Mental health conditions, resources, and conversations can still feel complicated and out of reach. What are there common warning signs for mental health conditions or crises?

Specific factors that can lead to mental health conditions or even crises? What resources are out there – and how do I know if they’re right for me?

Many people are learning about mental health topics for the first time. Having a widespread understanding of the topic can help you be more informed if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health condition or crisis.

Around half of the people in the U.S. will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition at some point in their life, so everyone should know what to look out for. Everyone should have the support needed to thrive. Communities that have been historically and presently oppressed face a deeper mental health burden because of the added impact of trauma, oppression, and harm. 

There’s often no single cause for a mental health condition. Instead, there are many possible risk factors that can influence how likely a person is to experience a mental health condition or how serious the symptoms may be.

Some risk factors for mental health conditions include:

•trauma, which can be a one-time event or ongoing

• your environment and how it impacts your health and quality of life (also known as social •determinants of health like financial stability and health care access)
• genetics, brain chemistry,
• your habits and lifestyle such as a lack of sleep.