With May being mental health month, I thought it would be a good time to discuss what exactly mental health refers to. It’s a term we use regularly, but it’s not always really understood. In this blog, I’ll share some definitions related to mental health plus tips for maintaining your mental health.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community;” the Mayo Clinic defines mental health as “the overall wellness of how you think, regulate your feelings and behave;” and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines mental health as “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 healthy choices.” Like our physical health, our mental health fluctuates due to many factors.