Our mental health impacts the way a person is able to think, act, and feel. It includes an individual’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Taking care of one’s mental health may influence the way the person is able to manage stress, interact with others, cope with intense emotions, and make healthy choices.

A mental illness is defined as any mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder. Functional impairments may range from no impairments to mild, moderate, and even severe impairments.

Serious mental illness (SMI) is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. The burden of mental illnesses is particularly concentrated among those who experience disability due to SMI.

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.

A medical illness caused by repeated misuse of a substance or substances. According to DSM-5, substance use disorders are characterized by clinically significant impairments in health and social function, and by impaired control over substance use. They are diagnosed through assessing cognitive, behavioral, and psychological symptoms.