The Relationship Between Mental and Physical Health

Mental health and physical health are two parts of the same whole, and cannot be separated from each other. When you feel your best physically, that’s also when you tend to feel your best mentally, and vice versa. The relationship between mental and physical health is not one-directional, though. Mental health affects physical health, but physical health can affect mental health as well, especially in chronic conditions where illness can affect a person’s quality of life or even shorten their lifespan.

There’s a stigma attached to mental health issues

that those who have mental health problems are crazy or dangerous. The truth is that having a mental health issue is no different than having any other illness — except that it’s not often recognized as an illness by some people. In fact, according to Harvard University, almost half of all chronic physical illnesses also have a psychological component. Therefore, it's in your best interest to know how your physical health affects your mental health and vice versa. To learn more about how they're connected, read on!

8% of adults in the US have some kind of mental illness

it’s a common belief that mental illness isn’t as important as physical health. However, mental health is just as important as physical health. Mental illnesses are very real, very tangible things that affect millions of people every year. Many mental illnesses can be treated with therapy or medication—just like any other physical ailment would be treated. For example, a person who has frequent anxiety attacks may require therapy to deal with their anxiety or take medication to help reduce anxiety symptoms. People with depression might need medication in order to manage their symptoms of depression, while people with schizophrenia may require antipsychotic medications to help manage hallucinations and delusions; bipolar disorder is another example of a condition that often requires lifelong treatment with mood stabilizers (such as Lithium) or antidepressants.

One in 10 youth aged 13–18 in the US experiences a severe form of depression

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Depression is more common than many people think, and while it is most often considered a mental illness, one in ten teens who experience depression also have significant changes in their physical health. This raises an interesting question: Can major depressive disorder affect physical health? And if so, how?

Mental illness affects families, too

When you’re dealing with mental health issues, it may be hard to remember that there is someone else who needs your support: your family. Like you, they probably want to do everything they can to help you get back on track with your mental health. But when a loved one struggles with psychological conditions like depression or anxiety, people in their family are often affected by what’s happening—and how they can help. In fact, research has shown that family members of those who suffer from mental illness often experience stress-related symptoms like high blood pressure, trouble sleeping or difficulties concentrating at work. So take time to think about how best you can help those closest to you cope with what’s happening in your life.

A quarter of US high school students have seriously considered suicide.

In a national survey, nearly one in 10 high school students reported that they had attempted suicide during the past year. People who struggle with mental health issues often have unhealthy habits—whether it’s excessive alcohol consumption or drug abuse—that can affect their physical health as well. The reverse is also true; unhealthy living has been shown to increase your risk of developing depression or anxiety. If you suspect that you or a loved one may be struggling with depression or another mental illness, it’s important to get help right away; regular exercise (for example) has been found to be beneficial for improving the overall quality of life in individuals suffering from a variety of health issues.

Women are 50% more likely than men to suffer from depression

The mental health industry is an important one, but it isn't immune to gender biases. For example, women are 50 per cent more likely than men to suffer from depression, according to a 2014 study by Harvard Medical School. However, that same study revealed that women are less likely than men to receive treatment for their mental illnesses. Only one-third of women with symptoms of depression received treatment in comparison to two-thirds of men who experienced similar symptoms.

Up to 7% of people aged 65 years or older have dementia

Alzheimer’s disease is a common form of dementia that affects an estimated 200,000 people in Australia (20% of whom are younger than 65 years). There is no known cure. Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, personality changes and problems with speaking or understanding language. Treatment focuses on making life easier for people living with dementia by supporting carers to provide a safe environment at home, providing behavioural interventions (such as giving a person something to do) and using medication when necessary. There is currently no cure for dementia but research shows that staying physically active reduces your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 20%. Also, regular physical activity may slow down mental decline or delay its onset by up to four years—and that’s even if you already have symptoms.