Introduction to Mental Health and Stigma(not sigma)

Mental health is part of our overall health. It 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 choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. Mental illnesses are conditions that affect a person's thinking, feeling, mood or behavior, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

A stigma is a perceived negative attribute that causes someone to devalue or think less of the whole person. When people are suffering from a mental illness, stigma, prejudice, discrimination, and shame are present. Misinformation, stereotypes, and negative attitudes surrounding mental illness create a harsh environment for individuals. Not only do people with the illness and their families have to face these negative elements, but overall, leading society mental health treatment today is greatly inhibited due to these attitudes.