Articles
Mental health: What's normal, what's not
Why is it so tough to tell what's normal?
What is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)?
How do mental health providers diagnose mental health conditions?
Content
What is mental health?
How are mental health disorders defined?
How do mental health professionals diagnose disorders?
When is an evaluation or treatment needed?
What is mental health?
Mental health is the overall wellness of how you think, regulate your feelings and behave. Sometimes people experience a significant disturbance in this mental functioning. A mental disorder may be present when patterns or changes in thinking, feeling or behaving cause distress or disrupt a person's ability to function. A mental health disorder may affect how well you:
- Maintain personal or family relationships
- Function in social settings
- Perform at work or school
- Learn at a level expected for your age and intelligence
- Participate in other important activities
Cultural norms and social expectations also play a role in defining mental health disorders. There is no standard measure across cultures to determine whether a behavior is normal or when it becomes disruptive. What might be normal in one society may be a cause for concern in another.