Many people, when they hear the term mental health think first of mental illness. But, mental health is far more than merely the absence of mental illness.

Mental health has to do with everybody's everyday life. It means the overall way that people get along in their families, at school, on the job, at play, with their associates and in their communities.

It has to do with the way that each person harmonizes his/her desires, ambition, abilities, ideals, feelings and conscience in order to face the demands of life. There is no line that neatly divides the mentally healthy from the unhealthy. Mental health and illness are complex, confusing issues. Even the everyday stress that each of us sometimes faces can be frightening and difficult to talk about. Research shows that one in five Americans suffers from some form of mental or emotional illness. Symptoms range from anxiety and stress to more severe forms of depression or even severe psychoses.

That is why your Mental Health Association exists.

We are a private, non-profit association. Our goals are the prevention of mental illness, the promotion of mental health and improved services for those with mental illness.

We accomplish these goals by sponsoring prevention programs, providing community education, and advocating for improved services and creating opportunities for empowerment of persons with mental illness. Research has resulted in new and effective treatment protocols that offer hope and opportunity for those with mental illnesses.

Education has helped to promote community integration of persons who were once isolated in institutional environments. Great progress has been made, but the job is not yet done.

Mental illness remains a challenge, mental health a goal for everyone.