How you think, feel and react to things can make a big difference. Good mental health helps you feel good about yourself, helps you develop positive relationships and helps you make good life decisions.

Many mental health problems are caused by a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors. Biological factors may include genetics, infections, brain defects or injury, prenatal damage, long-term substance abuse or addictions, poor nutrition and exposure to toxins. Psychological factors may include emotional factors (e.g., feeling inadequate, low self-esteem, anxiety, anger or loneliness), physical or sexual abuse, neglect, an important loss (e.g., of a parent, child or spouse), and poor ability to relate to others. Environmental factors or stressors that may contribute to mental health problems include death or divorce, a dysfunctional family, poverty,  unemployment, changing jobs or schools, social and cultural expectations (e.g., thinness is beauty in the development of eating disorders) and substance abuse.

In general, it is a good idea to seek professional help for a mental health problem when:

• A symptom becomes severe or disruptive;
• A symptom becomes a continuous or permanent pattern of behaviour and does not respond to self-care;
• Symptoms become numerous, affect all areas of your life, and do not respond to self-care or communication efforts;
• You feel out of control, extremely anxious or deeply depressed;
• You are thinking about hurting yourself or someone else.

There is a wide range of professional and lay resources to choose from for mental health problems.

Healthline
If you can't find the health information you're looking for in these pages, or need advice, call a registered nurse toll-free at 1-877-800-0002 (in Saskatchewan). For the hearing impaired, call 1-888-425-4444 (TTY).