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Behavioral Health VS Mental Health: What is the Difference?

Behavioral Health VS Mental Health: What is the Difference?

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Mental health and behavioral health are often used interchangeably and are often used when it comes to our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Behavioral health is clearly a new term when compared to mental health. This is because of the negative perception of the word “mental”. But they are not the same. Mental health is related to psychological and emotional matters, while behavioral health refers to the habits and behaviors that impact your physical health. In this blog, we will discover the definitions, relations, and differences between behavioral health and mental health.

Is Behavioral Health the Same as Mental Health?

Behavioral health and mental health are actually interlinked. So, a question may arise, is mental health the same as behavioral health?

No. It might not be easy to understand the difference between them. Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional state, which can be affected by things like biological factors or life experiences. In contrast, behavioral health focuses on behavior related to mental health disorders.

Let us understand it through the example. If someone is dealing with trauma because of an accident, then it is related to behavioral health. But it cannot be treated only with physical treatment. The part of treatment includes mental health treatment, specifically talk therapy to deal with emotions and fear. So, mental health falls under the umbrella of behavioral health.

Read More: The Hidden Mental Scars of Childhood Trauma in Adults

Behavioral Health

Behavioral health is a broad term that usually refers to the connection between behaviors and health. It is basically the connection between the well-being of the body, mind, and spirit. So the three main components of this are mental health, social functioning, and substance abuse. It also covers mental health and substance misuse concerns and also includes health-related problems.

70% of the primary care patients have behavioral health issues. It is often used interchangeably with mental health, but it is a broad term, and mental health lies inside behavioral health. Behavioral health is influenced by the connection of your physical and mental health.

Healthcare Services in Behavioral Health

As it refers to the connection between behavior and physical influence, it often includes a lot of healthcare services including:

  • Mental Healthcare
  • Psychiatric Care
  • Management of Chronic Diseases
  • Marriage and Family Counseling
  • Substance Misuse Concerns

Common Behavioral Health Disorders

It includes substance use disorders, alcoholism, drug addiction, etc. Therefore, they often require a comprehensive approach to treat them. It is a long process method including prevention to rehabilitation.

Read More: What’s The Difference Between A Mood Disorder And A Personality Disorder?

Mental Health

Mental health specifically concentrates on psychological and emotional aspects of well-being. It includes the components like identity, emotions, fear, perception, morality, and personality. Mental health usually depends on genetics, psychological state, and behaviors.

World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “a condition of well-being in which each individual fulfills his or her own potential, can cope with typical stressors of life, can work successfully and fruitfully, and can contribute to his or her community.”

Common Mental Health Disorders

Mental health disorders vary in type and severity. The most common disorders include:

Does Behavioral Health include Mental Health?

Yes, mental health is included in behavioral health, in fact, it is a part of it. If you want to take control of your mental health, then you must improve your behavioral health by coordinating your mind, body, and soul.

Why is Behavioural Health Important?

Behavioral health looks at the larger scale, and mental health falls inside of behavioral health, that is why it is important to prioritize behavioral health. So there is no mental vs behavioral health. If you want to enjoy a good life with mental peace, a person will have to take care of their behavioral health.

Read More: Is Social Anxiety Disorder A Disability?

Ways to Improve Behavioural Health

Working on behavioral health helps you stay fit and active. If you are a person who wants to control your mind as well as your body, consider paying attention to your behavioral health. There are multiple ways to improve your behavioral health, let us discuss each of them:

Modifying Your Lifestyle

The first method to supercharge your behavioral health is by making changes to your routine. Small changes in your life can promise you better health. Here are some steps that you can take to improve your behavioral health.

  • Quality Sleep: Sleeping at a specified time and for 7 to 8 hours daily can help you improve your behavioral health as well as mental health.
  • Balanced Diet: Nutrient-rich food, eating, and drinking mineral water on time can boost your physical health.
  • Exercise: Exercising daily for at least 30 minutes helps you burn calories and releases stress, helping to achieve better health.

You do not have to follow all at once. Try to keep the schedule, but consistency is the key.

Read More: What is the Purpose of the Eating Disorder Symbol?

Working on Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills involve your interactions with people around you. You do not have to be an extrovert to improve your interpersonal skills, but there are techniques you can apply to improve your interpersonal skills to avoid loneliness and its consequences.

Here are some ways to improve your interpersonal talking. You can try actively listening, being respectful of other opinions, making eye contact, small gestures of gratitude, and kindness can help you improve your communication skills with others.

Improving Coping Mechanisms

There are different techniques to handle the situation. You just have to find out, which one is your cup of tea, and you can handle all the situations perfectly.

Some of the most common coping mechanisms include meditation, exercise, mindfulness, music listening, yoga, writing, and talking with friends.

Exploring Mental Health

As mental health is linked to behavioral health, so if you want to improve your behavioral health, you will have to understand mental health. You can do it by yourself by reading our blogs at Orange Coast Psychiatry, or you can contact us to get professional help.

If you feel stuck somewhere in your life, talking to a therapist can help you understand your problem.

