Summary
Mental health and mental illness are not opposing conditions. Someone with a mental illness can experience good mental health, while someone without a diagnosed mental illness can experience poor mental health (MHCC, 2009).
Mental health problems are common. People who are at higher risk include First Nations, Metis and Inuit people; women; people with low income and millennials (Ipsos, 2017). This shows how important the social determinants of health are.
Trauma, especially in childhood, causes health differences. Trauma tends to affect the most vulnerable people and populations (Kimberg, 2016). Addressing trauma is key to decreasing suffering and achieving better health outcomes for vulnerable people.
Stigma, which can appear as prejudice or discrimination, can stop many people from seeking the treatment they need (MHCC, 2018b).
Mental Health 101 © , CAMH.
