Mental Health
Mental health affects how you feel, connect with others, and manage daily life. Support can address emotional distress and substance use together, with care matched to your needs.
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What Is Mental Health?
Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is part of overall health, not simply the absence of a diagnosed condition. Caring for mental health can involve everyday support, professional treatment, or both. If alcohol or other substance use is also a concern, a clinician can help you understand how the issues overlap and what care may help.[1][2]
Mental health conditions are common and treatable. Asking for support is a practical step, whether you are struggling with one symptom or several concerns at once.[1][2][3]
- Self-care can support mental health and complement treatment and recovery, but the right approach differs from person to person.[1]
- Mental health conditions and substance use disorders can occur together. Because symptoms can overlap, a clinician needs to consider both concerns when recommending care.[2]
- Treatment for co-occurring conditions may include therapy to build coping skills, medication, and help making sure different providers work together.[2]
Is Mental Health the Same as Mental Illness?
Mental health describes well-being. A mental illness is a health condition. You can struggle with your well-being without having a diagnosed disorder. You can also live with a mental health condition and experience good well-being, especially with effective treatment and supportive relationships. A diagnosis does not describe every part of your life.[4]
Behavioral health is a broader term that includes mental health, substance use and related concerns. Seeing that label on a clinic or insurance directory does not tell you which services it offers. Ask whether it provides the assessment or treatment you need.[5]
If you are coping with a death, explore grief and loss support, including counseling and bereavement groups.
When Should You Seek Mental Health Support?
If you are concerned about your mental health, a primary care clinician can be a starting point. They can discuss your concerns and refer you to a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker. You do not have to identify a diagnosis before starting that conversation.[1]
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recommends professional help for severe or distressing symptoms lasting two weeks or more. Examples include difficulty sleeping or concentrating, appetite changes, losing interest in usual activities, or difficulty completing everyday tasks. These are reasons to seek assessment, not a checklist that proves a particular disorder.[1]
Do not wait for a time threshold when there is immediate danger or suicidal distress. Use the emergency or crisis resources below. The guidance about persistent symptoms is not a reason to postpone urgent help.[1]
When Mental Health Concerns Need Immediate Help
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 or use the chat at 988lifeline.org in the United States. Support is free, confidential, and available around the clock. In a life-threatening situation, call 911.[1]
What Happens During a Mental Health Assessment?
An assessment is a discussion and evaluation to understand what is happening and which care may help. A clinician asks about your symptoms, health history, medications, substance use, and how daily life has changed. Depending on your concerns, the evaluation may include questionnaires or a medical examination to check for other explanations.[6][7][8]
You do not have to arrive knowing the name of a disorder. For example, difficulty concentrating can have several explanations. Describing when it happens and how it affects you gives the clinician a starting point for asking more questions.[7]
What Can You Say at a First Appointment?
Describe what has changed and how it affects you. You might say, “I am having trouble sleeping and concentrating, and it is affecting work,” or “I use alcohol when I feel overwhelmed, and I want help understanding both problems.”
What to Bring to the Conversation
Consider making a short note about:
- The symptoms or situations that concern you.
- When they began and whether they come and go.
- Effects on sleep, eating, work, school, relationships, or daily tasks.
- Medications, supplements, alcohol, or other substances you use.
- Care you have tried and what helped or did not help.
- Any self-harm or suicidal thoughts you need to discuss.
- What you would most like help with first.
You can bring questions even if you cannot remember an exact timeline. A clinician can help determine what further assessment is needed.
What Can Affect Your Mental Health?
Mental health reflects more than personal habits or willpower. Biology, physical health, relationships and living conditions can all influence it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies influences such as discrimination, violence, social isolation and difficulty accessing housing, education, employment or health care. Supportive relationships and safe, stable environments can help protect well-being.[4]
These factors change risk, but they do not predict an individual diagnosis. A practical care plan can address symptoms while also considering barriers such as transportation, language, caregiving responsibilities or the cost of appointments. Tell your provider which obstacles make getting help difficult.
