Kern Family Health Care | Family Health | Fall 2020

We post current health care news and tips to help you and your family stay healthy. You can also get important member updates and see what Kern Family Health Care is doing in your community. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/_KFHC Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/KernFamilyHealthCare Watch the Kern Family Health Care channel on YouTube HEALTH FAMILY HEALTH is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of Kern Family Health Care, 2900 Buck Owens Blvd., Bakersfield, CA 93308, telephone 800-391-2000. Information in FAMILY HEALTH comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. Editorial Board Chief Executive Officer Douglas A. Hayward Chief Medical Officer Martha Tasinga, MD Chief Operating Officer Alan Avery Director of Marketing and Public Relations Louis Iturriria Director of Health Education, Cultural & Linguistic Services    Isabel S ilva 2020 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. What is mental health? Mental health includes our emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make healthy choices. Mental health is crucial at every stage of life. Why does mental health matter to overall health? Mental and physical health are equal factors of our overall health. Mental illness, especially depression, increases the risk for many types of physical health problems. These include long-lasting conditions like stroke, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. On the other hand, the presence of chronic conditions can increase the risk for mental illness. What causes mental illness? There is no single cause for mental illness. A person’s mental health can change over time. It can depend on many factors. How common are mental illnesses? Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the United States. More than half of people, including seniors, will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. GIVE US A CALL TODAY. We can help you find the right mental health provider for you.