"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:
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 term 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 create 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.
"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."
"It's so important that we all speak up on mental health."
"Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going."
"Anything that's human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary."
"You don't have to be positive all the time. It's perfectly okay to feel sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared, and anxious. Having feelings doesn't make you a negative person. It makes you human."
"Your illness is not your identity. Your chemistry is not your character."
There are many things we cannot control or handle on our own 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. But dealing with mental 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 in support of your journey toward a healthy mental state.
"I keep moving ahead, as always, knowing deep down inside that I am a good person and that I am worthy of a good life."
"Every negative belief weakens the partnership between mind and body."
"We are not our trauma. We are not our brain chemistry. That's part of who we are, but we're so much more than that."
"You are the one thing in this world, above all other things, that you must never give up on. When I was in middle school, I was struggling with severe anxiety and depression and the help and support I received from my family and a therapist saved my life. Asking for help is the first step. You are more precious to this world than you'll ever know."
"If you rely solely on medication to manage depression or anxiety, for example, you have done nothing to train the mind, so that when you come off the medication, you are just as vulnerable to a relapse as though you had never taken the medication."
After 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, symptoms of mental illnesses can arise, and that's when we should seek professional help, which we discuss further below. 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.
"Nobody can save you but yourself, and you're worth saving. It's a war not easily won, but if anything is worth winning then this is it."
"Your present circumstances don't determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start."
"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves."
"Take your time healing, as long as you want. Nobody else knows what you've been through. How could they know how long it will take to heal you?"
"Slow breathing is like an anchor in the midst of an emotional storm: the anchor won't make the storm goes away, but it will hold you steady until it passes."
"Being able to be your true self is one of the strongest components of good mental health."
"I won't say that writing is therapy, but for me, the act of writing is therapy. The ability to be productive is good for my mental health. It's always better for me to be writing than vegetating on some couch."
Physical and mental health are closely linked, affecting an individual's overall well-being. In the past decade, multiple research has 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. For more insights regarding this matter, read the positive mental health quotes below.
"We need, ultimately, to be able to view mental health with the same clear-headedness we show when talking about physical health."
"Exercise keeps me occupied, which is good for my mental health."
"Being vulnerable is actually a strength and not a weakness — that's why more and more mental health is such an important thing to talk about. It's the same as being physically sick. And when you keep all those things inside, when you bottle them up, it makes you ill."
"What I do now is I train in the mornings, and people ask me why I do it. I do it for two reasons: first of all, to keep in shape, but secondly, I think training, sport, and physical activity is really good for mental health."
"Whether an illness affects your heart, your arm, or your brain, it's still an illness, and there shouldn't be any distinction. We would never tell someone with a broken leg that they should stop wallowing and get it together. We don't consider taking medication for an ear infection something to be ashamed of. We shouldn't treat mental health conditions any differently. Instead, we should make it clear that getting help isn't a sign of weakness — it's a sign of strength."
"A child's mental health is just as important as their physical health and deserves the same quality of support."
"There is no health without mental health; mental health is too important to be left to the professionals alone, and mental health is everyone's business."
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.
For context, I live in a third-world country. 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 illnesses are medical conditions 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 that 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.
"Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all."
"Mental health needs a great deal of attention. It's the final taboo and it needs to be faced and dealt with."
"Change the way we all talk to each other about our mental health."
"Mental health is something that we all need to talk about, and we need to take the stigma away from it. So let's raise the awareness. Let's let everybody know it's OK to have a mental illness and addiction problem."
"No one would ever say that someone with a broken arm or a broken leg is less than a whole person, but people say that or imply that all the time about people with mental illness."
"Mental health affects every aspect of your life. It's not just this neat little issue you can put into a box."
"The pain of severe depression is quite unimaginable to those who have not suffered it, and it kills in many instances because its anguish can no longer be borne. The prevention of many suicides will continue to be hindered until there is a general awareness of the nature of this pain."
