Mental Health Milwaukee WI

What is mental health

Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Everyone struggles with their mental health from time to time. Major life episodes like death, illness, childhood trauma, and sudden life changes can affect a person’s mental health. Poor mental health can be a temporary problem or a lifelong issue.

What is mental
illness

A mental illness is a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, behavior or mood. These conditions deeply impact day-to-day living and may also affect the ability to relate to others. Some of the most common mental illnesses are depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar depression, and behavioral disorders. 

How common is mental illness

Approximately 50 million American adults experience a mental illness. That's one in every five adults. One in 20 adults experience severe mental illness. 

Children experience mental illness as well. One in six children ages 6-17  have a major depressive episode. Almost 50 percent of all lifelong mental illnesses begin before the age of 14.

Creating good mental health

There are several ways to boost your mental health:

• Practice self-care. Exercise, eat healthy meals, get an adequate amount of sleep, and stay hydrated. Our physical health can affect our mental health.

• Develop a support system. Community is important. Surround yourself with people who positively impact your mental health. Loneliness can breed poor mental health.

• Challenge negative thinking. Practice positive self-talk. Identify all-or-nothing thinking. Focus on gratitude.

Seek Therapy. Counseling can offer help in eliminating unhealthy thinking and behavioral patterns and offer perspective for your situation. Medication may be necessary.

To speak with a mental health professional about improving your mental health, call now to set up an appointment.