Your mental health impacts every aspect of your life, from the success of your relationships to the enjoyment of your work and overall happiness.
Unfortunately, mental illness is still something that holds a lot of stigma. Although awareness around the importance of mental health is more common, we still have a long way to go.
These quotes are for anyone struggling with their own mental wellness or the mental health of loved ones.
Hopefully, the following uplifting quotes can remind you of just how normal it is to have bad days and inspire you to continue making your mental health a priority.
Sections
- Best mental health quotes
- Quotes about the importance of mental health
- Mental health stigma quotes
- Quotes about mental health and mental illness
- Quotes about feeling alone
- Mental health self-care quotes
- Positive mental health quotes
- Strength mental health quotes
- World mental health day quotes
- Famous quotes about mental quotes
- Mental health support quotes
- Inspirational mental health quotes
- Mental health quotes from literature
- Mental health quotes from famous psychologists
- Quotes about mental health struggles
- Mental health quotes about recovery
- Exercise and mental health quotes
- Funny mental health quotes
- Men’s mental health quotes
- Women’s mental health quotes
- Cute mental health quotes
- Mental health and relationships quotes
- Pets and mental health quotes
- Bible quotes about mental health
- Common questions
Best mental health quotes
There are a lot of deep mental health quotes on the internet that can help to educate and inspire us on our journey towards mental wellness. Here are 8 of our favorites.
1. “Real depression is being sad when everything in your life is going right.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
 
2. “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” —Marcus Aurelius
 
3. “Make sure you are happy in real life, not just on social media.” —Unknown
4. “One does not become fully human painlessly.” —Rollo May
 
5. “So you find yourself trying to remember the things that made you happy.” —Rue Bennett, Euphoria
 
6. “Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also more hard to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: it is easier to say ‘my tooth hurts’ than to say ‘my heart is broken.” —C.S. Lewis
7. “It’s okay. Depression is okay. If you’re going through it, know that you’re okay.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
 
8. “We can be sad and OK at the same time. I’m going to say that again because in our society, we’re taught the opposite, and so it’s counterintuitive. People can be sad and OK at the same time.” —Bill Bernat, How To Connect With Depressed Friends, Tedx, 2017
Mental health awareness quotes
It can be reassuring to know that you’re not the only person who struggles with mental illness. Creating awareness around the issue of mental illness is important. Having the right tools allows people to enjoy emotional health and longevity.
1. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” —Socrates
 
2. “You don’t have to struggle in silence. You can be un-silent. You can live well with a mental health condition, as long as you open up to someone about it.” —Demi Lovato
 
3. “You don’t have to be positive all the time. It’s perfectly okay to feel sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared, and anxious. Having feelings doesn’t make you a negative person. It makes you human.” —Lori Deschene
4. “She allowed me to be deeply depressed and have a genuine connection to another person, simultaneously. For the first time, I identified as somebody living with depression, and I felt good about it — like I wasn’t a bad person for it.” —Bill Bernat, How To Connect With Depressed Friends, Tedx, 2017
 
5. “The mental health conversation is very important to me. I have friends that struggle with various mental illnesses. I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety. I’m very interested in how we deal with that.” —Matthew Quick
 
6. “The workplace is often the most stressful place a person finds themselves in. Employees and managers need to keep an eye out for signs of deteriorating mental health in fellow colleagues.” —Paul Farmer
7. “I didn’t know I could go to the doctor about my mental health and get a mental health plan. I didn’t know about community health. I certainly didn’t know about Lifeline, and I’ve called Lifeline three times, and they’ve certainly potentially saved my life. I had to learn all these things. [People] need to know them.” —Jeremy Forbes, How To Start A Conversation About Suicide, Tedx, 2017
8. “Maybe you see depressed people differently. You think of them as flawed or defective. Multiple university studies have shown that A students are more likely to have bipolar conditions. Our brains aren’t broken or damaged; they just work differently. I spent a lot of years thinking happy people just don’t get it.” —Bill Bernat, How To Connect With Depressed Friends, Tedx, 2017
Quotes about the importance of mental health
Although mental health issues aren’t always taken as seriously as they should be, your mental health matters. Your mental health should always be a priority. These are our favorite quotes about prioritizing your mental health.
1. “I have to focus on my mental health. We have to protect our minds and our bodies, not just go out and do what the world wants us to.” —Simone Biles
 
2. “Mental health is just as important as physical health. Remember that.” —Unknown
 
3. “How is it that we spend more time taking care of our teeth than we do our minds? Why is it that our physical health is so much more important to us than our psychological health?” —Guy Winch, Why We All Need To Practice Emotional First-Aid, Tedx, 2015
4. “It’s up to you to start making healthy choices. Not choices that are just healthy for your body, but healthy for your mind.” —Unknown
 
5. “Your mental health is more important than your career, money, and other people’s opinions, that event you said you would attend, your partner’s moods and your family’s wishes, combined. If taking care of yourself means letting someone down, then let them down.” —Unknown
Mental health stigma quotes
It is important to remember that mental health is real and that it’s closely linked to our overall wellbeing. There is a stigma around mental health that can make us shy about sharing our struggles. But real growth comes when you can speak about your experiences and inspire more people to be open with theirs.
1. “It’s hard for me to talk about, and it seems to be hard for everyone to talk about, so much so that no one’s talking about it.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
 
2. “It is an odd paradox that a society, which can now speak openly and unabashedly about topics that were once unspeakable, still remains largely silent when it comes to mental illness.” —Glenn Close
 
3. “It has to start with the people who are suffering, the ones who are hidden in the shadows. We need to speak up and shatter the silence.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
4. “Depression is so exhausting. It takes up so much of your time and energy, and [the] silence about it, it really does make the depression worse.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
 