How Are Mental Health and Addiction Connected?
A substance use disorder involves a pattern of substance use that creates problems and becomes difficult to control. It may involve using more than planned, difficulty stopping, or continuing despite harm. Mental health conditions can occur alongside a substance use disorder, but each concern needs its own assessment.[2]
In the 2025 U.S. survey, an estimated 54.6 million adults aged 18 or older (20.6%) had a mental illness in the past year.[3] This included 18.2 million (6.9%) with serious mental illness, a survey category for mental illness that substantially interferes with major daily activities.[3] About 18.5 million adults (7.0%) had both a mental illness and a substance use disorder.[3]
These estimates use survey responses and a statistical model to estimate how many adults have a mental illness. They do not mean that a clinician individually diagnosed every person counted.[3]
“Co-occurring” means that conditions are present together. Their symptoms can overlap, so the term does not explain by itself which symptoms come from which condition.[2]
Why Can Mental Health and Substance Use Problems Overlap?
NIMH describes several possible pathways. Shared influences, such as stress, trauma, or inherited traits, can contribute to both. Some people use substances to cope with mental health symptoms. Substance use can also contribute to changes that increase the risk of other mental health problems.[2]
These possibilities do not establish a single sequence for everyone. Having a mental health condition does not mean that a particular person has a substance use disorder, and using a substance to cope does not by itself establish a diagnosis. A clinician considers the full pattern, including when symptoms and substance use started and how they affect daily life.[2]
Why Should You Tell a Clinician About Alcohol or Drug Use?
Symptoms can be difficult to interpret when substance use and mental health concerns occur together. NIMH recommends an evaluation by providers experienced in both areas to reduce missed diagnoses and help create an appropriate treatment plan. Sharing both concerns gives the clinician a fuller picture.[2]
If you have been drinking heavily for a prolonged period, seek medical help before suddenly stopping. Alcohol withdrawal is a reaction to stopping drinking after heavy, prolonged use. It can cause nausea, a racing heart, or seizures and can be life-threatening. A clinician can help plan a safer recovery. Mention previous withdrawal symptoms when asking for care.[9]
Which Mental Health Conditions Can You Learn About?
The following topics provide starting points for learning, not a way to diagnose yourself or another person. Similar symptoms may have different explanations. The linked guides explore individual conditions in more depth, while clinical assessment helps distinguish them.[2]
Understanding Depression
Depression can involve persistent low mood or loss of interest, along with other symptoms that interfere with daily life. For diagnosis, symptoms generally occur most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. A clinician also considers other symptoms and possible explanations. A difficult day alone does not establish depression.[10]
Depression during pregnancy or after childbirth deserves its own assessment and support. Learn about postpartum depression, how it differs from brief mood changes after birth, and when to seek help.[11]
Understanding Anxiety Problems
Anxiety can become more than occasional nervousness. For example, generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive worry that is difficult to control and can include restlessness, muscle tension, concentration difficulties, or sleep problems. Different anxiety disorders require an assessment of the pattern, rather than assuming all worry has the same cause.[12]
Explore the separate guides to generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder for condition-specific information.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder involves episodes of marked changes in mood, energy, and activity. Mania can involve an unusually elevated or irritable mood and increased activity. Hypomania is a less severe form. Depressive episodes may also occur. These episodes are more than ordinary changes in mood.[13]
Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after trauma. Symptoms can include recurring memories or dreams, avoiding reminders, feeling persistently on guard, and changes in thoughts or mood. Most people recover from initial reactions to trauma. Experiencing trauma does not automatically mean someone has PTSD.[14]
Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves recurring, uncontrollable thoughts called obsessions, repetitive and excessive behaviors called compulsions, or both. Symptoms can take up time, cause distress, or disrupt daily life. The condition requires its own assessment and treatment considerations.[15]
Understanding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) involves lasting difficulties with attention, excessive activity or restlessness, acting before thinking, or a combination. These are often called inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Symptoms begin in childhood and can affect school, work, relationships, and other settings. Other conditions can cause similar difficulties, so a clinician needs to look at the full history and pattern.[7]
Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) can involve difficulty managing intense emotions, changes in how someone sees themselves, relationship difficulties, and acting on urges without considering the consequences. Symptoms and their severity vary. One difficult relationship, emotional reaction, or impulsive decision does not establish this diagnosis.[8]
The personality disorders overview explains long-lasting patterns of thoughts and behavior that cause distress or problems with relationships, work, or other parts of daily life. These diagnoses concern persistent patterns, not a label to assign after one disagreement.[16]
Other condition guides include antisocial personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and paranoid personality disorder.
