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. If you have — or think you might have — a mental illness, the first thing you must know is that you are not alone. Mental health conditions are far more common than you think, mainly because people don’t like to, or are scared to, talk about them.

Stress is a persistent force in our lives. Many people have come to accept it as normal, even when it gets out of hand, and let it build. But changing our relationship with stress is critically important for improving our health and well-being. … The goal is not to avoid stress but to manage it effectively. Stress is something we can and should address for the sake of our mental health.

Everyone feels sad or low sometimes, but these feelings usually pass with a little time. Depression (also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is different. It can cause severe symptoms that affect how you feel, think, and handle daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working. It is an illness that can affect anyone—regardless of age, race, income, culture, or education. Research suggests that genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors play a role in depression.

Repeated use of alcohol or other drugs despite negative consequences on the individual’s personal and professional life is cause for concern. When someone is behaving in this way, it may be time for them to talk to a professional about whether they have a substance use disorder.

It’s okay to not be okay — especially after experiencing any kind of loss. Fortunately and unfortunately, grief takes time. No two people grieve the same way or for the same amount of time. It’s all about finding the people, practices, and things that will help through that process.