95 Mental Health Quotes To Grow Awareness And Fight Stigma
"How are you feeling today?" We should always ask this question to ourselves and the people around us occasionally because we, individually and as a society, often overlook health, specifically mental health struggles. We hope our collection of mental health quotes below can highlight this discussion's importance.
Even with improved awareness, we have much to do. Educating ourselves is only one aspect. We should also increase mental health awareness and foster a supportive community to fight the stigma around this fundamental human right.
Just like our physical bodies, we can also experience mental illnesses. And according to the 2022 Mental Health Report by the World Health Organization, about one in eight people live with a mental health disorder. This number is only one of many mental health statistics regarding the cause, effect, and solutions addressing poor mental health and mental health disorders across age, gender, race, and many more.
Mental health, mental illness, mental health disorder. What's the difference? Read our mental health quotes below to hear what others have to say about lived experiences and advocacy for mental health, but also to validate and support our mental health journeys.
Quick links to our selection of mental health quotes:
- Noteworthy Mental Health Quotes To Change Your Perspective
- Quotes About Mental Health To Step Away From Embarrassment And Talking Openly
- Informative Mental Health Quotes To Remove Its Taboo Among Men
- Comforting Mental Health Quotes To Remind You It'S Okay Not To Be Okay
- Eye Opening Mental Health Quotes From Medical Practitioners
Best Mental Health Quotes
After a day of grueling work, you're most likely physically tired, but not necessarily with physical illness. The same goes for our mental health. That's why we should not interchange it with the terms mental illness or mental health disorder.
Mental health refers to how we feel, think, and act. In its positive state, individuals can cope with everyday stresses while having productive work and relationships, making decisions, and contributing to their community.
Mental illness, on the other hand, involves a condition that significantly impairs the individual's functioning and causes distress. It can affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves, ranging from mild to severe. Having poor mental health does not always equate to mental illness. Likewise, a person diagnosed with a mental illness can still experience periods of positive well-being.
Like physical illnesses, we can all experience mental illness regardless of age, gender, and race. And various factors, such as biological, social, and environmental effects, can trigger it. Understanding the difference between mental health and mental illness is essential to creating a more compassionate and inclusive society.
Feel warmth and validation from our best mental health quotes below, and continue reading for more in-depth discussion.
Quotes About Mental Health And Lived Experience
We cannot control or handle many things independently, such as other people's actions, the past, and the future. Whatever you feel now does not define who you are. Whether facing extreme stress and pressure or living with a mental illness, you are still you.
So, we must focus on what we can control, like our actions, words, and thoughts, and love ourselves. However, dealing with mental health illnesses needs more attention and care.
First and foremost, mental illness can result from various factors, such as adverse life experiences, current medical conditions, biological factors, use of alcohol or drugs, feeling isolated, and many more. Its duration, start, and end are also a blur. Its effects can range from mild to severe.
More importantly, its symptoms, like tiredness, less focus, or mood changes, overlap with those of poor mental health. And that's why we should seek professional help to verify our condition when concerned about these symptoms.
Furthermore, that's also why we should be cautious and supportive of other people's mental health because we never know if they are already living with a mental illness.
Read the inspirational mental health quotes below supporting your journey toward a healthy mental state. For more ideas , click on to our guide "How to Take Care of Your Mental Health."
Motivational Quotes To Take Care Of Our Mental Health
Alongside exercising to care for our physical bodies, we should also look into our mental health. Self-care activities, which can help us relax, recharge, and reconnect with ourselves, are a great way to start. It can range from simple activities like connecting with nature to more structured activities like mindfulness exercises, meditation, or yoga. It is important to note that self-care looks different for everyone, so find what works best for you.
In addition, it is essential to create healthy habits that help your mental health. For example, get enough sleep, eat nutritious meals, exercise regularly, or learn how to foster a positive attitude. Connecting with friends, family, and supportive peers is another effective method to stay positive and find emotional support.
Sometimes, even with self-care, mental illness symptoms can arise, and that's when we should seek professional help to assist with our mental health recovery. In the meantime, browse through the next set of inspiring mental health quotes for encouragement. Or, for more reading, check out our article on how experiencing nature benefits mental health.
