for whole populations and include economic downturns, disease outbreaks, humanitarian emergencies and forced displacement and the growing climate crisis.

Each single risk and protective factor has only limited predictive strength. Most people do not develop a mental health condition despite exposure to a risk factor and many people with no known risk factor still develop a mental health condition. Nonetheless, the interacting determinants of mental health serve to enhance or undermine mental health.

Mental health promotion and prevention

Promotion and prevention interventions work by identifying the individual, social and structural determinants of mental health, and then intervening to reduce risks, build resilience and establish supportive environments for mental health. Interventions can be designed for individuals, specific groups or whole populations.

Reshaping the determinants of mental health often requires action beyond the health sector and so promotion and prevention programmes should involve the education, labour, justice, transport, environment, housing, and welfare sectors. The health sector can contribute significantly by embedding promotion and prevention efforts within health services; and by advocating, initiating and, where appropriate, facilitating multisectoral collaboration and coordination.

Suicide prevention is a global priority and included in the Sustainable Development Goals. Much progress can be achieved by limiting access to means, responsible media reporting, social and emotional learning for adolescents and early intervention. Banning highly hazardous pesticides is a particularly inexpensive and cost–effective intervention for reducing suicide rates.

Promoting child and adolescent mental health is another priority and can be achieved by policies and laws that promote and protect mental health, supporting caregivers to provide nurturing care, implementing school-based programmes and improving the quality of community and online environments. School-based social and emotional learning programmes are among the most effective promotion strategies for countries at all income levels.

Promoting and protecting mental health at work is a growing area of interest and can be supported through legislation and regulation, organizational strategies, manager training and interventions for workers.

Mental health care and treatment

In the context of national efforts to strengthen mental health, it is vital to not only protect and promote the mental well-being of all, but also to address the needs of people with mental health conditions.

This should be done through community-based mental health care, which is more accessible and acceptable than institutional care, helps prevent human rights violations and delivers better recovery outcomes for people with mental health conditions. Community-based mental health care should be provided through a network of interrelated services that comprise:

  • mental health services that are integrated in general health care, typically in general hospitals and through task-sharing with non-specialist care providers in primary health care;
  • community mental health services that may involve community mental health centers and teams, psychosocial rehabilitation, peer support services and supported living services; and
  • services that deliver mental health care in social services and non-health settings, such as child protection, school health services, and prisons.

The vast care gap for common mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety means countries must also find innovative ways to diversify and scale up care for these conditions, for example through non-specialist psychological counselling or digital self-help.

WHO response

All WHO Member States are committed to implementing the “Comprehensive mental health action plan 2013–2030" , which aims to improve mental health by strengthening effective leadership and governance, providing comprehensive, integrated and responsive community-based care, implementing promotion and prevention strategies, and strengthening information systems, evidence and research. In 2020, WHO’s “Mental health atlas 2020” analysis of country performance against the action plan showed insufficient advances against the targets of the agreed action plan.

WHO’s “World mental health report: transforming mental health for all” calls on all countries to accelerate implementation of the action plan. It argues that all countries can achieve meaningful progress towards better mental health for their populations by focusing on three “paths to transformation”:

  • deepen the value given to mental health by individuals, communities and governments; and matching that value with commitment, engagement and investment by all stakeholders, across all sectors;
  • reshape the physical, social and economic characteristics of environments – in homes, schools, workplaces and the wider community – to better protect mental health and prevent mental health conditions; and
  • strengthen mental health care so that the full spectrum of mental health needs is met through a community-based network of accessible, affordable and quality services and supports.

WHO gives particular emphasis to protecting and promoting human rights, empowering people with lived experience and ensuring a multisectoral and multistakeholder approach.

WHO continues to work nationally and internationally – including in humanitarian settings – to provide governments and partners with the strategic leadership, evidence, tools and technical support to strengthen a collective response to mental health and enable a transformation towards better mental health for all. 

  • World mental health report: transforming mental health for all
  • Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013─2030
  • Mental health atlas 2020

More about mental health

  • WHO's work on mental health
  • Read more about mental health
  • World Mental Health Day

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Mental illness and violence: Debunking myths, addressing realities

A growing body of research is helping to tease apart why some people with serious mental illness are prone to violence while others are not, and how clinicians and others can help through improved treatment and informed myth-busting

Vol. 52 No. 3 Print version: page 31

  • Physical Abuse and Violence
  • Schizophrenia

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CE credits: 1

Learning objectives: After reading this article, CE candidates will be able to:

  • Cite specific symptoms of serious mental illness that are associated with violent behavior while understanding that diagnosis alone cannot determine who may commit violence.
  • Understand the strong role that contextual factors such as poverty, neighborhood, and substance use play in violence perpetration by people with serious mental illness, as well as those without mental illness.
  • Describe evidence that disconfirms the inaccurate bias that people with mental illness are largely responsible for mass shootings and other acts of mass violence.