Read More: Child Psychiatrist – A Guide For Parents & Guardians

Conclusion

To conclude, mental health is a part of behavioral health. The difference between mental health and behavioral health is that mental health deals with emotions and behavioral health deals with pain points that trigger emotions. If you want to improve your mental health, you first have to work on your behavioral health. If you need any kind of medical help, whether in mental health or behavioral health, contact Orange Coast Psychiatry to get expert advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional state, while behavioral health focuses on behavior related to mental health disorders.

It is a key component of overall health. It refers to mental distress and mental health issues.

Three components are mental health, substance abuse, and social functioning.

You can do this by making changes to your lifestyle, improving your coping mechanism, and working on mental health.

Reference and Footnotes
  1. Gillette, H. (2023, March 28). What’s the Difference Between Mental Health and Behavioral Health? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health-vs-behavioral-health
  2. Qualifacts. (2024, May 8). Behavioral Health vs Mental Health | What’s The Difference. Qualifacts. https://www.qualifacts.com/resources/behavioral-health-vs-mental-health/
  3. BetterHelp Editorial Team. (2025, February 26). Behavioral health vs mental health: What is the difference? https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/general/what-is-the-difference-between-behavioral-health-vs-mental-health/
  4. Let’s Discuss the Difference between Mental and Behavioral Health. (n.d.). PlanStreet.
    https://www.planstreet.com/lets-discuss-the-difference-between-mental-and-behavioral-health

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May Faustino

Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

May Faustino, PMHNP-BC, is a compassionate and highly skilled psychiatric provider with over four years of nursing experience, including three years specializing in psychiatric care. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from West Coast University, where she received extensive training in managing the psychiatric needs of pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations, as well as providing therapy and counseling services.
May has worked in diverse mental health settings, including forensic psychiatry at the Department of State Hospitals and behavioral health services at Aliso Ridge Behavioral Health. Her clinical expertise spans psychiatric assessments, medication management, and trauma-informed care, with a strong focus on treating anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders.
Bilingual in English and Tagalog, May is dedicated to serving diverse patient populations with a culturally sensitive approach. She is trained in evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing and is well-versed in trauma-informed care and suicide prevention strategies.
May is passionate about promoting resilience and recovery through preventive mental health care and individualized, holistic treatment plans. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her memberships in the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
In her personal time, May enjoys fostering mindfulness and well-being through activities she loves, such as spending time with her husband and their two beloved cats, Pippy and Eva.

Dr. Montgomery

M.D. – Psychiatrist

Dr. Torri Montgomery, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, with a subspecialty board certification in forensic psychiatry. Dr. Montgomery is an integral part of our Management Team as a Psychiatrist and Supervising Psychiatrist for our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners here at Orange Coast psychiatry.
Dr. Montgomery earned her Bachelor of Science (Magna Cum Laude) from Arizona State University and her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from The University of Arizona, College of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. During her psychiatry residency, Dr. Montgomery completed a year-long certification in Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT), earned a certificate from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe medication for the treatment of substance use disorders, and worked in a Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) clinic for substance use disorders. Additionally, she was appointed Chief Resident and received an Excellence in Teaching award.
After psychiatry residency, she completed her Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine. After completing her fellowship, Dr. Montgomery has worked in public psychiatry for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. She teaches, consults, and treats individuals with depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, and serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia spectrum and bipolar disorders. Her experience includes outpatient, inpatient, emergency, consult liaison, addiction, dual-diagnosis, and forensic psychiatry. She is an expert evaluator on the Superior Court of California Panel of Expert Psychiatrists and Psychologists. Dr. Montgomery is an attending physician for the Harbor-UCLA Department of Psychiatry and serves as a psychiatrist with Orange Coast psychiatry.

Dr. Ravi

M.D. – Psychiatrist

Dr. Dave Ravi, M.D., is a Board Certified Psychiatrist with additional qualifications in geriatric psychiatry. Dr. Ravi is an integral part of our Management Team as a Psychiatrist and Supervising Psychiatrist for our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners here at Orange Coast psychiatry.
Dr. Ravi graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (B.S., Magna Cum Laude), VCU School of Medicine (M.D.), Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (Residency in Psychiatry), and John. A. Burns School of Medicine (Fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry). He currently is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu, HI and serves as a psychiatrist with Orange Coast psychiatry.
Dr. Ravi is a dedicated community psychiatrist with extensive experience in public, correctional, inpatient and outpatient settings, and an experienced tele-psychiatrist. He consults on topics in general psychiatry, including quality improvement, treatment planning, and crisis management, and in correctional psychiatry, including recovery-oriented treatment for individuals with serious mental illness and dual diagnosis. His current and future interests focus on understanding the various approaches in managing the suffering and disturbance of complex psychiatric disorders, particularly in the use, misuse, overuse, and misrepresentation of psychotropic medications.

