Key Differences Between Mental Health and Mental Illness
Understanding the differences between mental health and mental illness is important for everyone. It helps us be more aware and supportive of each other.
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Definitions:
- Mental Health: This means how we feel, think, and interact with others. It plays a big part in our overall well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that more than 1 in 4 people will face a mental health issue at some point in their lives.
- Mental Illness: This includes specific conditions that can really change how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that about 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. deal with mental illness each year.
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Spectrum and Severity:
- Mental health is like a scale. It means that people can feel okay or can struggle in different ways.
- Mental illness usually needs a doctor's diagnosis. It can include serious issues like depression, anxiety disorders, or schizophrenia. In 2020, around 5.6% of adults were found to have serious mental illnesses.
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Impact:
- Having good mental health helps people deal with challenges and be productive.
- On the other hand, mental illness can really disrupt everyday life. According to WHO, it is a major cause of disability around the world.