When you’re mentally healthy, it’s easier to handle stress, be part of your community, engage with friends and family, and perform well at work.
Mental health is a vital part of our overall well-being. In 1949, May was designated as Mental Health Awareness Month; the idea was to help reduce the stigma around mental health.
According to the World Health Organization, mental health is a state of mental well-being that helps people
- cope with the everyday stresses of life
- realize their strengths and abilities
- be open to learning
- be successful with their work and
- be an asset to their community.
It includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being, and it affects how we think, feel and act. Mental health impacts how we relate to others, handle stress and whether we make healthy choices.
Risk factors
There is no single cause for a mental illness, but your risk of mental health conditions and concerns can be influenced by
- trauma
- abuse
- medical conditions
- feeling lonely or like you aren’t part of something and
- drug and/or alcohol use.
How you can help yourself or others
Share how you’re feeling with those close to you. Supportive friends and family members can make a big difference.
Check on your family and friends; while someone may appear to be doing well, they could be struggling. You can support them by listening, being caring and respectful, and/or offering to help them seek treatment.
You can also check the Mental Health Resources page on PASSport for free resources, including tips and screenings through Mental Health America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental well-being. And if you’re enrolled in our BCBS PPO Plan, you can talk with a licensed mental health therapist on an internet-connected device for just $25 per visit through Amwell telehealth.