5. “Mental health? I clammed up and violently shook my head in protest. I felt a profound sense of shame. I felt the weight of stigma.” —Sangu Delle, There’s No Shame In Taking Care Of Your Mental Health, Tedx, 2017
 
6. “Derogatory, demeaning commentary about his condition—words we would never say about someone with cancer or someone with malaria. Somehow, when it comes to mental illness, our ignorance eviscerates all empathy.” —Sangu Delle, There’s No Shame In Taking Care Of Your Mental Health, Tedx, 2017
7. “And what you really fear the most isn’t the suffering inside of you. It’s the stigma inside of others, it’s the shame, it’s the embarrassment, it’s the disapproving look on a friend’s face, it’s the whispers in the hallway that you’re weak, it’s the comments that you’re crazy.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
 
8. “Growing up in West Africa, when people used the term “mental,” what came to mind was a madman with dirty, dreadlocked hair, bumbling around half-naked on the streets. We all know this man. Our parents warned us about him.” —Sangu Delle, There’s No Shame In Taking Care Of Your Mental Health, Tedx, 2017
Quotes about mental health and mental illness
There are many different ways that poor mental health can manifest in our lives. Whether it is depression, anxiety, or OCD, poor mental health takes a toll on all of us in different ways.
Depression quotes
A lot of people have dealt with mild depression at some point in their lives. Real depression goes beyond just feeling sad and can be difficult to pull ourselves out of. Hopefully, the following quotes can help you to feel less alone if you are struggling with depression.
1. “Depression sucks. This is the lowest I’ve ever been. I know it won’t always be like this; however, it’s painful right now.” —Mark Fields, ItsMarkFields, Feb 10 2022, 6:12PM, Twitter
 
2. “The absolute worst part of depression is that even though you know you’re depressed, you’re unable to stop yourself from getting worse.” —Rue Bennett, Euphoria
 
3. “My anxiety and depression have ruled my life for as long as I can remember. I deserve to have peace. I deserve to be happy and smiling. Why not me?” —Kid Cudi
4. “High functioning depression is so scary because no one knows that you’re not ok. And even if you say something people don’t care because you don’t present as someone who’s falling off the deep end.” —_Tayluhh_, Feb 3 2022, 8:03AM, Twitter
 
5. “You don’t think in depression that you’ve put on a gray veil and are seeing the world through the haze of a bad mood. You think that the veil has been taken away, the veil of happiness, and that now you’re seeing truly.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
 
6. “Depression is the inability to construct a future.” —Rollo May
7. “You know that most people manage to listen to their messages and eat lunch and organize themselves to take a shower and go out the front door and that it’s not a big deal, and yet you are nonetheless in its grip and you are unable to figure out any way around it.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
 
8. “Those who can tolerate their depression are the ones who achieve resilience.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
 
9. “Depression was something that was braided so deep into us that there was no separating it from our character and personality.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
10. “As much as I hate some of the places, some of the parts of my life depression has dragged me down to, in a lot of ways I’m grateful for it. Because yeah, it’s put me in the valleys, but only to show me there’s peaks, and yeah it’s dragged me through the dark but only to remind me there is light.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
Anxiety mental health quotes
Anxiety can affect many parts of our lives, but it is important to remember that nothing lasts forever, and you can still live a fun and meaningful life. Here are 6 quotes about what it’s like dealing with anxiety.
1. “Anxiety was just a part of who I was because I’d experienced it my whole life.” —Nicole LePera, How I Healed My Lifelong Anxiety, 2018
 
2. “It’s sad, actually, because my anxiety keeps me from enjoying things as much as I should in this age.” —Amanda Seyfried
 
3. “But severe anxiety isn’t a moral or personal failing. It’s a health problem, just like strep throat or diabetes. It needs to be treated with the same kind of seriousness.” —Jen Gunter, What’s Normal Anxiety- And What’s An Anxiety Disorder?, Tedx, 2021
4. “Let life be fun and not filled with anxiety.” —Bloodonmytimbs, Feb 14 2022, 10:55AM, Twitter
 
5. “My doctor and I were discussing my anxiety, and she said, ‘Brains are made to keep us alive. They’re not made to keep us happy.’ And I can’t stop thinking about that.” —Everywhereist, Feb 10 2022, 10:28AM, Twitter
 
6. “Mental anxiety is a normal adaptive human response to a threat. It’s a quick fight or flight response when we are in danger that has helped us to evolve.” —Nicole LePera, How I Healed My Lifelong Anxiety, 2018
ADHD quotes
Living with ADHD might mean that your life looks a little different than your friends. But you still hold the power to be happy and live a life full of success. The following quotes are about learning to live and be successful with ADHD.
1. “ADHD is selective hearing, but you don’t get to do the selecting.” —Jessejanderson, Feb 9 2022, 9:00AM, Twitter
 
2. “Today was my first day on ADHD medication. I’ve cried three times at how easy life was today. The calm, the silence, the focus. The absolute weightlessness of it all.” —_Brandynd_, Feb 9 2022, 6:08PM, Twitter
 
3. “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid, unless it happens to chat with another fish and realizes fish aren’t great at climbing trees, and that’s okay, there’s plenty of ocean.” —Jessica McCabe, This Is What It’s Really Like To Live With ADHD, Tedx, 2017
4. “We not only think outside the box; we’re often not even aware that there is a box.” —Jessica McCabe, This Is What It’s Really Like To Live With ADHD, Tedx, 2017
 
5. “The worst part about having ADHD for me is that if you aren’t literally right in front of me then I forget you exist even though I care about you. Connections with people are hard when you don’t have the attention span to respond or reach out to people you like.” —That1teddygirl, Feb 9 2022, 11:00AM, Twitter
 