Understanding Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can affect thinking, perceptions, motivation, and daily functioning. Psychotic symptoms involve changes in how someone experiences reality, such as hallucinations or delusions. Hallucinations are perceptions of things that are not there. Delusions are strongly held beliefs that are not objectively true.[17]
Understanding Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are serious illnesses involving major disturbances in eating behavior. They can cause medical complications and occur alongside depression, anxiety, or substance use disorders. They are not interchangeable with addiction. Early recognition and treatment matter, and recovery is possible.[18]
More Mental Health Conditions to Explore
Explore help for self-harm and support for someone you care about.
Explore dissociation symptoms, assessment and treatment.
Explore PMDD symptoms, treatment and support.
Explore body dysmorphic disorder symptoms, treatment and support.
Explore body-focused repetitive behaviors, including skin picking and hair pulling.
Explore hoarding disorder symptoms, treatment and family support.
The impulse-control section connects to individual guides for:
- Conduct disorder
- Intermittent explosive disorder
- Kleptomania
- Oppositional defiant disorder
- Pyromania
For questions about symptoms related to substance use, see the substance-induced disorders guide. A clinician can help distinguish overlapping concerns.[2]
Understanding Self-Harm as a Behavior That Needs Care
Self-harm means deliberately hurting one’s own body. It is a behavior rather than a diagnosis by itself, and it can occur with a mental health condition. Self-harm does not always involve an intention to die, but it deserves care and is associated with increased suicide risk when help is not obtained.[19]
A nonjudgmental response and professional support are important. For an adult who is self-harming, MedlinePlus recommends encouraging mental health counseling. For a child or teen, involve a trusted adult. For suicidal distress, use 988. For life-threatening danger, call 911.[19][1]
How Are Mental Health Conditions Treated?
Care may include psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, medication, or other treatments matched to the condition and your needs. A medical evaluation can also help identify physical explanations for symptoms. Ask what the proposed treatment is meant to help, how you will assess progress and what happens if it is not helping.[6]
Treatment should follow an assessment of the conditions and the person’s needs. NIMH describes integrated care as combining mental health and substance use treatment so people can receive coordinated care in one place. A plan may involve therapy, medications, and help arranging services or keeping providers informed about your care.[2]
If separate providers are involved, ask who is responsible for each part of care and how they will communicate. Bring an up-to-date medication list and raise questions about changes to either treatment plan.
What Can Therapy Help With?
In talk therapy, you work with a trained professional on troubling thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Sessions may involve noticing unhelpful patterns, practicing ways to handle stress, or working through problems in relationships. What you do should fit the concerns being treated.[6][2]
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people identify and change unhelpful beliefs and behaviors. In BPD care, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) teaches skills for managing intense emotions, paying attention to the present moment, and improving relationships. These examples illustrate why the purpose of a therapy matters, as well as its name.[8]
In a 2015 interview on the American Psychological Association’s Speaking of Psychology podcast, psychologist Bruce Wampold emphasized discussing the treatment plan with your therapist, including what you will do in therapy and how progress will be assessed.[20]
For example, you might want to sleep more regularly or feel able to return to activities you have been avoiding. Ask how the proposed therapy relates to that goal and when you will discuss progress together. If treatment is not helping, raise that concern with your therapist.[6]
Can Medication Help When Conditions Occur Together?
