Distinguishing Mental Health vs. Mental Illness

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“Although the terms are often used interchangeably, poor mental health and mental illness are not the same things. A person can experience poor mental health and not be diagnosed with a mental illness. Likewise, a person diagnosed with a mental illness can experience periods of physical, mental and social well-being” 

Mental Health

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Mental Illness

Mental illnesses are conditions that affect a person’s thinking, feeling, mood or behavior, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Such conditions may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic) and affect someone’s ability to relate to others and function each day.

Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the US.

  • More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.

  • 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.

  • 1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.

  • 1 in 25 Americans lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.

What causes mental illness?

While there is no single cause for mental illness, a number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness:

  • Trauma or a history of abuse (for example, child abuse, sexual assault, witnessing violence, etc.)

  • Experiences related to ongoing chronic illnesses, such as cancer or diabetes.

  • Chemical imbalances in the brain or biological factors.

  • Use of alcohol or recreational drugs

  • Having feeling of loneliness or isolation

Can your mental health change over time?

It’s important to remember that a person’s mental health can change over time, depending on many factors.  When the demands placed on a person exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health could be impacted. Long hours, experiencing economic hardship or caring for an aging relative can cause a person to experience poor mental health.

Learn more at the CDC’s website


mentalStevi Carrmental health, mental illness, cdc