Mental health is just as important and normal as physical health. Another similarity, mental health problems exist on a spectrum. People experience colds or develop cancer. In contrast, people get anxious or inherit bipolar disorder.
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.
"There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in"
"I cannot stand the words ‘Get over it'. All of us are under such pressure to put our problems in the past tense. Slow down. Don't allow other to hurry your healing. It is a process, one that may take years, occasionally, even a lifetime — and that's OK."
"There is no standard normal. Normal is subjective. There are seven billion versions of normal on this planet."
"Sometimes self care is exercise and eating right. Sometimes it's spending time with loved ones or taking a nap. And sometimes, it's watching an entire season of TV in one weekend while you lounge around in your pajamas. Whatever soothes your soul."
"Obsession is the single most wasteful human activity, because with an obsession you keep coming back and back and back to the same question and never get an answer."
"Crazy isn't being broken or swallowing a dark secret. It's you or me amplified. If you ever told a lie and enjoyed it. If you ever wished you could be a child forever."
"A sad soul can be just as lethal as a germ."
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:
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.
"What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversation about illnesses that affect not only individuals, but their families as well."
"Mental health is an area where people are embarrassed. They don't want to talk about it because somehow they feel they're a failure as a parent or, you know, they're embarrassed for their child or they want to protect their child, lots of very good reasons, but mental health, I feel, is something that you have to talk about."
"The acknowledgement of having suffered evil is the greatest step forward in mental health."
"I wanted to write a story about my struggles with depression and mental health. It's an issue that needs to be talked about more."
"Should one of your employees have a physical or mental health problem, I would argue that it is as much something for the employer as the individual to contend with."
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 in their mental health journey. So be patient and listen to the men in your life as you receive more insights from the following mental health quotes below.
"I believe the biggest stigma right now, with mental health, is that a lot of men are not talking about it."
"One small crack does not mean that you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and you didn't fall apart."
"There are so many cliches associated with mental health - such as the 'fine line between lunacy and genius' - which are, on the whole, a load of rubbish."
"The only journey is the journey within."
"It’s not just people who can’t find a job, or can’t fit in in society that struggle with depression sometimes."
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. No one expects you to be happy and content all the time. Mental health problems can affect anyone, and it's important to remember that you are not alone and you should be more compassionate to yourself.
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. As mentioned above, we should not be judgmental about others' feelings. But, more importantly, we also deserve to receive that same treatment from ourselves. So be your own best friend!
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.
"There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn't."
"I used to be embarrassed of my broken parts. Not anymore… Even in pieces, I'm worth having."
"Mental health isn't all of me, but it's a massive part of my journey and a massive part of my whole being."
"She is beautiful piece of broken pottery, put back together by her own hands. And a critical world judges her cracks while missing the beauty of how she made herself whole again."
"There is so much pain in the world, and most of these people keep theirs secret, rolling through agonizing lives in invisible wheelchairs, dressed in invisible body casts."
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. For additional information, psychologists and psychiatrists can diagnose people with mental illness and provide therapy, but only the former can prescribe medication.
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.
"Being able to be your true self is one of the strongest components of good mental health."
"Take a deep breath to remember you are the child who lived through survival mode and the empowered adult who chose their healing."
"About a third of my cases are suffering from no clinically definable neurosis, but from the senselessness and emptiness of their lives. This can be defined as the general neurosis of our times."
"In any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety."
"Not surprisingly, there has been a mismatch between the enormous impact of mental illness and addiction on the public’s health and our society’s limited commitment to addressing these problems."
"Most aid agencies do not even consider proposals to treat mental health problems; those that do think of it as a minor player, overshadowed by the pressing need to save lives by treating physical illness."
"Deep breathing is our nervous system's love language."
"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."
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.
"I knew well enough that one could fracture one's legs and arms and recover afterward, but I did not know that you could fracture the brain in your head and recover from that too."