For more information on earning CE credit for this article, go to CE Corner .

Many health service psychologists will, at some point in their careers, evaluate, treat, or study the relatively small number of people with serious mental illness who have committed or have the potential to commit violence toward others. Most often they see these individuals in psychiatric inpatient or forensic settings, but occasionally in private practice as well. Many more psychologists have also treated clients who have contemplated or even completed suicide, considered by some to be violence against the self.

To aid psychologists’ understanding of this challenging phenomenon, there is a growing body of research that is helping to tease apart why some people with serious mental illness are prone to aggression or violence while others are not, and how clinicians and others can help.

While perpetrating violence is relatively uncommon among those with serious mental illness, when it does occur, in many cases it is intertwined with other issues such as co-occurring substance use, adverse childhood experiences, and environmental factors, says Eric B. Elbogen, PhD, a psychologist and professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Duke University School of Medicine who studies violence and mental illness.

“If a person has a severe mental illness, [they] may have other risk factors for violent behavior,” he says. “So, it may not be mental illness that is driving the violence at all, but rather factors like having been abused as a child, being unemployed, or living in a high-crime neighborhood.”

It is important to learn about these issues not only to better treat these individuals and to aid their families and communities but to combat the misperception that most people with serious mental illness are violent, adds Jeffrey Swanson, PhD, a medical sociologist at the Duke University School of Medicine and a prominent researcher of the topic. For example, people often believe that people with mental illness are largely responsible for incidents of mass violence and that people with mental illness are responsible for a large share of community violence. Yet both views have been roundly debunked by research, says Swanson.

“We need to do some serious myth-busting around these ideas,” he says, “because people believe them, and they have real consequences.”

State of the knowledge

Overall, people with serious mental illness—which generally refers to those with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder—are somewhat more likely than members of the general public to commit acts of violence, research shows. A study by Richard A. Van Dorn, PhD, of RTI International, and colleagues, for example, found that in a nationally representative community sample of 34,653 people from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, 2.9% of people with serious mental illness had committed violent acts between 2 and 4 years following the study’s baseline, compared with 0.8% of people with no serious mental illness or substance use disorder. However, 10% of people with both serious mental illness and substance use disorder committed such acts during that time ( Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology , Vol. 47, No. 3, 2012).

Such research may seem to support the notion that people with mental illness pose a danger to society. But a closer look reveals that the situation is more complex, says Elbogen. In the most general sense, “there is a link between mental health and violence,” he says, “but at the same time, most people with severe mental illness are not violent.”

As important, a growing body of research shows that when people with serious mental illness commit violent or aggressive acts, other factors besides the illness itself are often at play, says Kimberly Brown, PhD, ABPP, an associate professor of clinical psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and host of an APA 2020 convention workshop ( available on demand ) on the topic.

A big factor is co-occurring substance use. “If you have both a mental illness and a substance use diagnosis, the combination is synergistic and dangerous,” Brown says.

Other contextual factors likewise play a part in why people with mental illness may turn to violence or aggression, research finds. In the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study —one of the most rigorous and widely cited studies on the topic to date—only two clinical symptoms were associated with violent acts among psychiatric inpatients 20 weeks after discharge: “command hallucinations,” or psychotic voices telling a person to harm others; and psychopathy (characterized by a lack of empathy, poor impulse control, and antisocial deviance), which is not typically considered a serious mental illness. Just as likely to play roles were a history of prior violence, a history of childhood physical abuse, having a father who abused substances or was a criminal, displaying antisocial behavior, and scoring high on anger measures.

One of the most striking findings from the original MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study is an environmental one: When the team compared discharged psychiatric patients without substance use disorder with people from their same neighborhoods, their rates of violence were about the same, says Paul Appelbaum, MD, Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine, and Law at Columbia University and a site principal investigator on the MacArthur Study. In other words, when neighborhoods are unsafe, poor, and high in crime, violence is an equally likely outcome whether a person has a mental illness or not.

In short, says Appelbaum, “a great deal of what is responsible for violence among people with mental illness may be the same factors that are responsible for violence among people without mental illness.”

