Is behavioral health the same as mental health?

Mental health refers to your emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It’s the foundation of how you experience life. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as the “state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”

Mental health encompasses how you:

• Think and process information

• Feel emotions like anger, sadness, or joy

• Behave and interact with the people around you

• Handle stress, disappointments, and setbacks

• Make decisions

Maintaining your mental health is just as vital as caring for your physical health. When your mental well-being is supported, you're more equipped to build meaningful relationships, navigate life’s challenges, and show up fully in your daily life.

Behavioral health is a broader term that includes mental health but also considers how behavior influences overall well-being. It involves the relationship between actions and the health of the body, mind, and spirit. The American Medical Association (AMA) defines it as “mental health and substance use disorders, life stressors and crises, and stress-related physical symptoms. Behavioral health care refers to preventing, diagnosing, and treating those conditions.”

Behavioral health includes:

• Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression

• Substance use disorders

• Disordered eating

• High-risk behavior, sleep issues, and more

Although closely related, behavioral and mental health have important distinctions in scope, treatment, and conditions they address. It might help to think of it like: all mental health is behavioral health, but not all behavioral health is mental health.

Scope

Mental health focuses on emotional and psychological well-being.

Behavioral health covers a wider range of behaviors that impact your health, including mental health conditions, substance use, eating habits, lifestyle behaviors, and more.

Treatment approaches

Mental health treatment can include:

• Psychotherapy (or talk therapy)
• Medication
• Hospitalization (in severe cases)

Behavioral health treatment might involve:

• Behavioral therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Counseling
• Medication
• Lifestyle changes (physical activity and healthy sleep habits)
• Interventions that target specific behaviors, such as smoking cessation
  

Conditions addressed

Mental health focuses on:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• PTSD
• Schizophrenia

Behavioral health can include those plus:

• Substance use
• Disordered eating
• Gambling
• Other behavior-based concerns

Mental and behavioral health are deeply connected, so it’s easy to see how they can be confused. Mental health can impact behavior, and behavior can influence mental health.

For example:

• Depression (a mental health condition) can cause behavioral issues such as social withdrawal, overeating, or substance abuse.
• Substance use or abuse (a behavioral health issue) can trigger symptoms of anxiety or depression.
• Life stressors like divorce, grief, or job loss can impact both behavioral and mental health, causing anxiety or sadness (mental health) and changes in sleeping, eating, or substance use patterns (behavioral health).

Some research links mental health conditions to an increased risk of developing substance use disorders (and vice versa). It reinforces the value of integrated care—treating both mental and behavioral health together—to enhance well-being and long-term outcomes.

Why understanding the difference matters

Understanding the distinction between mental and behavioral health means you can seek the most effective support and care. It also helps you determine which type of mental health professional and treatment plan will best suit your needs. When you know how behavioral and mental health are different, you can:

• Get the right support: Psychologists, therapists and psychiatrists are trained to treat both mental and behavioral health needs. Find a provider who specializes in the need that seems most accurate to you. If you believe you need support with anxiety, look for a provider who has expertise in treating anxiety.

• Find tailored care: Sometimes it's hard to know where to start. By seeking out a licensed provider, you are taking an important first step. Your clinician can help you identify the type of issue you are dealing with and ensure you are connected to the care you need.

• Reduce stigma: Recognizing that behavioral health encompasses a range of issues beyond just a mental health condition makes it easier to ask for help.
  
  Remember that mental health is how you feel, think, and relate to others. Behavioral health includes mental health, but is also about how your habits and actions impact your overall well-being. Both issues are vital to your health and deserve care and expert attention.

Headspace takes a holistic approach to well-being, offering access to individual therapy and other personalized services. We provide access to the resources that address mental and behavioral health challenges. Our online therapy platform connects you with licensed, qualified therapists who can help you address any issue, from emotional challenges to behavioral changes, within our flexible, convenient platform. And it works, too—85% of Headspace members who use our coaching or clinical care see reduced depression symptoms within 6-16 weeks.

If you’re going through a big life transition or trying to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression, you don’t have to go through it alone. Knowing the difference between behavioral and mental health is a key step in the right direction. You can make an informed decision and experience the full benefits of therapy. Ready to find the help you need? Explore online therapy from Headspace today and discover the compassionate, comprehensive, integrated support you’ve been looking for.

_Sources:

_{World Health Organization: WHO. (2022, June 17). Mental health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response. Accessed May 27, 2025.}

_{American Medical Association & American Medical Association. (2022, August 22). What is behavioral health? American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/what-behavioral-health. Accessed May 27, 2025.}