6. “It’s like your brain keeps switching between 30 different channels and somebody else has the remote.” —Jessica McCabe, This Is What It’s Really Like To Live With ADHD, Tedx, 2017
7. “But the truth is there are plenty of times we want to be able to focus, we try, and we just can’t.” —Jessica McCabe, This Is What It’s Really Like To Live With ADHD, Tedx, 2017
 
8. “Comparing myself to people with neurotypical brains, I felt really bad about myself. Why couldn’t I keep my house clean or finish a project in time, instead of waiting till the very last second?” —Jessica McCabe, This Is What It’s Really Like To Live With ADHD, Tedx, 2017
 
9. “I was easily overwhelmed. I spaced out in class. I lost things constantly. And trying to get my brain to focus on anything I wasn’t excited about was like trying to nail jello to the wall.” —Jessica McCabe, This Is What It’s Really Like To Live With ADHD, Tedx, 2017
10. “What happened to all that potential? Was I not trying? No! I worked harder than anyone I knew. I didn’t even have time for friends.” —Jessica McCabe, This Is What It’s Really Like To Live With ADHD, Tedx, 2017
Bipolar quotes
It might not be easy living with bipolar, but there are some amazing people in the world who have learned to live with their mental health diagnosis and find happiness despite their mental health struggles. Here are some inspirational quotes about being bipolar.
1. “I realized that bipolar disorder may be a part of my life, but it isn’t who I am.” —Demi Lovato
 
2. “Having bipolar does not mean you are broken; it means you are strong and brave for battling your mind every single day.” —Unknown
 
3. “You can let it all fall down and feel defeated and hopeless and that you’re done. But you reached out to me – that took courage. Now build on that. Move through those feelings and meet me on the other side. As your bipolar sister, I’ll be watching. Now get out there and show me and you what you can do.” —Carrie Fisher
4. “We have been given a challenging illness, and there is no other option than to meet those challenges. Think of it as an opportunity to be heroic… an opportunity to be a good example to others who might share our disorder.” —Carrie Fisher
BPD quotes
The challenges faced by people with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are difficult for others to understand. But those with BPD can at least know that they aren’t alone in their struggle. Here are 7 quotes about BPD.
1. “You don’t understand BPD unless you have BPD.” —ItsBPDbro, Feb 10, 2022, 8:16PM, Twitter
 
2. “The best way to describe living with borderline personality disorder is that it’s like walking on eggshells — for both you and those around you.” —Emma, The Mighty, 2016
 
3. “BPD is lonely because you never truly feel understood. Everyone around you can sympathize, but they won’t ever truly know how intense you feel. In fact, they often become annoyed with the emotion changes and get tired of hearing us talk about how we feel…it’s a lonely diagnosis.” —Deep Hydrageas, Feb 4 2022, 4:55PM, Twitter
4. “Living with BPD is pure confusion. It’s always like, ‘am I allowed to be upset about this thing or am I being oversensitive?’” —Unknown
 
5. “The thing with BPD is the constant change of emotions. One minute you’re fine, then the tornado hits. You’re angry, upset or want to hurt yourself.” —Emma, The Mighty, 2016
 
6. “BPD can make you question your reality. It’ll make you doubt your thoughts, emotions, the people around you and their intentions, those who say they love you. It all feels so uncertain. I can rarely feel safe and secure.” —FlyingAwxy, Feb 6 2022, 3:37AM, Twitter
7. “I still get very high and very low in life. Daily. But I’ve finally accepted the fact that sensitive is just how I was made. That I don’t have to hide it, and I don’t have to fix it. I’m not broken.” —Glennon Doyle Melton
Social anxiety quotes
Struggling with social anxiety is not a comfortable thing. It is difficult to desire connection with others and feel like you’re not able to find it. Don’t give up hope, though. Continue showing up for yourself and trust that the right people will come into your life and give you the love you crave. Here are several quotes about being socially anxious.
1. “Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely trying to be normal.” —Albert Camus
 
2. “Social anxiety is walking into a space with strangers and feeling unsafe. Warming up is the letting down of the guard backed with the faint hope that you can be you and be loved all at the same time.” —JackieHillPerry, Feb 12 2022, 11:04AM, Twitter
 
3. “‘You’re so quiet’ I’m aware that I have social anxiety, thanks.” —Funtimesaf, Feb 10 2022, 3:26PM, Twitter
4. “When you’re surrounded by lots of people, like on a bus, you start to feel hot, nauseous, uneasy, and to prevent this from happening, you start avoiding a lot of places which makes you feel lonely and isolated.” —Olivia Remes, How To Cope With Anxiety, Tedx, 2017
 
5. “Projection’s unpleasant and social anxiety tries to protect us from it.” —Fallon Goodman, Social Anxiety In The Modern World, Tedx, 2021
 
6. “When a person has social anxiety disorder, they become overly concerned about other people scrutinizing them, evaluating them harshly, and ultimately rejecting them. So much so that they begin to construct their lives around avoiding rejection.” —Fallon Goodman, Social Anxiety In The Modern World, Tedx, 2021
7. “Social anxiety tries to protect us from rejection, and it does that by tuning us into the nuances and norms and dynamics of a social group so we can match our behavior to fit with them.” —Fallon Goodman, Social Anxiety In The Modern World, Tedx, 2021
OCD quotes
Living with OCD can make even simple tasks feel overwhelming. The following 7 quotes are all about the struggles that people living with OCD can experience when just trying to live a normal life.
1. “OCD can try to dictate so many aspects of life. Pushing through and following your values is such a challenge at times, but so important.” —OCDPhilosophy, Feb 12 2022, 4:45PM, Twitter
 