Mental Health Quotes About Its Relationship To Our Physical Health
Physical and mental health are closely linked, affecting an individual's overall well-being. In the past decade, multiple research studies have consistently demonstrated that physical activity can stimulate positive mental health1, so much so that they suggested including it in the treatment program of a mentally ill patient. Another research study summarized how exercise benefits mental health4 through better blood circulation, distraction, and increased social interaction.
At the best of times, people hardly find the motivation to exercise, and it is ten times tougher when you have a mental health struggle. So it's best to start with small achievable goals scheduled every time you have high energy. Then, whatever and whenever you do, make it easy, fun, and comfortable. And remember to reward yourself!
Whether you enroll in a spin class, dance with a friend, or garden, continue to move for your mental well-being. Read the positive mental health quotes below for more insights regarding this matter.
Mental Health Quotes To Remove The Stigma
Even with abundant studies and increased willingness to recognize mental health, stigma is still present. In the last month, I have seen three stories on social media about the devastating effects of mental health difficulties.
Reading the comments made me realize that although people are more aware, some still discriminate, stigmatize, and invalidate mental ill health. It's unfortunate, and if you witnessed a similar situation, all we can do is play our part.
We need to change our language to remove the stigma associated with them. It is important to remember that mental illness is a medical condition like any physical illness. We should not judge people for having it nor misuse medical terms lightly.
In short, we should be respectful, understanding, and empathetic rather than dismissive or offensive. Head to our mental health language guide for more info on our choice of words, or read up on how to share your mental health story for your own benefit and the mental health recovery of others.
We should also spread awareness through the dissemination of accurate information. Among the vast knowledge online, it's best to trust websites ending in .gov, .edu, .org, or any country domain, for example, the National Institute of Mental Health or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Noteworthy Mental Health Quotes To Change Your Perspective
No matter where someone falls on the mental health spectrum, we should remember that it is a natural part of life. Furthermore, since it involves pain, it takes time to heal. Aside from seeking professional mental health care, healing can also take the form of taking a vacation, napping, or socializing.
Some even choose to express themselves with mental health tattoos, and whereas unhelpful content is abundant on social media, connecting in the right way can prove beneficial.
Mental health is a complex issue, and we don't have all the answers yet. Still, it pays to pause, look at it from a different perspective, and exercise compassion. May the following inspiring mental health quotes urge you to do so.
It's possible to live well, feel well, and also find happiness with bipolar disorder or any other mental illness you're struggling with.
~ Demi Lovato
Quotes About Mental Health To Step Away From Embarrassment And Talking Openly
As we collectively work on removing the stigma around mental health, we should also foster a safe environment where people can share their stories and feelings. Here are some tips for starting a conversation about mental health:
- Pick an Appropriate and Comfortable Environment
- Start with Questions about How They Are
- Talk about Your Experience
- Show That You Care and Offer Support
- Ask for What They Need
- Listen Carefully
Of course, each case differs depending on age, the form of mental illness, or the type of traumatic experience. The tips above are general tips, and to best support those around you, consider becoming a mental health first aider.
Let's increase the number of listening ears today by sharing these tips, guides, and mental health quotes until the stigma disappears.
Informative Mental Health Quotes To Remove Its Taboo Among Men
Even with listening ears, some will still hold back from opening up due to society's expectations of them, specifically men. Strong, self-reliant, and a provider. These traditional expectations we set for males may mean they overlook or disregard their mental health.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 15.8% of American males have any mental illness (AMI). Still, only 37.4% of them received a mental health service. Compared to females, among the 25.8% of American females with AMI, 51.2% sought professional help.
Furthermore, 2018 records of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that suicide is among the top 10 leading cause of death for men but not included in the females' top reasons.
Aside from the tips from the previous section, we should raise awareness, challenge the traditional notions of masculinity, and provide men with the tools they need for good mental fortitude throughout their mental health journey. So be patient and listen to the men in your life as you receive more insights from the mental health quotes below.
Comforting Mental Health Quotes To Remind You It's Okay Not To Be Okay
Feeling a wide range of emotions, including sadness and fear, is normal. Life has ups and downs, and it's important to remember that it's okay not to be okay.
If self-esteem refers to how we value ourselves positively, self-compassion is being kind and understanding to ourselves. It means acknowledging your feelings and allowing yourself to feel them.
More than self-care activities to be mentally healthy, do your inner work, like simply feeling your feelings or talking to yourself like speaking to a friend.
It may not seem okay today, but these little acts of acceptance and love go a long way. Here are more mental health quotes to help on your journey.