Yes. NIMH states that medications can treat opioid or alcohol addiction and reduce symptoms of many other mental disorders. Having co-occurring concerns is a reason for an individualized treatment discussion. It is not an automatic reason to exclude medication.[2]
Different medications have different purposes, benefits, and risks. Ask the prescriber what each medication is intended to treat, how it fits with your other care, and whom to contact about problems. A diagnosis alone does not tell you which medication is appropriate.
Does Mental Health Treatment Always Require a Hospital Stay?
No. Many people attend appointments and return home afterward. Others need several hours of structured treatment or care in a place where they stay overnight. The right setting depends on the support and medical attention you need.[21]
| Care setting | What it involves | A question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient care | You attend appointments and leave the same day. Some appointments can happen by phone or video, often called telehealth.[21] | How often will we meet, and whom can I contact between visits? |
| Intensive outpatient or partial hospitalization | You receive a more intensive schedule of care, often for several hours at a time. It may include individual therapy, groups, and practice with coping skills.[21] | Which days and hours would I attend, and how does the program coordinate my care? |
| Residential care | You live at a treatment program while receiving care.[21] | What treatment and medical support are available where I would stay? |
| Inpatient care | You stay overnight in a hospital or clinic, generally when you need care around the clock.[21] | What needs to improve before I leave, and what care will follow? |
Ask a clinician which setting fits your current needs and what would lead to a change. A program name alone does not tell you which services, staffing, or appointment schedule it offers.
If substance use is also involved, the addiction treatment guide explains care settings, medications, therapy, and questions to ask providers.
What Everyday Habits Can Support Mental Health?
Self-care can support well-being and complement treatment. NIMH recommends finding habits that fit your needs, including movement, regular meals, adequate sleep, relaxing activities, manageable priorities, and connection with supportive people. You do not need to adopt every suggestion at once.[1]
Choose one small action that feels realistic:
- Plan a regular time to wind down before sleep.
- Make time for a meal and water during a busy day.
- Try an enjoyable activity or gentle movement that fits your circumstances.
- Contact someone you trust for conversation or practical help.
- Decide which task needs attention now and which can wait.
These are examples of putting NIMH’s self-care guidance into practice. Self-care looks different for different people. Difficulty maintaining a routine is a reason to discuss your needs, not proof that you are failing.[1]
For help managing difficult emotions, read about coping with stress and anger management.
When Is Self-Care Not Enough?
Seek professional support for severe or distressing symptoms, particularly when they persist or interfere with ordinary tasks. Self-care is described as support for treatment and recovery, not a substitute for an assessment when symptoms need care. Suicidal distress or life-threatening danger requires immediate help.[1]
How Can You Support Someone Else’s Mental Health?
Start with what you have noticed and an offer to listen. For example: “You have seemed overwhelmed lately. Would you like to talk, or would it help if I sat with you while you called someone?”
Offer a manageable form of help, such as gathering provider information, helping write down questions, or accompanying the person to an appointment if they want that support. Family participation in treatment should reflect the wishes of the person receiving care.[22]
If substance use is part of the situation, mention the concern without assuming it explains everything. A clinician can assess both the substance use and mental health symptoms rather than relying on a label assigned by a family member.[2]
How Can Caregivers Look After Their Own Needs?
You can support someone while being honest about your limits. Decide what help you can offer consistently and who else might share it. Ask for support for yourself when the situation feels overwhelming.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) notes that caring for someone with alcohol problems can be stressful and recommends support from friends, family, community, or support groups. If you develop symptoms of depression or anxiety, consider professional help for yourself as well.[9]
How Can You Find Mental Health Care Near You?