2. “The person with OCD mistakenly believes that the obsessions are the problem, when the actual problem is how a person is responding to obsessions.” —Alegra Kastens, Mindfulness in the Treatment of OCD, 2021
 
3. “I was able to function as a human in everyday normal life—but my mind was a constant battlefield with me warring against the demons in my head.” —Unknown, Living With OCD, 2021
4. “I sometimes describe OCD as being like a well-meaning friend who desperately wants to be helpful, but often ends up being unhelpful.” —Molly Schiffer, Sheppard Pratt, 2021
 
5. “People with OCD typically spend far too much time attending to unwanted thoughts and feelings that are not important or helpful to engage with. Through mindfulness, they learn to turn the mind back to the present moment instead of following thoughts down the rabbit hole and getting stuck in a spiral of mental compulsions.” —Alegra Kastens, Mindfulness in the Treatment of OCD, 2021
 
6. “Viewing OCD as trying to protect you in its weird way can help you to back away from self-judgment and allow you to view your obsessive thoughts about your mental health with a sense of humor.” —Molly Schiffer, Sheppard Pratt, 2021
7. “I came to realize that OCD, something that I had lived with for most of my life and which I assumed was incurable, was very much something I could recover from; in fact, the door to the prison was open, and the only thing keeping me there was myself.” —Unknown, Living With OCD, 2021
Quotes about feeling alone
The pain of loneliness is not one that is easy to sit with. Connection with others is so important, and not having it can have a very negative impact on our mental wellness. If you are lonely, just remember that you are never really alone with the help of these loneliness quotes.
1. “A season of loneliness and isolation is when the caterpillar gets its wings. Remember that next time you feel alone.” —Mandy Hale
 
2. “Loneliness is a terrible, terrible thing man. If you don’t know how to conquer it, it can eat you alive.” —Kid Cudi
 
3. “Loneliness creates a deep psychological wound, one that distorts our perceptions and scrambles our thinking. It makes us believe that those around us care much less than they actually do.” —Guy Winch, Why We All Need To Practice Emotional First-Aid, Tedx, 2015
4. “There are two kinds of loneliness, one you feel when you’re all alone, and the other you feel in a crowded room, when you realize you’re the only person who knows what it’s like to be you.” —Atticus
 
5. “Now, when someone shares that they feel sad or afraid or alone, for example, it actually makes me feel less alone, not by getting rid of any of my loneliness but by showing me that I am not alone in feeling lonely.” —Jonny Sun, You Are Not Alone In Your Loneliness, Tedx, 2019
 
6. “It’s okay to be alone until you find someone better than your solitude.” —Unknown
7. “Lonely is not being alone; it’s the feeling that no one cares.” —Unknown
 
8. “Loneliness is a fire, which I hold close to my skin, to see how much pain I can stand, before running to the water.” —Atticus
 
9. “You smile, but you wanna cry. You talk, but you wanna be quiet. You pretend like you’re happy but you’re not.” —Unknown
10. “Loneliness won’t just make you miserable; it will kill you. I’m not kidding. Chronic loneliness increases your likelihood of an early death by 14 percent.” —Guy Winch, Why We All Need To Practice Emotional First-Aid, Tedx, 2015
 
11. “It’s not even the lies that hurt, ya know? It’s the fact that you’re never really emotionally prepared for someone to leave you.” —Rue Bennett, Euphoria
Mental health self-care quotes
Seeing mental health break quotes is a great reminder of how important it is to take care of yourself and your mental health. You should always try to protect your inner peace. Here are 10 quotes about the importance of self-care for your emotional wellness.
1. “Give yourself permission to rest.” —Unknown
 
2. “When you’re in emotional pain, treat yourself with the same compassion you would expect from a truly good friend.” —Guy Winch, Why We All Need To Practice Emotional First-Aid, Tedx, 2015
 
3. “Self-care is how you take your power back.” —Lalah Delia
4. “Give yourself the same care and attention that you give to others and watch yourself bloom.” —Unknown
 
5. “Remember that your mental health is a priority, your inner peace is essential, and your self-care is a necessity.” —Unknown
 
6. “Your mental health is a priority. Your happiness is an essential. Your self-care is necessary.” —Unknown
7. “I’m so proud of you. I’m proud that you keep showing up. Every. Single. Day. I’m proud of all the tough decisions you had to make and that even though it was hard, you stood your ground. I’m proud that you never gave up on yourself and kept fighting for everything you love. I’m proud that despite everything you’ve been through, you still wake up and find ways to smile every day. I’m proud that even though you’ve seen so much darkness, you always continue to search for the light. I’m proud of you and how far you’ve come, and I’m even more excited for everything that’s still to come.” —Nikki Banas
 
8. “Stop trying to calm the storm. Calm yourself. The storm will pass.” —Unknown
 
9. “It’s okay to cut off those people who have forgotten that your mental health matters.” —Unknown
10. “In all the years I’ve practiced as a psychologist, I am still horrified at how vile people can be to themselves. Listen to what you’re saying to yourself and then ask if you would speak to anyone else that way? The answer is probably no – not even your worst enemy!” —Health Worker
You might also be inspired by these quotes about self-love.
Positive mental health quotes
Beautiful mental health quotes can inspire you to be kind to yourself during the hard days of your mental health journey. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel; don’t give up before you get to it.
1. “Everybody stay positive no matter how negative life gets.” —Juice Wrld
 
2. “You are more precious to this world than you will ever know.” —Lili Rhinehart
 