Driving forces, big research questions

Meanwhile, Elbogen and colleagues have been examining possible internal and situational forces that may drive people with serious mental illness to commit violence. Using data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, they examined the potential role of three main domains of risk factors as described in the “I 3 model” of aggression: “dispositional impellance,” or internal factors such as anger and perceived threats that may impel someone to commit violence; “situational impellance,” or contextual factors such as divorce or separation, financial problems, or victimization that may foster violence; and “disinhibition,” external factors such as drug or alcohol intoxication that make it easier for a person to commit violent acts. These factors mitigated the relationship between violence and mental illness; in fact, participants with serious mental illness were less likely to commit violent acts than those without serious mental illness once those factors were removed ( Clinical Psychological Science , Vol. 4, No. 5, 2016).

Despite significant advances in knowledge, however, research in the area is still mixed, says Brown. Some studies find larger links between violence and mental illness than others, and others find no relationship at all. Several reasons help to explain such differences, including that researchers use different population samples in their studies, as well as different definitions and variables to measure violence and mental illness. With violence, for instance, some studies include relatively minor acts of aggression, while others focus exclusively on serious acts of harm toward others. The same is true with mental illness, with some studies of schizophrenia and violence, for example, including only so-called positive symptoms like hallucinations, which are associated with high rates of violence. But other studies find that negative symptoms, such as apathy and loss of motivation, are associated with lower violence rates ( Archives of General Psychiatry , Vol. 64, No. 5, 2006).

The bottom line? “Diagnosis alone is never enough to tell you if someone is likely to be violent again in the future,” says Brown. Instead, a contextual approach is needed that considers symptoms, circumstances, and individual characteristics, among other factors, she says.

In an editorial in The American Journal of Psychiatry (Vol. 176, No. 9, 2019), Appelbaum also points out that many of the current studies, reviews, and meta-analyses in the field rely on data originally collected for other studies, not for the specific purpose of studying the relationship between mental illness and violence. To help move the field forward, he suggests that researchers conduct more prospective studies that use violence as the primary outcome measure and have sufficient power to identify the range of risk-related variables and integrate them into sound theoretical models. Also helpful, he says, would be developing uniform research methods when studying the topic.

Which symptoms lead to violent behavior?

Sometimes, mental health symptoms in and of themselves can spur a person to aggression or violence. These include when the person suffers from:

Persecutory delusions and “command hallucinations.” For people with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, studies show that some of the conditions’ positive symptoms can provoke violence. These include persecutory delusions, such as when a patient thinks people are putting implants in their head or are targeting them with harmful laser beams, particularly when they are also feeling angry or irritable. Another such symptom is “command hallucinations”—when a patient reports hearing voices that order them to hurt someone.

Grandiosity, grandiose delusions, and mania. Grandiosity, a hallmark of the manic and hypomanic phases of bipolar disorder, can likewise play a role in violence and aggression, studies find. People can be overtaken by an exaggerated sense of their own power, which can stunt their ability to empathize with others and foster a sense of entitlement, including the right to take advantage of or exploit others, Brown explains.

Similarly, the high energy that often accompanies mania can lead to violence or aggression on its own terms. A study by Jillian K. Peterson, PhD, an associate professor at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and colleagues, for instance, found that of 429 crimes committed by 143 offenders with mental illness, 3% related directly to depression, 4% to psychosis, and 10% to bipolar disorder, including impulsivity ( Law and Human Behavior , Vol. 38, No. 5, 2014).

Antisocial personality traits. Violence among people with serious mental illness often goes hand in hand with a youthful history of conduct disorder and a present diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, characterized by disregard for others, deceitfulness, and manipulation of others for personal gain, research also shows. While these disorders are considered in the realm of personality disorders, it is likely that many more people would be placed in a category of people with mental illness and at high risk for violence if these disorders were included, Brown says.

Swanson and colleagues examined some of these factors in an analysis of data on 1,445 participants who took part in the NIMH Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) Study, conducted in the mid-2000s. People with schizophrenia, they found, were twice as likely to commit violent acts if they had a history of childhood conduct problems (28%) than if they did not (14%) ( Law and Human Behavior , Vol. 32, No. 3, 2008). And in a subset of the most violent patients in the MacArthur Study, University of California, Berkeley, psychology professor Jennifer Skeem, PhD, and colleagues found that only 12% had experienced psychotic symptoms before committing a violent act, while the subsample as a whole met criteria for antisocial personality disorder, had long histories of conduct problems, and had difficulty managing anger ( Clinical Psychological Science , Vol. 4, No. 1, 2016).