Related: Other practical steps you can take to get in touch with your feelings are to use journal prompts to start journaling, while positive morning affirmations can improve your mood and set you up for the day.
Eye-Opening Mental Health Quotes From Medical Practitioners
The goal of removing the stigma and creating a safe space for sharing mental health concerns is to seek medical practitioners, specifically psychiatrists. They are doctors or physicians who treat mental health conditions.
We automatically go to our doctor if we have a persistent high fever. The same thing should happen whenever we have uncontrollable excessive emotions.
It's already challenging to talk about our feelings all the more when speaking to a mental health professional. And that's a big step! So, asking for help is already a courageous act. Let the professionals give concrete answers to your difficult questions, validate your feelings, and untangle your tangled emotions.
But like other health services, it comes with a cost. So head out to Healthline's curated list of mental health care providers or other providers like Mental Health Match after browsing some of the professionals' thoughts through their mental health quotes.
Inspirational Mental Illness Quotes From Famous People
By being open and honest about their experience, celebrities and online influencers can minimize the shame often associated with mental health disorders, encouraging others to seek help when needed.
Their stories remind people with mental health issues that they are not alone in their battles. A 2022 study approved its benefits and suggested that reports should also provide the cause and treatments of the disclosed mental illness3.
Who do you relate to out of all the celebs who openly shared about their mental health? Aside from the mental health quotes in this section, reread other celebrity quotes in this article.
Well, don't you think that if you do too much therapy it will take away your artistic process?' And I told them: ‘The biggest lie that we've ever been sold is that we as artists have to stay in pain to create.'
~Katy Perry
Other Mental Health Quotes About Real Experiences For Various Mental Illness
We can better listen and relate if we know what a person is going through. However, reading an article or hearing a story about mental health illness can only add to our understanding up to a certain point. Its portrayal in films and shows showcases another powerful tool to spread awareness - storytelling. But it also comes with a cost when done inaccurately.
As a consumer, we control what media to watch and support. So, suppose the movie or TV show makers focused on humanizing the illness, offered hope, encouraged seeking help, and gave accurate information. In that case, we should promote it to others by any means.
But if it does otherwise, we should amicably contend in any way we can to stop the spread of misinformation. For further reading, check this article by Indian psychiatrists about the representations of mental disorders in the media and their effects.
Insightful Quotes About Mental Health To Post On Social Media
Social media has become necessary in the modern world and is a powerful tool to spread awareness about mental health. Although studies have linked social media usage with mental health issues like anxiety and depression2, it can still be a force for good.
At the end of the day, it is a tool. So we can leverage it to spread awareness and share experiences. In addition, since credible organizations use social media, we can be updated on the latest news and initiatives regarding mental health. Finally, by liking, commenting, and sharing, we can show those struggling that we are ready to give more support and foster their social well-being.
Use the mental health captions below to make social media platforms safe for everyone and champion mental health awareness.
More Mental Quotes To Give You Hope And Offer Support
In 2020, only 46.2% and 64.5% of Americans with any mental illness (AMI) and serious mental illness (SMI) received mental health services. If you have a friend or family member battling one, know that you are an important influence in encouraging them to get mental health treatment.
We have already laid the foundations for approaching mental health and mental illnesses. Now it's time to apply it to give hope and offer support to the people around us. So, remember a mental health quote in your arsenal of encouraging words as you start your journey as a mental health advocate.
Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say, ‘My tooth is aching' than to say, ‘My heart is broken.'
~ C.S. Lewis
Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.
~ Walter Anderson
When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear, and life stands explained.
~ Mark Twain
1 | Richardson CR, Faulkner G, McDevitt J, Skrinar GS, Hutchinson DS, Piette JD. Integrating physical activity into mental health services for persons with serious mental illness. Psychiatr Serv. 2005 Mar;56(3):324-31. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.56.3.324. |
2 | Karim F, Oyewande AA, Abdalla LF, Chaudhry Ehsanullah R, Khan S. Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2020 Jun 15;12(6):e8627. doi: 10.7759/cureus.8627. |
3 | Gronholm PC, Thornicroft G. Impact of celebrity disclosure on mental health-related stigma. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2022 Aug 30;31:e62. doi: 10.1017/S2045796022000488. |
4 | Ashish Sharma, Vishal Madaan, and Frederick D. Petty, (2006)ย Exercise for Mental Health US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health |