3. “You are not weird. You are not stupid. You do not need to try harder. You are not a failed version of normal. You are different, you are beautiful, and you are not alone.” —Jessica McCabe, This Is What It’s Really Like To Live With ADHD, Tedx, 2017
4. “I think that while I hated being depressed and would hate to be depressed again, I’ve found a way to love my depression. I love it because it has forced me to find and cling to joy.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
 
5. “What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, more unashamed conversation.” —Glenn Close
 
6. “No matter how traumatic your past was, if you can process the difficult emotions around them, there are important lessons within them.” —Nicole LePera, The Mindset of Evolution, 2018
7. “I’m grateful for what I’ve experienced. I’m glad to have been in the hospital 40 times. It taught me so much about love, and my relationship with my parents and my doctors has been so precious to me, and will be, always.” —Mark Manson, The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck, 2016
 
8. “Just because no one else can heal or do your inner work for you doesn’t mean you can, should, or need to do it alone.” —Lisa Olivera
 
9. “Your illness is not your identity. Your chemistry is not your character.” —Rick Warren
Strength mental health quotes
Good mental health day quotes can inspire you to stay strong on hard days. Resilience is important for everyone, but especially for people who struggle with mental health. It might not always be easy, but you always have the power to push through the hard days.
1. “While there is something to be said for “staying on the sunny side of life,” the truth is, sometimes life sucks, and the healthiest thing you can do is admit it.” —Mark Manson, The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck, 2016
 
2. “My dark days made me strong. Or maybe I already was strong, and they made me prove it.” —Emery Lord
 
3. “Because the world I believe in is one where embracing your light doesn’t mean ignoring your dark.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
4. “The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us, but those who win battles we know nothing about.” —Unknown
 
5. “No matter how bad your bad days have been, you’ve survived every single one of them. They never lasted forever. And they never will.” —Corporateyogis, Feb 8 2022, 1:00PM, Twitter
 
6. “Wake up today knowing that whatever happens, you can handle it.” —Corporateyogis, Feb 8 2022, 1:00PM, Twitter
7. “Shutting out the depression strengthens it. While you hide from it, it grows. And the people who do better are the ones who are able to tolerate the fact that they have this condition.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
 
8. “We need to see mental health as important as physical health. We need to stop suffering in silence. We must stop stigmatizing disease and traumatizing the afflicted.” —Sangu Delle, There’s No Shame In Taking Care Of Your Mental Health, Tedx, 2017
 
9. “One small crack does not mean that you are broken; it means that you were put to the test and you didn’t fall apart.” —Linda Poindexter
World mental health day quotes
Every day on October 10th the world comes together for World Mental Health Day. World Mental Health Day is organized by the WHO and aims to provide education and awareness about mental illness. Here are some of the best quotes to educate and inspire you about the importance of mental wellbeing.
1. “Mental health care for all: let’s make it a reality.” —World Mental Health Day 2021
 
2. “Investment in mental health programmes at the national and international levels, which have already suffered from years of chronic underfunding, is now more important than it has ever been.” —World Mental Health Day 2020
 
3. “Suicide is never the answer. There is always hope.” —WHO, Preventing Suicide at Work, YouTube
4. “A few words can make a world of difference.” —WHO, Preventing Suicide at Work, YouTube
 
5. “Fortunately, there is a growing recognition of the importance of helping young people build mental resilience, from the earliest ages, in order to cope with the challenges of today’s world.” —World Mental Health Day 2018
 
6. “Depression can happen to anyone and is not a sign of weakness.” —PAHO, Depression 2021
7. “Remember: with the right support, you can get better—so if you think you might be depressed, seek help.” —PAHO, Depression 2021
 
8. “Many mental health conditions can be effectively treated at relatively low cost, yet the gap between people needing care and those with access to care remains substantial. Effective treatment coverage remains extremely low.” —WHO, Mental Health
 
9. “Protecting adolescents from adversity, promoting socio-emotional learning and psychological well-being, and ensuring access to mental health care are critical for their health and well-being during adolescence and adulthood.” —WHO, Adolescent Mental Health
Famous quotes about mental health
Everybody, even a celebrity, can struggle with mental health. The following quotes are a beautiful reminder that it is completely normal to have a mental illness, and that if famous people can still live happy and successful lives with one, so can you.
1. “If you break your leg, you’re going to go to the doctor to get that leg healed. If something inside you feels like it’s wounded, it’s just like a physical injury. You’ve got to get help. There’s nothing weak about that. It’s strong.” —Barack Obama
 
2. “I found that with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone; you’re not the first one to go through it, you’re not going to be the last to go through it.” —The Rock
 
3. “You can live with a mental illness. It may take time, but it’s worth it. You deserve to live a happy and healthy life.” —Demi Lovato
4. “I’m always terrified that something’s going to happen. And I’m not going to be able to do this anymore, and it’s all going to end in one day.” —Taylor Swift
 
5. “It’s difficult to describe depression to someone who’s never been there because it’s not sadness.” —J.K. Rowling
 
6. “We can no longer afford to be silenced by stigma that portray [mental health] conditions as a matter of weakness or moral failing.” —Lady Gaga
7. “Now that I was famous, I was afraid I would never find somebody again to love me for me. I was afraid of making new friends. That’s when I decided I only have two choices: I can give up, or I can go on” —Beyonce
Mental health support quotes
Feeling like you are not alone when you are struggling with your mental health is important. Even your strong friends can feel alone and need support. Don’t forget to check on your friends.
1. “The world I believe in is one where I can look someone in the eye and say, ‘I’m going through hell,’ and they can look back at me and go, ‘Me too,’ and that’s okay.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
 