Bringing context into treatment

Clinicians need to consider such complexities when conducting treatment and assessments, say psychologists and others who work with patients with serious mental illness who may be at risk for violent behavior.

“Each patient needs to be assessed individually to identify factors that seem causally related to acts of violence that have occurred in the past, and to focus on intervening with those factors to reduce future risk,” says Appelbaum.

One basic intervention is making sure that people are following treatment protocols, says Shirley M. Glynn, PhD, a clinical and research psychologist at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“When I hear of somebody with a serious mental illness who has acted violently or aggressively, the first thing I ask [their clinician] is, ‘Where are they in terms of their treatment?’” she says. Often they have let treatment and medications lapse, “and if you can help them get back into treatment, a lot of their [aggressive or violent] behavior settles out.” Findings from the CATIE Study bear this out, showing that most patients with schizophrenia who took antipsychotics as prescribed were less likely to be violent than those who did not.

For people with mental illness who have been incarcerated for violent acts, good follow-up can prevent recidivism, adds clinical and forensic psychologist Joel Dvoskin, PhD, ABFP, an expert in mental health and criminal justice assessment for more than 4 decades who has served in numerous related leadership capacities for the states of New York, Nevada, Virginia, and Arizona.

“What you do after people are released matters,” says Dvoskin. He strongly encourages check-ins about how former inpatients or inmates are doing and whether they are following their medication regimens.

Also important is developing treatments that address family dynamics in relation to a patient’s violence, in part because research suggests that about 1 in 5 family members of people with serious mental illness is the target of such violence each year, says psychiatrist Lisa B. Dixon, MD, MPH, of the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry. In an article in a special issue of the Harvard Review of Psychiatry (Vol. 29, No. 1, 2021) on violence and mental illness, Travis Labrum, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, Dixon, and colleagues reviewed 18 qualitative studies on factors correlated with violence toward family members, including a patient’s reliance on family members for financial and other support, limit-setting by family members, and the presence of criticism, hostility, and verbal aggression on both sides.

While research on family and caregiver interventions in this area is still limited, promising avenues include helping patients engage in recovery-oriented treatment and strengthening support services that could reduce reliance on family members, says Dixon. Also promising are evidence-based interventions that support the ability of family members to prevent and manage family conflict, including multifamily group treatment and the National Alliance on Mental Illness’s Family-to-Family program, a free, eight-session educational program for family, friends, and significant others of people with mental illness that guides caregivers in supporting their loved ones and themselves and handling crises when they arise. Meanwhile, strategies targeted to young people, like using internet-based treatments to help engage them, also hold promise.

Knowledge about medications is also improving, finds another review article in the 2021 Harvard Review of Psychiatry special issue by psychiatrists Leslie Citrome, MD, MPH, of New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York, and Jan Volavka, MD, PhD, a professor emeritus at NYU Langone Health. They find strong evidence that two common drugs given to people with schizophrenia, clozapine and olanzapine, can help reduce symptoms of hostility, but that other antipsychotic medications typically prescribed to people with schizophrenia are unlikely to make a difference.

Forensic assessment has likewise grown in sophistication, says Dvoskin. Currently, there are two types of assessment instruments: actuarial instruments, which calculate a person’s likelihood of committing future violence based on a decision-making tree, and structured professional judgment instruments, which use those same tools but give evaluators the ability to make more nuanced decisions based on a person’s particular circumstances.

While both methods are good predictors of future violence, Dvoskin prefers structured professional judgment because “it allows us to use clinical judgment to decide how serious a person’s risk is.” It also provides room to consider dynamic factors that may lead to violence, such as being laid off from work or experiencing domestic violence.

“I don’t think context is a get-out-of-jail-free card,” says Dvoskin, “but it’s certainly relevant to any risk assessment.”

Broader interventions

Others are working to address environmental, situational, and contextual roots of violent or aggressive behavior in people with mental illness. Crisis intervention teams are an example: Now in hundreds of cities and towns around the country, these collaborations between police officers, mental health educators, and community advocates are helping resolve high-intensity police interactions in ways that minimize additional violence.

In another effort, Glynn and colleagues are conducting statewide trainings with mental health counselors designed to help people with first-time episodes of psychosis return to school or get and keep a job, which can prevent them from developing other kinds of problems.