!["The experience I have had is that once you start talking about [experiencing a mental health struggle], you realize that actually you're part of quite a big club." -Prince Harry #trvst #quotes #socialchange #thinkgreen #mentalhealth #health #mentalhealthquotes](https://www.trvst.world/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/mental-health-quotes-prince-harry-the-ex-4920.png)
"The experience I have had is that once you start talking about [experiencing a mental health struggle], you realize that actually you're part of quite a big club."
"The advice I'd give to somebody that's silently struggling is, you don't have to live that way. You don't have to struggle in silence. You can be un-silent. You can live well with a mental health condition, as long as you open up to somebody about it, because it's really important you share your experience with people so that you can get the help that you need."
!["Anyone can be affected [by mental illness] despite their level of success or their place on the food chain. In fact, there is a good chance you know someone who is struggling with it since nearly 20% of American adults face some form of mental illness in their lifetime. So why aren't we talking about it?" -Kristen Bell #trvst #quotes #planetearthfirst #takeaction #mentalhealth #food #mentalhealthquotes #lifetime](https://www.trvst.world/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/mental-health-quotes-kristen-bell-anyone-9146.png)
"Anyone can be affected [by mental illness] despite their level of success or their place on the food chain. In fact, there is a good chance you know someone who is struggling with it since nearly 20% of American adults face some form of mental illness in their lifetime. So why aren't we talking about it?"
"The response from the beginning has been really, really wonderful and positive. People have always really responded to me talking about mental health."
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.
"My recovery from manic depression has been an evolution, not a sudden miracle."
"When you come out of the grips of a depression there is an incredible relief, but not one you feel allowed to celebrate. Instead, the feeling of victory is replaced with anxiety that it will happen again, and with shame and vulnerability when you see how your illness affected your family, your work, everything left untouched while you struggled to survive. We come back to life thinner, paler, weaker … but as survivors."
"PTSD is a whole-body tragedy, an integral human event of enormous proportions with massive repercussions."
"One of the things that baffles me … is how there can be so much lingering stigma with regards to mental illness, specifically bipolar disorder. In my opinion, living with manic depression takes a tremendous amount of balls."
"There isn't anybody out there who doesn't have a mental health issue, whether it's depression, anxiety, or how to cope with relationships. Having OCD is not an embarrassment anymore – for me. Just know that there is help and your life could be better if you go out and seek the help."
"I'm actually taking medication that seems to be pretty good. It's not making me feel too tired or sluggish or anything like that. Finding the proper balance is what is most important."
"Strictly' has taught me that activity outside work is good for my mental health."
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.
"Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor."
"I often say that the opposite of depression is not happiness but vitality."
"Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you doesn't mean you can, should, or need to do it alone."
"You are not your illness. You have an individual story to tell. You have a name, a history, a personality. Staying yourself is part of the battle."
"But no matter how much evil I see, I think it's important for everyone to understand that there is much more light than darkness."
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."
"We have seen that two heads are better than one when dealing with a mental health problem."
"Self-esteem is not a luxury; it is a profound spiritual need."
"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."
"My dark days made me strong. Or maybe I already was strong, and they made me prove it."
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.
And if you're in a poor mental state or dealing with a mental illness, I want to ask you one thing. How are you feeling today? I hope you have someone to check on you every day, but most importantly, I wish you to be kind to yourself always. Keep moving forward!
"I hope to one day see a sea of people all wearing silver ribbons as a sign that they understand the secret battle, and as a celebration of the victories made each day as we individually pull ourselves up out of our foxholes to see our scars heal, and to remember what the sun looks like."
"Hope is a powerful thing. Some say it’s a different breed of magic altogether."
"Mental health problems don't define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain."
"If we start being honest about our pain, our anger, and our shortcomings instead of pretending they don't exist, then maybe we'll leave the world a better place than we found it."
"I understand your pain. Trust me, I do. I've seen people go from the darkest moments in their lives to living a happy, fulfilling life. You can do it too. I believe in you. You are not a burden. You will never be a burden."
"Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open."
| 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) Exercise for Mental Health US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health |
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