Mental health is an important component of overall well-being. It influences how you perceive and respond to emotions, how you manage relationships and decisions, and how you cope with stress.

It also determines how you behave, think and learn. If you have a mental illness, it may affect your ability to work or study, keep up with daily chores, maintain a healthy weight, sleep and eat properly, socialize and care for yourself. It can be difficult to manage, even with treatment, but it is possible to live a full life, achieve success and find meaning in spite of having a mental illness.

There are different kinds of mental illnesses, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and others. Some conditions are mild and do not affect your daily functioning, while others have a major impact on your abilities and may cause serious problems. Some mental disorders are more common in certain groups of people, such as those with a family history of mental illness or those who have been exposed to trauma.

Getting help early is the best way to treat mental illnesses. This is especially true if the condition is severe. Treatment may include psychotherapy (talk therapy) and/or medication. Most people with mental illness find a combination of these treatments to be most effective. Some people choose to seek natural remedies, such as yoga, acupuncture and meditation, instead of medical treatments.

People with mental illnesses can often benefit from support networks and community services. These can help them feel connected and supported, make healthy choices and learn to overcome their challenges. It is critical that we do not stigmatize people with mental illnesses and do our part to change the image of these conditions. This includes avoiding derogatory language, such as calling someone a psycho or crazy, and supporting efforts to promote a more accurate portrayal of mental illness in movies, TV shows and other popular media.

If you know someone who is struggling with a mental health issue, encourage them to get professional help. Suggest finding a psychiatrist or psychologist in their area and offering to go with them to their first appointment. If they are at risk of harming themselves, do not hesitate to take them to a hospital or call for emergency services.

Unlike treating most medical conditions, which involve restoring dysfunctional physiologic mechanisms, the primary focus of therapeutic interventions for mental disorders is achieving a positive change in feelings, self-esteem, perceptions and actions that are not primarily associated with restoration of function. This is why a holistic approach to psychiatric care is essential. Efforts must also be made to expand access to quality care, strengthen systems of support and provide more research into psychiatric disorders. This is the only way to make sure that everyone has access to the services they need, no matter where they live.