In the policy arena, Swanson and others have been tackling the complicated issues of gun violence and mass violence as they relate to people with mental illness. Besides promulgating research showing that mass shootings account for less than 1% of firearm homicides and tend to be committed by those with issues besides diagnosable mental illnesses, Swanson and others are studying extreme risk protection order laws. In 19 states and the District of Columbia, these laws allow family members and police officers to seek a civil restraining order to temporarily remove guns from people who pose an imminent risk of harming themselves or others ( Harvard Review of Psychiatry , special issue, Vol. 29, No. 1, 2021).

When Swanson and colleagues evaluated the effects of one such policy in Connecticut, they estimated that for every 10 to 20 gun-removal actions, the policy prevented one suicide. The team also learned that most of these individuals were men and that the central concern was suicide threat ( Law and Contemporary Problems , Vol. 80, No. 2, 2017).

The findings underscore the importance of paying at least as much attention to suicide risk as to violence committed toward others, Swanson adds, since research shows that 46% of those who die from suicide have a known mental illness, and 60% of deaths from firearms are suicides.

“It’s a big opportunity,” he says, “because if you can keep a gun out of somebody’s hand in a moment of despair, they’re likely to survive. And people who survive a suicide attempt are unlikely to die from suicide going forward.”

Further reading

Special issue: Violence and mental illness Swanson, J. W. (ed.), Harvard Review of Psychiatry , 2021

In search of a new paradigm for research on violence and schizophrenia Appelbaum, P. S., The American Journal of Psychiatry , 2019

Beyond mental illness: Targeting stronger and more direct pathways to violence Elbogen, E. B., et al., Clinical Psychological Science , 2016

“CE Corner” is a continuing- education article offered by APA’s Office of CE in Psychology.

To earn CE credit, after you read this article, complete an online learning exercise and take a CE test. Upon successful completion of the test—a score of 75% or higher—you can immediately print your certificate.

To purchase the online program, visit  CE Corner . The test fee is $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers. For more information, call (800) 374-2721.

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  • The vast majority of violent acts are not due to mental illness, and most people with mental illness are not violent.
  • When people with mental illness do commit violence, it is often due to contextual or background factors such as a history of childhood physical abuse, living in poor and/or dangerous neighborhoods, or using substances.
  • Factors that predict violence in general—antisocial behavior, substance use, and anger issues, for example—also predict violence in individuals with mental illness.

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No such thing as mental illness? Critical reflections on the major ideas and legacy of Thomas Szasz

Tony b. benning.

1 Maple Ridge Mental Health Center, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

Enfant terrible of psychiatry and widely known as one of its most indefatigable as well as iconoclastic critics, Thomas Szasz (1961–2012) had a prolific writing career that extended some 51 years beyond the publication of his first book, The Myth of Mental Illness , in 1961. This editorial identifies and critically discusses three major themes in Szasz's writings: his contention that there is no such thing as mental illness, his contention that individual responsibility is never compromised in those suffering from what is generally considered as mental illness, and his perennial interest in calling attention to the political nature of psychiatric diagnosis.

The non-existence of mental illness

Arguing in The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct that they are merely ‘indirect forms of communication’, 1 Thomas Szasz posited that so-called mental illnesses cannot legitimately be categorised as diseases. This launched an argument that Szasz would elaborate over the course of a prolific writing career that spanned more than 50 years. Szasz repudiated psychiatry's misappropriation of concepts such as ‘illness’, which he took to be relevant to medicine and its ‘physicalist framework’ 2 but not to matters of mind and human conduct. In The Myth of Mental Illness , 1 after arguing that virtually any entity can have a counterfeit version, Szasz articulated his views with characteristic iconoclasm, contending that only physical illnesses are real and that mental diseases are ‘counterfeit and metaphorical illnesses’ (p. 34). Illnesses are understood, according to Szasz, 3 with respect to deviation from a norm, and in the case of physical illness the norm refers to the structural or functional integrity of the body or some aspect of it. But the norm – deviation from which results in so-called mental illness – is altogether more problematic for Szasz; this norm is a ‘psychosocial and ethical one’. 3 With this as the case, first, the search for a medical remedy seems poorly justified, and second, the points where diagnostic lines are drawn are bound, according to Szasz, to be somewhat arbitrary.

