A healthy mind is central to good health and well-being. Mental health includes a person’s emotional well-being, ability to relate to others and cope with life events. People with mental illness can get treatment, such as therapy and medicine. Many people recover from mental illness. However, people often face stigma and barriers to care, including financial, cultural and structural barriers.
Stigma may prevent people from seeking help for a mental health problem or from staying in treatment. When writing about people who have a mental health condition, avoid using derogatory language that could stigmatize them, such as words like crazy, psycho and junkie. Also, use person-first language instead of describing someone as a patient or sufferer.
People of all ages and backgrounds have a chance to experience mental health challenges at some point. A number of factors contribute to the development of mental illness, such as genes, environment and life experiences. Depression, for example, is more common in people whose blood relatives have had depression. Brain chemistry, such as changes to neurotransmitters, can also cause mental health problems.
WHO works globally – in low-income and middle-income countries, in humanitarian settings, and among indigenous communities – to provide the strategic leadership, evidence, tools and technical support to enable a holistic, integrated mental health response. The organization works to promote mental health as a fundamental human right and to ensure that all people receive the treatment they need.