Mental health refers to the overall way people meet the demands of life. Although there is no single definition of mental health, the following characteristics are widely considered attributes of mentally healthy people:
• They feel comfortable with themselves. They have tolerant, easy-going attitudes, can laugh at themselves, and can accept their own limitations. In short, they have self-respect.
• They feel comfortable with other people. They are able to give and receive love, consider the interests of others, respect the many differences they find in people, and have satisfying personal relationships.
• They are able to meet the demands of life. They can handle life’s challenges and stressful events. They make use of their abilities, set realistic goals, and find satisfaction in simple, everyday pleasures.
In contrast, difficulties are exaggerated for people who have a mental illness or emotional disturbance. Problems the healthy person can resolve become too much for them.

An estimated 22 percent of adult American - about 1 in 5 adults - suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.  Four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the United States are mental disorders.  Many people suffer from more than one mental disorder at a given time.  Many mental illnesses, including depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and panic disorders, are caused by biochemical disturbances in the brain and others are triggered by exposure to an extremely stressful event.

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While both men and women are burdened by the personal and financial toil that mental illnesses bring, women are more often affected by certain conditions.  For example, women are affected twice as often as men by most forms of depression and anxiety disorders, and nine times as often by eating disorders.  One out of four women will suffer from clinical depression; only 20 percent of those women will get the help they need.

Mental illnesses are treatable, especially when treatment is not delayed.  Regardless of age early detection and treatment can help prevent mental illnesses from worsening and can improve the individual's chances for full recovery.  Therefore, it is critical for a person to seek mental health care when he or she needs it and it is equally important for service providers, friends, and family members to be informed about the symptoms of a mental illness and the treatment options available.
-From Mental Health, a brochure from Wisconsin United for Mental Health

Measures of mental health can be difficult to obtain, yet through various community planning sessions lack of screenings, education and access to address mental illnesses continues to be raised as an area of concern.

Healthiest Manitowoc County 2020 has recognized the need to address this focus area and will work to promote and engage healthy behaviors to promote mental health.

The Community Health Improvement objective will be:

By January 2013, the Mental Health Task Force will be mobilized and a 2020 plan will be in place that includes measurable outcomes.