Szasz did not deny that humans have difficulties but he preferred to conceptualise them not as mental illnesses or as diseases, but as ‘problems in living’. 1 Nor did he deny psychiatrists a role in assisting individuals with problems. Psychiatrists could have a legitimate role to play but the ideal relationship between psychiatrist and patient, for Szasz, should be based on consensual contract rather than coercion. Second, the psychiatrist cannot justifiably claim that only he has the expertise to help people experiencing problems in living, since help from ‘family members, friends, clergymen, mental health professionals, physicians, drugs, religion, faith healing, marriage, divorce, and so on’ 4 could be legitimately solicited by or on behalf of those experiencing problems in living, according to Szasz.

As Kendell 5 pointed out in his rebuttal of Szasz's claim that mental illnesses fail to conform to the definition of disease, Szasz's notion of disease, influenced by Virchow, was overly narrow, for it placed excessive importance on the criterion of ‘cellular pathology’. 5 Kendell also claimed that Szasz's argument understated the extent to which ‘suffering and incapacity are fundamental attributes of disease’. 5 He brought attention to the fact that in medicine generally there is no universally agreed upon definition of disease – and if Szasz's criterion were to be widely adopted, several diseases widely recognised in medicine, such as migraine and torticollis (neither of which are associated with lesions or cellular pathology) would fail to qualify.

Beginning in the 1990s, psychiatry saw an unprecedented shift in its culture, with an explosion of interest in biological and neuroscientific research. Shorter, 6 on the basis of the claim that ‘the discipline today acknowledges a neurological basis for much psychiatric illness’ (p. 183), argued that contemporary neurobiological research findings in fact provide support to counter Szasz's argument. This view that Shorter attributed to ‘the discipline’ is arguably overstated, since there is by no means unanimity among psychiatrists in attributing biological aetiologies to mental illnesses. For example, several authors writing as recently as early 2000s have contested the very claim that schizophrenia is a brain disease. 7 , 8

Pathologisation of everyday life

A further area examined by Szasz concerns the proliferation of new psychiatric disorders. Szasz decried ‘fictitious mental diseases’ 9 such as body dysmorphic disorder, multiple personality disorder and frotteurism. What he appeared to be objecting to here is the encroachment of psychiatric discourse upon ever-increasing domains of human life. Szasz adopted a mocking tone, for example, when discussing ‘the behavior we call shoplifting – but psychiatrists call kleptomania’, 9 arguing that the construal of such behaviours as pathological entities for one thing perpetuates an assumption that the individual's actions are devoid of motivation and that they occur outside the orbit of their control. Medicalisation hands responsibility for such behaviours away from the individual concerned to physicians, specifically to psychiatrists.

In this respect, Szasz was cognizant of the interplay between diagnosis and political and social power; medicalisation gives a pre-eminent role to doctors, it privileges the role of medication as a therapeutic intervention and so the pharmaceutical industry stands to profit much by stretching the boundaries of the concept of mental disorder. Several authors in addition to Szasz have brought critical attention to this ever-widening reach of psychiatric diagnosis, and to the pharmaceutical industry's complicity in this phenomenon, 10 – 14 not only by supporting ‘new’ categories of psychiatric disorder (such as adult attention deficit disorder), but by endorsing the lowering of diagnostic thresholds for a host of established psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder.

Mental illness and personal responsibility

Ever interested in the interface between psychiatry and the law, another recurring theme in Szasz's writing concerns the issue of individual agency and personal responsibility. Law, Liberty, and Psychiatry 3 is his first book-length attempt to grapple with these important issues. In it, Szasz articulated a critical position with respect to legal and jurisprudential orthodoxy which assumes that individuals with mental illness, in some cases, are not responsible for their actions (especially with reference to criminal acts). Distinguishing between explanation and responsibility, Szasz argued that regardless of a diagnosis of mental illness, individuals are ‘always responsible for their conduct’. 3

In discussing the hypothetical example of a deluded individual with schizophrenia who shoots several visitors outside the White House acting under the belief that he was pre-emptively shooting communist assassins, Szasz argued that the endorsement of a range of ‘explanations’ does not imply that the person committing the crime did not have responsibility for the act. Critical of what he dubbed the ‘progressive psychiatrization of the law’, 3 Szasz challenged the sorts of assumptions about personal responsibility in mentally disordered individuals that are reflected in such jurisprudential principles as the M'Naghten and Durham rules. There are other, more wide-reaching, implications of this assumption for Szasz – widespread in his view among psychiatrists and in jurisprudence – about the impairment of personal responsibility in the ‘so-called mentally ill’. 3 These he articulated in works such as The Therapeutic State 15 and The Manufacture of Madness , 16 arguing that it is on the basis of the false assumption that the so-called mentally ill person ‘is presumed to be incompetent’ 15 to make decisions about treatment that such paternalistic interventions as involuntary hospitalisation and coercive treatments are justified. These concerns gave rise to such pragmatic developments as his concept of the psychiatric will 15 in which it was proposed that an individual, when well, could document an objection to receiving coercive treatments in the event of falling sick.

