Title: The Characteristics of Mental Health
Headings: The Characteristics of Mental Health
The Characteristics of Mental Health
What Is Mental Health?
Characteristics
Life Satisfaction
Resilience
Support
Flexibility
Challenges to Mental Health
How to Stay Mentally Healthy
A Word From Verywell

Content: Emotional flexibility may be just as important as cognitive flexibility. Mentally healthy people experience a range of emotions and allow themselves to express these feelings. Some people shut off certain feelings, finding them to be unacceptable. Lack of psychological flexibility has been linked to some types of psychopathology, while research suggests that increase flexibility is connected to better life balance and improved resilience. 6 ﻿
Challenges to Mental Health
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that an estimated one in five U.S. adults experiences a mental health problem each year. 7 ﻿ There are a number of risk factors that can increase the likelihood that a person may experience poor mental health. Risks to mental health can include: 8 ﻿
Discrimination
Exposure to trauma
Family history of mental illness
Low income
Medical illness
Poor access to health services
Poor self-esteem
Poor social skills
Social inequalities
Substance use
Some of the factors that can help offer protection against poor mental health including having supportive social relationships, strong coping skills, opportunities for engagement in the community, and physical and psychological security. 9 ﻿
How to Reduce the Effects of Stress on Your Life
How to Stay Mentally Healthy
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that some of the ways that you can promote and maintain mental health include: 10 ﻿
Engaging in regular physical exercise
Getting adequate sleep
Helping others
Learning new coping skills to manage stress
Staying connected to other people
Trying to keep a positive outlook on life
It is also important to be able to seek help if you are having difficulties.