2. “One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.” ―Shannon Alder
 
3. “Isolation and loneliness is bad for our health—both physical and mental.” —Rebecca Dolgin, Psycom
4. “Both suicidal thoughts and ideation are associated with isolation and loneliness.” —Rebecca Dolgin, Psycom
 
5. “Talk to your friends. Talk to your loved ones. Talk to health professionals. Be vulnerable. Do so with the confidence that you are not alone. Speak up if you’re struggling. Being honest about how we feel does not make us weak; it makes us human.” —Sangu Delle, There’s No Shame In Taking Care Of Your Mental Health, Tedx, 2017
 
6. “‘I don’t feel very much like Pooh today.’ Said Pooh. ‘There, there.’ Said Piglet. ‘I’ll bring you tea and honey until you do.’” —Winnie The Pooh
7. “If someone’s coming to talk to you about mental illness and anxiety and depression and thoughts of suicide, we need to respect that. They want to trust us that we’re going to hold that in tight and not tell everyone. We need to do that.” —Jeremy Forbes, How To Start A Conversation About Suicide, Tedx, 2017
 
8. “It doesn’t have to take over your life, it doesn’t have to define you as a person, it’s just important that you ask for help. It’s not a sign of weakness.” —Demi Lovato
 
9. “A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.” —Eeyore
10. “I knew that I had someone firmly in my corner who was going to listen without judgment and a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. For the first time in months, I felt hopeful.” —Sarah Hughes, Speak Up: My Experience Of Mental Health Nursing, Nurse
Inspirational mental health quotes
The following uplifting quotes are powerful reminders of how important it is to stay positive and always believe that better days are ahead. Sometimes an inspirational quote can be all the encouragement you need to continue moving forward.
1. “We’re people, and we have problems. We’re not perfect, and that’s okay.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
 
2. “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one only remembers to turn on the light.” —Albus Dumbledore
 
3. “You look at me and cry; everything hurts. I hold you and whisper: but everything can heal.” —Rupi Kaur
4. “Nature mends broken hearts, cluttered minds, and troubled souls.” —Orphic Flux
 
5. “Art is coming face to face with yourself.” —Jackson Pollock
 
6. “I am mentally ill. I can say that. I am not ashamed of that. I survived that, I’m still surviving it, but bring it on.” —Carrie Fisher
7. “By taking action when you’re lonely, by changing your responses to failure, by protecting your self-esteem, by battling negative thinking, you won’t just heal your psychological wounds, you will build emotional resilience, you will thrive.” —Guy Winch, Why We All Need To Practice Emotional First-Aid, Tedx, 2015
 
8. “Philosophers have told us for thousands of years that the power to create is very closely linked to the power to destroy. Now science is showing us that the part of the brain that registers a traumatic wound can be the part of the brain where healing happens too.” —Melissa Walker, Art Can Heal PTSD’s Invisible Wounds, Tedx, 2015
 
9. “Music is an escape. Escape who you are, your tears, your fears, and forget what’s wrong.” —Unknown
10. “Some would say that our new normal is uncertainty, struggle, survival, and fear. But I say our new normal is strength, resilience, love, and patience.” —Nicole Ball, Creating Our New Normal, Counselor
Motivational mental health quotes
Bad mental health days can make you feel like your future is bleak. But we want you to find the motivation to continue doing what you can to make your life better. The following quotes will help to inspire and uplift you to stay strong.
1. “If you’re looking for a sign, this is it.” —Unknown
 
2. “Whenever we begin to feel as if we can no longer go on, hope whispers in our ear to remind us that we are strong.” —Robert M. Hensel
 
3. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” —Arthur Ashe
4. “The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and these days, my life is vital, even on the days when I’m sad.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
 
5. “I’m not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.” —Unknown
 
6. “Turn your demons into art, your shadow into a friend, your fear into fuel, your failures into teachers, your weaknesses into reasons to keep fighting. Don’t waste your pain. Recycle your heart.” —Andrea Balt
7. “Can you imagine what the world would be like if everyone was psychologically healthier? If there were less loneliness and less depression? If people knew how to overcome failure? If they felt better about themselves and more empowered? If they were happier and more fulfilled? I can, because that’s the world I want to live in.” —Guy Winch, Why We All Need To Practice Emotional First-Aid, Tedx, 2015
 
8. “There is always hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t.” —John Green
 
9. “Studies tell us that even a two-minute distraction is sufficient to break the urge to ruminate in that moment. And so each time I had a worrying, upsetting, negative thought, I forced myself to concentrate on something else until the urge passed. And within one week, my whole outlook changed and became more positive and more hopeful.” —Guy Winch, Why We All Need To Practice Emotional First-Aid, Tedx, 2015
Mental health quotes from literature
Often books can be just the friend we need when we are going through a hard time. Enjoy our favorite quotes about mental health from literature.
1. “The thing I realize is, that it’s not what you take, it’s what you leave.” —Jennifer Niven, All The Bright Places
 
2. “But I know that I spent a long time existing, and now I intend to love.” —Sabaa Tahir, An Ember in the Ashes
 
3. “What if people find out that the girl they call so happy and put-together is really just a mess with her own bad weather.” —Jennae Cecelia, Losing Myself Brought Me Here
4. “Your now is not your forever.” —John Green, Turtles All The Way Down
 
5. “We suffer for the simple reason that suffering is biologically useful. It is nature’s preferred agent for inspiring change. We have evolved to always live with a certain degree of dissatisfaction and insecurity, because it’s the mildly dissatisfied and insecure that’s going to do the most work to innovate and survive.” —Mark Manson, The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F*ck
Mental health quotes by famous psychologists
Psychology is the study of the mind and our behaviors and is directly related to understanding our mental health. The following quotes are from our favorite psychologists and might give you just the insight you need to better understand your mental health.
1. “An evolving self is a radical shift in the way you process your own thoughts and the world around you. It takes time and discipline. A person evolving is committed to self-discovery.” —Nicole LePera, The Mindset of Evolution, 2018
 