Szasz consistently debunked the existence of mental illness on the basis of his assumption of the relevance to mental illness of the criteria of physiological abnormality, or the so-called ‘medical-pathological definition of disease’. 17 But this line of argument is problematic, with Kendell pointing out that this criterion is of dubious merit in physical disorder, let alone mental disorder. The scope of Szasz's erudition was broad but it did not encompass non-Western conceptualisations of mental disorder. Had it done so, the somewhat idiosyncratic nature of his argument would perhaps have become apparent to Szasz himself, for the criterion of physiological abnormality as a means of validating the existence of mental disorder is anathema to non-Western conceptualisations of mental illness. 18 – 22 As such, Szasz could appeal neither to history nor to insights from cultural psychiatry or anthropology as a way of giving credibility to his argument.

Szasz's concerns about the medicalisation of emotional, behavioural and interpersonal problems remain relevant and psychiatrists' engagement with them would be warranted. Vigorous effort continues to be expended in shoehorning a range of human problems into the medical model and resulting over-diagnosis furthers the professional interests of psychiatrists and the pharmaceutical industry. Many contemporary writers 10 , 12 , 13 share a concern for the societal impact of ever-greater number of psychiatric diagnoses and lowering of diagnostic thresholds for existing ones. However, there is a reality and suffering attached to mental illness, to psychological dysfunction, that Szasz's writings simply fail to acknowledge. In this respect, I fully agree with Lieberman: ‘I think Szasz trivializes devastating malfunction – serious mental illness – by dismissing such patients as attention seekers, imposters, and so forth’. 23 Admittedly, the language of histopathological lesions, of cellular pathology and infectious organisms has very little or no relevance to most psychiatric conditions, but to insist that problems with thought, emotions, drive, impulse control, cognition, perception, behaviour and so forth should be exempted from the rubric of illness, and the assertion that there is no such thing at all as psychopathology, seem entirely unjustified. Szasz might have attracted less opprobrium from psychiatrists and others had he acknowledged the reality of psychopathology and of mental illness while conceding that it does indeed have characteristics that set it apart from many – although not all – physical illnesses. These characteristics include phenomenological overlap with spiritual experience, 24 , 25 diagnostic boundaries that are often much less well defined than in physical illness, 12 boundaries that are subject to the influence of such factors as social context, and so forth. Such characteristics behove clinicians to conceptualise mental illness in different ways from physical illness, not to discard altogether the very concept.

Effort needs to be poured into formulating a conceptual definition of mental disorder 12 that does justice to serious mental illness so that such bona fide psychiatric illnesses as schizophrenia and major depression and mere problems in living are not conflated with each other. This would be a far more humane path along which to proceed than following the highly flawed Szaszian strategy of jettisoning the concept of mental illness.

Psychiatric labels have undoubtedly been deployed in the service of a range of political agendas and Szasz was justified in bringing attention to such historical constructs as ‘drapetomania’ and ‘sluggish schizophrenia’, 17 but his contention that contemporary psychiatric diagnoses represent nothing more than the labelling of those who are deviating from ‘psychosocial, ethical, or legal norms’ 17 was overstated. This is not a description that resonates with me as a clinical psychiatrist and I doubt that I am alone in this regard. Psychiatrists, contrary to what Szasz appeared to suggest, do not make judgements about pathology on the basis of arbitrary, socially constructed notions of normalcy, conformity and deviance. This is not to say though that there is no concept of a normative reference point. There is, but it usually is assumed as being an approximation to the patient's previous (so-called premorbid) state of health or level of functioning, deviation from which has resulted in distress and/or concern from the patient or their significant others. This is quite a different scenario from the one conceived by Szasz which would appear to portray psychiatrists as playing some sort of role, as agents of social control or as ‘social engineers’. 3

On the issue of Szasz's views on personal responsibility and on his wholesale dismissal of the claim that individuals diagnosed with mental disorder could ever lack competence to make treatment decisions, I agree with Lieberman 23 that while the default assumption on the part of physicians should be that patients retain competence, in some circumstances this assumption is proven to be false. In cases when a mentally disordered individual lacks decision-making competency psychiatric intervention may prevent them from harming themselves or others.

