mental health

noun

1

: the condition of being sound mentally and emotionally that is characterized by the absence of mental illness and by adequate adjustment especially as reflected in feeling comfortable about oneself, positive feelings about others, and the ability to meet the demands of daily life

also : the general condition of one's mental and emotional state

2

: health care dealing with the promotion and improvement of mental health and the treatment of mental illness

—often used before another noun

mental health professionals

a mental health clinic

Examples of mental health in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The lawsuit accuses the social media giant of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that get children addicted to its platforms. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Some postpartum patients who faced traumatic births or mental health struggles saw it differently. — Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

The Lincoln, which has been deployed for more than eight months, has been facing reports of widespread morale and mental health issues, as the conflict continues with no clear end in sight. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026

The lawsuit marks the second time in six years that DePaul has been sued by a mental health provider that worked with the school’s athletes. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mental health

• commonwealth
• telehealth
• bridewealth
• stealth
• wealth

Medical Definition

mental health

noun

1

: the condition of being sound mentally and emotionally that is characterized by the absence of mental illness and by adequate adjustment especially as reflected in feeling comfortable about oneself, having positive feelings about others, and being able to meet the demands of daily life

also : the general condition of one's mental and emotional state

Finding the flexibility and balance that is required for good mental health is a challenge we all face.

—Christy Turlington, Psychology Today

2

: health care dealing with the promotion and improvement of mental health and the treatment of mental illness : mental hygiene

—often used before another noun

mental health professionals

a mental health clinic