A primary care clinician can help you identify a next step or refer you to a mental health professional. FindTreatment.gov is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) confidential and anonymous resource for people seeking mental health or substance use treatment in the United States and its territories.[1][23]
Other starting points include your insurer’s provider directory, a community health center, or a school or college health service. When a search for “mental health help near me” returns a list, confirm the office location, the ages and conditions the clinician treats, fees and current appointment availability. Ask whether a referral is needed before scheduling.[24]
When contacting a provider, consider asking:
- Do you assess the concerns I am describing?
- If alcohol or other substances are involved, do you address both needs?
- Who provides care, and how can I check their qualifications?
- What treatment approaches do you offer, and why might they fit my situation?
- Are appointments available in person or through telehealth?
- Can you meet my language, disability, scheduling, or other access needs?
- What are the costs and insurance arrangements?
- What should I do if I need help before an appointment is available?
SAMHSA recommends considering professional and program qualifications, treatments supported by research, family participation when desired, and support for other life needs when comparing options. A directory listing or familiar treatment name does not answer all those questions.[22]
Can You Get Mental Health Care Online?
Virtual appointments can make care easier to access, but the service still needs to fit your situation. NIMH notes that virtual care can reduce travel and help people who find in-person visits difficult. It also requires suitable technology and a setting where you can speak privately.[25]
Before booking, ask:
- Who will provide care, and what experience do they have with my symptoms and age group?
- Is the service counseling, a clinical assessment, medication care, or a combination?
- What will I pay, and does my insurance cover these appointments?
- How does the platform protect privacy, and what happens if the connection fails?
- What should I do if I need urgent help between sessions?
These questions help you compare services rather than assuming every online option provides the same care.[25][6] If substance use is also a concern, compare online addiction treatment options and confirm which services a provider offers. For suicidal distress, call or text 988. For life-threatening danger, call 911.[1]
What If Cost Is a Barrier to Mental Health Care?
SAMHSA reports that many programs accept private insurance or public coverage, and that free or lower-cost treatment options exist. Ask the provider and your insurer, if applicable, about your actual costs. Availability and coverage need to be checked for your circumstances.[26]
SAMHSA’s payment guide links to insurance and lower-cost care information. Its National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), provides free, confidential treatment information and referrals around the clock.[26][23]
Your Next Step for Mental Health Support
If you are gathering information, write down the concern you most want help with. If symptoms are affecting daily life, request an appointment and describe what has changed. If you already receive care, ask how your mental health, substance use, and practical needs are being considered together.
If you are supporting someone else, offer one specific form of help while respecting their preferences.
You can start with one concern and one conversation. Explore online therapy options → and ask about experience with your symptoms, appointment access, and costs.
If you are looking for a treatment program, browse AddictionHelp’s Treatment Center Directory and confirm the mental health and substance-use services available.
We may earn a commission if you use our BetterHelp link.
If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 in the United States. For life-threatening danger, call 911.[1]
Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health
Does a Mental Health Condition Mean You Have an Addiction?
No. Mental health conditions and substance use disorders are separate concerns that can occur together. Shared risk factors and overlapping symptoms do not establish an individual diagnosis. When both may be present, NIMH recommends an evaluation that considers the mental health symptoms and substance use together.[2]
Should You Wait Until You Stop Using Substances to Ask for Mental Health Help?
Is 988 Only for People Who Are About to Attempt Suicide?
What If You Do Not Know Which Condition Explains Your Symptoms?
Begin with the symptoms and their effect on your life. A primary care clinician can help with the next step or a referral. When substance use and mental health symptoms overlap, a clinician needs to consider both, including when symptoms began and how they affect daily life. This can reduce missed diagnoses and help guide treatment. You do not need to resolve the diagnosis before asking for support.[1][2]
Can You Have Good Mental Health With a Mental Illness?
Yes. Mental health includes well-being, which can change whether or not you have a diagnosed condition. Someone living with a mental illness can also experience good well-being with appropriate support.[4]
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