2. “Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength.” —Sigmund Freud
 
3. “Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth in uglier ways.” —Sigmund Freud
4. “With your awareness awakened, anything is possible.” —Nicole LePera
 
5. “Despair is always the price one pays for self-awareness. Look deeply into life, and you’ll always find despair.” —Irvin Yalom
 
6. “A failure is not always a mistake; it may simply be the best someone can do under the circumstances. The real mistake is to stop trying.” —B. F. Skinner
7. “People’s beliefs about their abilities have a profound effect on those abilities.” —Albert Bandura
Quotes about mental health struggles
Battling mental illness can be absolutely exhausting. It is okay for you to break down as long as you stand back up afterward. The following quotes are important reminders of how to deal with mental health struggles.
1. “Part of recovery is relapse. I dust myself off and move forward again.” —Steven Adler
 
2. “My journey of recovery has been filled with love and with joy, but it hasn’t been without pain.” —Michael Botticelli, Addiction is a Disease. We Should Treat it Like One, Tedx, 2016
 
3. “Addiction is an illness that affects not only your physical health but your mental health also. Everyday is a struggle. Every single day is an accomplishment.” —Vote4equality20, Feb 14 2022, 12:33PM, Twitter
4. “But I nonetheless emerged and relapsed, and emerged and relapsed, and emerged and relapsed, and finally understood I would have to be on medication and in therapy forever.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
 
5. “For 100 years now, we’ve been singing war songs about addicts. I think all along we should have been singing love songs to them, because the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.” —Johann Hari, Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong, Tedx, 2015
 
6. “I fight for my health every day in ways that most people don’t understand. I’m not lazy. I’m a warrior.” —Unknown
7. “If you’re struggling, you deserve to make self-care a priority. Whether that means lying in bed all day, eating comfort food, crying, sleeping, rescheduling plans, finding an escape through a good book, watching your favorite TV show, or doing nothing at all—give yourself permission to put your healing first. Quiet the voice telling you to do more and be more, and today, whatever you do, let it be enough.” —Daniell Koepke
 
8. “I’ve become more depressed. I was in quarantine myself and that made it even worse.” —How the Pandemic Affects the Mental Health of Young People, Youtube, 2021
 
9. “Because the truth is, that’s just the life everyone else sees. In the life that only I see, who I am, who I really am, is someone who struggles intensely with depression. I have for the last six years of my life, and I continue to every day.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
10. “Don’t let your struggle become your identity.” —Unknown
Mental health quotes about recovery
Recovery is a journey, not a destination. Although you may have a couple of bumps on the road, stay positive and trust that you are creating meaningful change that will last you a lifetime.
1. “Recovery is not one and done. It is a lifelong journey that takes place one day, one step at a time.” —Unknown
 
2. “Stop looking for happiness in the same place you lost it.” —Unknown
 
3. “Don’t be ashamed of your story. It will inspire others.” —Unknown
4. “Recovery is something that you have to work on every single day, and it’s something that doesn’t get a day off.” —Demi Lovato
 
5. “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. The best is yet to come.” —Thezigziglar, April 17 2017, 2:00PM, Twitter
 
6. “I knew I was healing when: I started responding rather than reacting, I enjoyed time alone, I saw my parents as their own people with unresolved trauma, I set boundaries, and when people didn’t respect them, I knew they were clearing space for people who did, I was okay with being misunderstood.” —Nicole LePera, Psychologist
7. “Valuing one’s depression does not prevent a relapse, but it may make the prospect of relapse and even relapse itself easier to tolerate.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
 
8. “When one can mindfully observe mood changes, thought patterns, and emotional responses without evaluating their significance, they can be transient experiences much like a weather pattern.” —Molly Schiffer, Sheppard Pratt, 2021
Exercise and mental health quotes
Physical health is directly related to our mental health as well. By focusing on your fitness, you give yourself the opportunity to improve your mental wellbeing. Enjoying sports or going to the gym can be a great way for you to take care of yourself.
1. “Creating a healthy daily routine keeps you grounded and can have a big impact on your physical and mental health.” —Unknown
 
2. “Regular activity is an investment in your mind, body, and soul. When it becomes a habit, it can foster your sense of self-worth and make you feel strong and powerful.” —Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, and Melinda Smith, HelpGuide, 2021
 
3. “Exercise keeps me occupied, which is good for my mental health.” —Gail Porter
4. “I exercise every day. It’s what makes me happy.” —Andie MacDowell
 
5. “Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on depression, anxiety, and ADHD. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood.” —Lawrence Robinson, Jeanne Segal, and Melinda Smith, HelpGuide, 2021
 
6. “It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor.” —Marcus Tullius Cicero
7. “There were times I needed my mind to relax and wander so I could recharge. There were other times that I needed to feel the air through my lungs and my physical strength to remind myself that I will be okay.” —Dana Pendergrass, Why I Run, Social Worker
Funny mental health quotes
Although mental health can be a serious issue, we can still laugh at ourselves. The following are funny mental health quotes that can help put a smile back on your face.
1. “I sincerely apologize for telling you to go f*ck yourself.” —Rue Bennett, Euphoria
 
2. “Your mental health is more important than your education. Better to have a degree of sanity than just a degree.” —Unknown
 
3. “‘Me: what could possibly go wrong?’ ‘Anxiety: I’m glad you asked.’” —Unknown
4. “Hold on, let me overthink this.” —Unknown
 
