Mental health conditions a mental illness is a condition that affects a persons thinking feeling or mood such conditions may affect someones ability to relate to others and function each day each person will have different experiences e ven people with the same diagnosis. Often the terms mental illness and mental health are used interchangeably as if they are the same dimension from this perspective someone either has a disorder and requires . Why is mental health important for overall health mental and physical health are equally important components of overall health mental illness especially depression increases the risk for many types of physical health problems particularly long lasting conditions like stroke type 2 diabetes and heart disease. The canadian mental health association promotes the mental health of all and supports the resilience and recovery of people experiencing a mental illness through public education community based research advocacy and direct services