The specific question of Szasz's legacy became all the more salient following his death in 2012. Williams & Caplan, 26 writing in The Lancet , credited Szasz with the increasing preoccupation among psychiatrists – especially in the latter part of the 20th century – with disease nosology and with the quest to elucidate biological substrates for mental illness. The justifiability of such attribution of credit in this respect and to this extent to Szasz is debatable since the pursuit of a putative biological basis for mental illness is likely to be explained, as Walter 27 points out, by several converging streams of influence, recent as well as remote. They include the localationist imperatives that were advanced by Wernicke and Meynert at the end of the 19th century, the psycho-pharmacological breakthroughs of the mid-20th century, and the genetic studies of schizophrenia that soon followed. Williams & Caplan's argument, then, fails to convince. The more persuasive claim regarding his legacy is that which credits Szasz with engendering greater awareness around issues of psychiatric power. 28 Today, there is growing disquiet about the fact that ‘psychiatric talk’ has come to be a sort of go-to discourse for an ever-widening range of human concerns. 10 , 12 , 13 Undergirding that disquiet is cognizance of the fact that psychiatric power, as Breeding suggests, 28 need not be overt to be pervasive. As a body of writings that can sensitise us to these important issues, I can think of none more compelling than Szasz's.

Declaration of interest None.

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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.

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Mental Illness Essay Examples

Anorexia and influence of cultural factors on it.

​Culture is a very complex and difficult word that has many different meanings and perceptions. However, the common meaning of culture is the way a group of people lives or the way they do things. For example, Christmas is a holiday part of the western...

The Problem of Social Isolation Across Old Generation

Aging is a natural way of becoming older. Our human body goes through physical and emotional changes which make you do things slower. Besides the positive parts of aging an old life such as traveling, reconnecting with relatives or friends, discovering new hobbies, etc., seniors...

Short Essay About Depression: Types and Causes

Unfortunately, there is small amout of essays about depression, but I want to mention that if you have a depression, then you may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life is not worth living. More than just a...

Overcoming Depression and Anxiety: Coping Strategies

Depression… The extreme feeling of sadness, unexcitment or even thinking about death. What about anxiety? Anxiety is another form of disorder where you will feel restlessness, having panic attacks and overthinking about a very small thing. Because of the lockdown, depression and anxiety has been...

Exploring the Depths of Depression: an Argumentative View

You’ve lost connections with friends and family, you can’t bring yourself to go outside, it feels like the world is against you. This is the life of having depression, a horrible cycle of low moods, sadness and an overall feeling of dejectedness. I chose to...

Relationship Between Mental Illness and Crime

The intricate interplay between mental illness and crime has been a subject of intense study and debate, delving into the multifaceted connections between psychological well-being and criminal behavior. This essay explores the complex relationship between mental health conditions and criminal activities, examining the key factors...

Mental Health Vs. Physical Health

The debate over whether mental health or physical health is more important has long been a topic of discussion in the fields of medicine, psychology, and public health. This essay will explore the complexities of this issue, considering various perspectives, and ultimately argue that both...

Taking a In-depth Look at the Topic of Mental Health

The following information in mental health essay topics will provide the reader with an in-depth look at mental health. It will analyse how mental health is perceived by the public, media and evaluate how individuals with a mental illness can be subjected to stigma and...

The Importance of Mental Health: Prioritizing Well-being

Mental health is a topic that bursts with significance and perplexity. It is an integral aspect of our overall well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and interact with the world around us. In this essay, we explore the complexities of mental health and the burstiness...

Globalization of the Medicalized's Effect on Western Notions of Mental Health

This essay will discuss how, in contemporary society, a person’s state of being can become classed as a medical illness through the process of medicalization in western society and then how those ideas become transported to other parts of the world through globalisation. This essay...

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About Mental Illness

A mental disorder, also called a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.

Anxiety Disorders, depression, bipolar Disorder, post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Schizophrenia, eating Disorders, disruptive behavior, and dissocial disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, Sleep disorders, Sexuality related disorders, other disorders.

Genetic, psychological, and environmental factors all contribute to the development or progression of mental disorders: poverty, family conflict or violence, neglect in early childhood, having a parent with a substance abuse problem, living in inadequate or unsafe housing. Risk occurring as early as during prenatal period.

The most common mental disorders around the globe: are depression (about 264 million people) bipolar disorder ( 45 million people), dementia (50 million people), and schizophrenia and other psychoses, which affects about 20 million people.

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