5. “I’ve got 99 problems, and 86 of them are completely made up scenarios in my head that I’m stressing about for absolutely no logical reason.” —Unknown
 
6. “I’m not crazy. I prefer the term ‘mentally hilarious.’” —Unknown
7. “Instead of a sign that says ‘do not disturb,’ I need one that says ‘already disturbed, proceed with caution.” —Unknown
 
8. “One day, things will get better. Until then, here is a drawing of a cat.” —Unknown
Men’s mental health
Although mental illness affects almost the same amount of men and women, men are much less likely to seek help for their illness. Hopefully, these quotes can help show you that you are not alone and will inspire you to ask for the support that you deserve.
1. “Shoutout to all the men going through a lot, with no one to turn to, because this world wrongly taught men to mask their emotions.” —Unknown
 
2. “Men suffer a lot behind the mask of manliness.” —Vineet Aggarwal
 
3. “I’m a man, and no less of a man for admitting ‘I’m not okay’ and for openly talking about the constant struggle and battle I face with myself every single day.” —Joe Plumb
4. “I’ve had men stand up and say, ‘I’ve never mentioned before that I’ve had depression, but I have, and if anyone else here wants to come and speak to me, I’m here to talk to you.’ It’s very empowering and cathartic to do that.” —Jeremy Forbes, How To Start A Conversation About Suicide, Tedx, 2017
 
5. “Since that day [I opened up about my emotions] it’s just been so much easier to live and so much easier to enjoy my life.” —Michael Phelps
 
6. “Men get depression, men get anxiety, men get suicidal thoughts, men get mental illness. Maybe instead of saying ‘man up’, say ‘it’s okay to talk about it.’” —Unknown
7. “Recognizing and preventing men’s health problems is not just a man’s issue. Because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters, men’s health is truly a family issue.” —Unknown
 
8. “So I sat there that night beside a bottle of pills with a pen and paper in my hand, and I thought about taking my own life, and I came this close to doing it. I came this close to doing it.” —Kevin Breel, Confessions Of A Depressed Comic, Tedx, 2013
Women’s mental health quotes
Women are responsible for so much, and sometimes these responsibilities can get overwhelming and drain us. It is important for you to take time to love yourself as well. The following quotes are great reminders of just how strong you are and how much you deserve time to relax as well.
1. “She can fall apart at night and still rise up in the morning. Strong women feel pain, they just don’t let it break them.” —Unknown
 
2. “Women in particular need to keep an eye on their physical and mental health, because if we’re scurrying to and from appointments and errands we don’t have a lot of time to take care of ourselves. We need to do a better job of putting ourselves higher on our own ‘to-do’ list.” —Michelle Obama
 
3. “She was powerful not because she wasn’t scared, but because she went on so strongly despite the fear.” —Atticus
Cute mental health quotes
If you need a cute quote to remind yourself throughout the day or share with a friend over Instagram, we have you covered. These inspirational short mental health quotes are a reminder that you are not never alone and are more powerful than you give yourself credit for.
1. “Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” —Winnie The Pooh
 
2. “One awesome thing about Eeyore is that even though he is basically clinically depressed, he still gets invited to participate in adventures and shenanigans with all his friends. They never ask him to pretend to feel happy, they never leave him behind or ask him to change. They just show him love.” —Unknown
 
3. “You spend most of your life inside your head, make it a nice place to be.” —Unknown
4. “When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.” —Unknown
 
5. “Dear me: don’t be so hard on yourself, you’re doing okay.” —Unknown
 
6. “We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.” —Dolly Parton
7. “You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” —Buddha
Mental health and relationships quotes
Having support when we are going through a hard time is a beautiful experience. You deserve to be with someone who loves you, even on your bad days.
1. “Often the best thing you can do for your partner is simply show up.” —Katie Hurley, Psycom
 
2. “Be with someone who is good for your mental health. Someone who brings you inner peace. Someone who challenges your bad habits, but supports your process of change.” —Idil Ahmed
 
3. “A lot of people get into serious relationships thinking they’re going to heal someone with their love and attention, but it doesn’t usually work out that way. You can’t love someone into a better state of mental health.” —Harold Ramis
4. “Standing on the sidelines when a partner battles depression can feel like a helpless experience.” —Katie Hurley, Psycom
 
5. “Depression is the flaw in love. If you were married to someone and thought, “Well, if my wife dies, I’ll find another one,” it wouldn’t be love as we know it.” —Andrew Solomon, Depression, The Secret We Share, Tedx, 2013
Pets and mental health quotes
Most of us have experienced the therapeutic powers of snuggles from a dog or cat. These quotes are all about how great the love of a pet can be for our mental health.
1. “Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.” —Roger Caras
 
2. “The world would be a nicer place if everybody had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” —M.K. Clinton
 
3. “Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, and filling an emptiness we didn’t even know we had.” —Thom Jones
Bible quotes about mental health
If you’re a Christian, it might be natural for you to turn to God during the hard times of your life, and dealing with mental health struggles should be no different. Having a higher power to lean on during the hard times of your life is a beautiful thing. Hopefully, these bible quotes about mental health help to make you feel less alone.
1. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10, English Standard Version
 
2. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33, English Standard Version
 
3. “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” —Proverbs 12:25, English Standard Version
4. “The sufficiency and authority of scripture to diagnose and cure the soul.” —Hebrews 4:11-13, New International Version
 
5. “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God. I am the God above all the nations, and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.” —Psalm 46:10, The Passion Translation
Common questions
What is mental health in simple words?
“Mental health” is a term that describes our psychological wellbeing—how we think and feel. In the same way that we take care of our physical health, we can also take care of our emotional and psychological health. For example, social activities and meditation can help us keep our minds healthy.
