What is 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.1 Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Although the terms are often used interchangeably, poor mental health and mental illness are not the same. 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.
Why is mental health important for overall health?
Mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health. For example, depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems, particularly long-lasting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. (https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm)
How to Get Help for Mental Health Issues
Virginia’s community services boards (CSBs) are the primary point of entry into the Commonwealth’s public behavioral health and developmental services system. CSBs provide treatment for mental health issues, substance use and addiction, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. There is a CSB that serves every county and city in the state. To locate the CSB nearest to you, click here. You can also visit the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) treatment locator website at https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. On that page, you can search for providers by zip code.
Additional Resources:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress or crisis, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
- NAMI Virginia is an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. Together, they advocate for better lives for those individuals who have a mental illness.
- rtor.org (Resources for Mental Health and Recovery): rtor.org is a gateway to mental health resources. We offer a free online service that helps people connect with expert treatment and support. Contact a Resource Specialist Now for free personalized help, support, and referrals to mental health providers in your community.