Mental health problems – also referred to as poor mental health, mental disorders or mental illness – are disturbances in the way people think, feel and behave. They affect the state of balance, health and well-being associated with good mental health.
Mental illness is the term used to describe a number of mental problems or disorders that can be diagnosed. Mental health problems are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behaviour (or a combination of these) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.
Mental health problems affect more people than imagined. In fact, at least one in three Canadians will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life. One in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem over the course of a year.
Unfortunately, the stigma around mental health problems prevents many people from getting the help they need. Stigma is the product of myth and misunderstanding. It fuels fear and sets mental illness apart from physical diseases like heart disease or cancer, which people aren’t afraid to talk about.
It is important to remember that mental illness is not a single disease but a broad classification for many mental health problems or disorders. The most common mental illnesses are described here. Substance Use disorders are also addressed in this section because, often, substance abuse and mental health problems occur together.