Mental and Behavioral Health

Behavioral health is an umbrella term that encompasses mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors and crises, and stress-related physical symptoms. Common behavioral health disorders include eating disorders, gambling addiction, and sex addiction. Mental health generally refers to our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting how we think, feel, and act. Illnesses related to mental health include depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. It’s important to keep in mind that major organizations such as the American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association don’t have formal positions on the difference between behavioral health and mental health.

Mental and behavioral health profoundly impacts overall well-being, physical health, quality of life, relationships, productivity, and societal functioning; neglecting these aspects can lead to significant personal suffering, impaired functioning, and societal burdens. In 2022, 48.7 million people in the U.S. aged 12 or older reported having a substance use disorder in the past year. More than 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and 1 in 20 experience a serious mental illness. One in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year, and 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14. Additionally, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14.

The understanding of mental and behavioral health has evolved from early stigmatization and institutionalization to modern recognition of the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors. Landmark events include the deinstitutionalization movement, advances in psychotherapy and pharmacology, and growing advocacy for mental health parity and de-stigmatization efforts. Racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities are more likely to suffer from poor mental health due to lack of access to high-quality mental health care services, cultural stigma, and discrimination.

Mental and behavioral health is influenced by socioeconomic disparities, access to healthcare, stigma surrounding mental illness, trauma, substance use, social media, work-related stress, environmental factors, and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s important to facilitate equitable access to quality mental health services; without which, mental and behavioral health issues can be exacerbated and persist for longer.

Prioritizing mental and behavioral health at a system level promotes overall well-being, decreases healthcare costs, improves quality of life, and fosters resilience. Addressing systemic barriers, reducing stigma, promoting culturally competent care, and the integration of mental health services into primary care can improve mental and behavioral health at scale. At the local level, community leaders can seek funding for community clinics, provide mental health education and awareness programs in schools and workplaces, foster collaboration between healthcare providers, social service agencies, schools and law enforcement, promote wellness through recreational funding, and advocate for policies that prioritize mental health funding.