Mental health has to do with how you feel about yourself, how you feel about others, and how you are able to meet and handle the demands of life. It is not the absence of problems. Rather, it describes the ability to balance problems with appropriate coping skills. We know that the right amount of sleep and exercise, a proper diet, appropriate medical care, and caring relationships can go a long way toward improving both our physical and mental health.

Mental illnesses are diseases that cause mild to severe disturbances in thinking, feeling and behavior. These disturbances may sign)ficantly impair a person’s ability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and routines. Just like physical illnesses, mental illnesses vary greatly by type and severity.

Yes, depending on the type and severity of the mental illness, a person can learn to cope, improve, or experience a full recovery with proper care and treatment. Recently, there have been sign)ficant advancements in treatments for schizophrenia and clinical depression.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses. The three main types are phobias, panic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Many psychiatric disorders can be linked directly to a biological origin. Others may be emotional or psychological reactions to environmental or social situations. Some of these disorders may be temporary, caused by extreme stress or life changes. Treatment may include medicines, psychotherapies, and social supports.

Clinical depression is marked by intense feelings or thoughts of sadness and despair that lasts more than a few weeks and interrupt functioning in daily life. It is one of the most treatable mental illnesses, but it requires professional treatment with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. As with many illnesses, if treatment is needed, the earlier it begins, the more effective it can be.

To make the most of your treatment, form a partnership with your mental health care provider; continue your treatment as recommended (improvement often takes place within six to eight weeks); join a support group; and take good care of yourself by eating well, exercising, and gefflng plenty of rest.

When you are constantly reacting to stressful situations without making adjustments to counter the effects, stress can cause physical, emotional and behavioral disorders that can affect your health, vitality, peace-of-mind, as well as personal and professional relationships. It is estimated that 75-90 percent of visits to primary care physicians are stress related.

The first step is to talk to your doctor to see if there is any underlying physical cause for your symptoms. If none is found, your doctor may refer you to a mental health specialist. Mental health professionals include psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors and social workers. Psychiatrists and other doctors may prescribe medications to treat mental illness. Most mental health professionals have expertise in psychological and behavioral interventions. For some disorders, medications and psychological treatments work best together.

Insurance policies vary greatly, but most private insurance and health maintenance organization (HMO) plans contain some mental health benefits. Unfortunately, many plans do not provide equal treatment for physical and mental illnesses. Contact your health insurance provider for details on your coverage for treatment of mental illnesses.

Most often the disparity between mental and physical health coverage occurs in three areas: arbitrary limits on inpatient and outpatient visits; discriminatory copayments limiting affordability of care; and low lifetime and annual caps for people with mental illnesses. These limits often do not provide for enough treatment for people who need long-term care.

Yes, five states — Maryland, Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island — have passed ‘parity” legislation stating that private insurance companies cannot discriminate on health care benefits. The Maryland and Minnesota measures are the best because they apply to all mental and emotional disorders, including those that affect children.

Write your state representative about your concerns. Request that he or she support parity for mental illnesses by drafting or endorsing legislation that will end discrimination. Tell your employer or benefits administrator that you support equitable mental health coverage.