Everyone wants to be healthier, fitter, and happier, but a lot of people forget that mental health is part of that equation too. As winter sets in and days get shorter, mental health is especially important to consider. I read an article las week about how the number of anxious first year students has risen from 50 to 62% in the span of 6 years. This cannot be a coincidence.

What is Mental Health?

The World Health Organization defines Mental Health as, “Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.” It also adds that, “"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." In other words mental health has to do with your ability to balance all of life’s stresses and is the bridge between physical and social well being.