Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also affects how we cope with and react to stress. There are many factors that contribute to mental health, such as genetics, life history, circumstance, socioeconomic status, and access to resources.

According to the CDC, mental and physical health are equally important to components of overall health.

• Mental illness, especially depression, increased the risk for many types of physical health problems.
• Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the U.S. More than 50% of the population 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.
• There is no single cause for mental illness; a number of factors can contribute to risk for mental illness, such as adverse life experiences (trauma or a history of abuse), experiences related to ongoing medical conditions (for self or family member), biological factors (such as genes or chemical imbalances in the brain), use of alcohol or recreational drugs, and prolonged feeling of loneliness or isolation.