Mental health is a state of well-being that enables individuals to realize their potential, cope with life’s stresses and problems, learn and work productively, and contribute to their community. At any given time, a diverse set of individual, family, community and structural factors combine to protect or undermine mental health.
Treatments may include psychotherapy, which can involve talking with a trained mental health professional, group therapy or family therapy. Psychiatric medications can also help control symptoms. Medications may be used alone or in combination, including antidepressants, mood stabilisers, antipsychotics and anti-anxiety medications. Other medicines, such as benzodiazepines, are used to treat seizures and sleep disorders. Psychosocial interventions can be helpful in addition to psychiatric medication, such as occupational and speech therapies.
Some therapists use a non-categorical approach to diagnosing, based on the idea that different symptom patterns are related to different relationships or environmental circumstances. There is some evidence from twin and adoption studies to support this. This is often called a “dimensional” or “spectrum” model.
Psychologists are researching ways to better support people with mental illnesses and their families. They are working to increase clinical training and capacity, as well as reshaping policies and practices at the local and state level. For example, they’re behind new mental health recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which now recommends regular anxiety and depression screening in children and adolescents. They’re also exploring how to better equip schools with mental health supports on site.