MSU Extension Addressing Mental Health in Non-Clinical Settings

Mental health is just one component of our physical health (other components of our physical health include our nutritional health and our cardiovascular health).

The term mental health refers to the state of our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Our mental health is directly related to our cognitions (thoughts), emotions (feelings) and behaviors (actions). Mental health helps us determine how we relate to others, handle stress, and make healthy choices.

Mental Health and Stress

Mental health and stress are linked. Small amounts of manageable stress can be good for us. For example, stress can help us improve our resilience, which is our ability to recover and move forward despite setbacks. However, when we experience a great deal of stress, or when stress is chronic (it remains over a long period of time), it can be a source of mental health problems. Learn more about stress here.

What are mental health problems?

Mental health problems can be thought of as challenges or difficulties pertaining to your mental state. Some examples include: 

• Feelings of sadness or hopelessness that make it difficult to enjoy daily life
• Inability to concentrate on work due to constant worrying or anxiety
• Increasing use of substances to manage unpleasant emotions or thoughts

When mental health problems become severe enough, or last long enough, it is possible for these problems to become a diagnosable disorder.

Why is mental health important for our overall health?

Mental health is a part of our physical health, and having poor mental health can impact your overall health. Similarly, having a long lasting or chronic physical health condition can lead to deteriorating mental health.

Can mental health change over time?

Just like how you can make improvements to your nutritional health (by eating more micronutrients) or to your cardiovascular health (by getting more exercise), you can also make improvements to your mental health. It is important to remember that your state of mental health is fluid, and can be impacted by life events, fluctuating economic conditions, and life stages. For example, caring for an ill parent or child, experiencing economic hardship, and working long hours can all impact your mental health.

However, your capacity to cope with certain mental health challenges can change (and improve!) over time too. 

How can I improve my mental health?

Some things that affect mental health such as genetics, environment, and life events cannot be changed. However, building and maintaining strong supportive relationships, working with a professional to achieve a balance between positive and negative emotions, and establishing strong coping skills can protect against some of the negative effects of poor mental health and chronic stress. Learn more about coping with stress here.

What is Mental Illness?

Mental illnesses, also called mental disorders and psychological disorders, can only be determined by a qualified professional, such as a medical doctor, nurse or therapist. Some people may need prescription medication to help manage their mental illnesses.

It is important to know that mental illness is common. Approximately one in five adults in the United States has a mental illness (NAMI, 2019). The World Health Organization estimates that at some point in their lifetimes, approximately half of all people in the United States will experience mental illness.

More information about mental health, mental problems and mental illnesses can be found at the following sites.

More information on Mental Health

• NAMI Mental Illness Facts and Information
• NAMI: Know the Warning Signs of Mental Illness
• NAMI: Mental Health by the Numbers (infographics)
• NAMI: Mental Health Fact Sheet Library

Find Mental Health Support Services

If you are unsure about the different types of mental health providers and how they can help you or a loved one, this MontGuide might help: Understanding and Finding Mental Health Providers in Montana (MSU Extension Montguide)

• Children Mental Health Bureau
• Montana Mental Health Provider Directory

MSU Extension-Youth Aware of Mental Health Program

Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) is a universal intervention (delivered to all youth of a group/class) mental health promotion program that aims to raise mental health awareness about risk and protective factors associated with suicide, including knowledge about depression and anxiety, and to enhance the skills and emotional resiliency needed to deal with stress and crisis. The format of the YAM intervention empowers youth to think, verbalize, and discuss important mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and coping strategies, in a context that is meaningful to them.

MSU Extension YAM programming is provided through a close partnership with the MSU Center for Research on Rural Education. More information about the YAM Program and a  list of YAM instruction sites can be found here: https://www.montana.edu/crre/youthawareofmentalhealth.html.