Mental health influences how we think and feel about ourselves and others and how we interpret events. It affects our capacity to learn, to communicate and to form, sustain and end relationships. It also influences our ability to cope with change, transition and life events (Dr Lynne Friedli2004).

There is a relationship between stress and vulnerability depending on the vulnerability such as genetic factors or past trauma.
Sources of stress, physical stress such as lack of routine or poor diet and illness. Environmental stress such as social isolation, new environment or issues with jobs. Emotional stress can be with relationship problems, high arousal emotions within families, conflicts, values and beliefs. Life events such as death of a love one, accident and chronic stress, social anxiety

Mental health can be seen as a continuum and concept of recovery, with mentally healthy at one end and mental illness at the other. We all exists between the continnum. To achieve positive mental health is to be connected and supported by family, friends and community.

Learning ways of coping with stress is a way to reduce the intensity of increasing the chances of severe form of mental health.