Mental Health

Definition: Mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Such conditions may be occasional or chronic and affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

Overall Health Impact: Mental illnesses are among the most common conditions in the U.S. Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health.  Mental illness, especially depression, increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Similarly, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness.

There is no sure way to prevent mental illness. However, if you have a mental illness, taking steps to control stress, receiving routine medical care, and getting help when you need it can all help to manage your mental health. Evidence based mental health programs have been shown to control or decrease the symptoms of mental illness. Through MIMI-Rx, your primary care provider can refer you to programs and a health care team to develop a treatment plan with clear goals and steps to reach them; Whether that may be learning how to control your stress, or navigating your resources and environment.

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