“Don’t Define Me”

Realizing how impressive the human mind is combined with the vast array of emotions is the first step in understanding how important learning about mental illnesses and mental health is. We have provided below a few articles to help explain, define and discuss appropriately what you or a loved one is facing.

Mental Health: Good mental health is about living life authentically. It focuses on social connection and having healthy social relationships. Feeling good about your life; setting goals and being able to make decisions. Here are some signs you have good mental health: resilience, social wellbeing, looking after your mental health, no substance abuse, mindfulness and more.

Mental Illness: Mental illnesses are health conditions involved with changes in emotion, thinking or behavior in a person. Mental illnesses display through distress, problems functioning in work, social or family activities. Mental illness is a medical problem and should be treated with the same support and no shame.

Why Do We Say "Illness": Mental illnesses are nothing to be ashamed of and should be treated in a way that makes those living with mental illness comfortable and understood. You cannot define someone by the mental illness they live with, but we can define the words used to provide a better space for discussion.