Dr. Irwin

M.D. , Ph.D – Psychiatrist

Dr. Scott Irwin, M.D., Ph.D., is Board Certified Psychiatrist. Dr. Irwin is an integral part of our Management Team as a Psychiatrist and Supervising Psychiatrist for our Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners here at Orange Coast psychiatry.
His career mostly focuses on improving outcomes for those with cancer or other progressive, potentially life-limiting illnesses, and their families, through leading-edge clinical services, ongoing research, as well as program development, improvement, and implementation.
He is widely published, has been recognized at many levels for his research, teaching, consulting, and clinical endeavors, and has received research funding from the NCI, NIMH, the National Palliative Care Research Center, the Archstone Foundation, and industry.
Dr. Irwin earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and both his MD and PhD (neuroscience) at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He successfully completed his psychiatry residency at UC San Diego as chief resident of Outpatient Psychiatric Services, as well as a two-year elective in hospice and palliative care at San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, with subspecialty certification in psychosomatic medicine.

Richard Samedra.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-BC

Richard Samedra, PMHNP-BC, is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He brings over 12 years of experience in the mental health field, working with clients facing a wide range of acute and chronic mental health conditions. His journey began as a Licensed Vocational Nurse and Charge Nurse at Westminster Therapeutic Residential Treatment, where he supported clients dealing with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. Richard’s dedication was centered on helping these individuals improve their mental health and transition to a lower level of care, whether that meant returning to their families, a board and care facility, or a sober-living environment.
Motivated by a growing passion for mental health care, Richard pursued his Registered Nurse (RN) education at Saddleback Community College and later transitioned to La Palma Intercommunity Hospital Behavioral Health. In this role, he specialized in geriatric psychiatry, working with older adults experiencing conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety. This experience solidified his commitment to mental health, leading him to work at Bellflower Community Hospital, where he provided care for patients experiencing severe psychiatric crises, including suicidal ideation, manic and depressive episodes, substance use disorders, and exacerbated schizophrenia symptoms.
Inspired by the impactful work of PMHNPs at Bellflower, Richard enrolled in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Azusa Pacific University. To broaden his expertise, he worked full-time at College Hospital Costa Mesa while completing his studies. There, he gained comprehensive experience across various units, including adolescent, acute men’s and women’s, stabilization, and detox/med-surg. Now, as a PMHNP, Richard is committed to leveraging his diverse background and knowledge to provide compassionate, comprehensive care to those in need.
Richard currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where he is supervised by Dr. Montgomery.

Shaheena Gazipura

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-BC

Shaheena Gazipura is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 9 years of dedicated experience in both inpatient and outpatient mental health care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California.
Shaheena began her career working on an adult psychiatric inpatient unit before transitioning to the geriatric psychiatric inpatient unit at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. In addition to her clinical work, Shaheena also serves as a Nursing Clinical Instructor, guiding the next generation of nurses through their mental health rotations at a large community college.
Shaheena is a passionate advocate for mental health, believing that it is a fundamental pillar of overall well-being. She is committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and strives to provide comprehensive, compassionate care that honors each individual’s unique experiences and challenges. Her goal is to create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where patients feel empowered to work alongside her in achieving their mental health goals.
Outside of her professional life, Shaheena enjoys exploring new culinary experiences, staying active through exercise, and planning her next travel adventures.
Shaheena currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where she is supervised by Dr. Barrios.

Clint Nacar

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner -BC

Clint Nacar, PMHNP-BC is a Board Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Mr. Nacar graduated from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Currently Mr. Nacar works in an inpatient psychiatry unit at a leading academic medical center in Los Angeles, Renewed Mental Health Group, and Orange Coast Psychiatry
Mr. Nacar brings over 7+ years of experience with the mental health population. He works to help patients take control of their mental health through patient education, psychotherapy and medication management. Mr. Nacar’s areas of focus include: Depression, Anxiety, Adjustment Disorder, Bipolar disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Mr. Nacar treats children ages 6+, adolescents, and adults, offering both in-person services and telehealth at Renewed Mental Health Group.
With the collaboration of each patient, Mr. Nacar strives to develop individualized plans of care addressing each patient’s unique situation and concerns. He also encourages each patient to take charge of their mental health through a holistic approach while also employing the latest evidence based practices in treatment.

Clint is one of our most experienced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners at Orange Coast Psychiatry and is 103NP Licensed in the State of California.

Cristian Cuevas

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-BC (Fluent in Spanish)

Cristian Cuevas, PMHNP-BC, is a highly skilled board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with over seven years of experience in inpatient psychiatry and mental health.
A California State University Long Beach graduate, Cristian also earned recognition as a board-certified psychiatric mental health registered nurse. With a wealth of expertise in adult psychiatric care across the lifespan, Cristian has successfully diagnosed and treated a diverse range of mental health disorders.
Additionally, his specialized experience in child and adolescent inpatient populations further enhances his ability to provide comprehensive and compassionate mental health care.
Cristian Cuevas is the Lead Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry and is supervised by Dr Barrios.

Griselda Hernandez

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-BC (Fluent in Spanish)

As a licensed Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with a robust background in psychiatric and substance abuse nursing, Griselda provides compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals facing mental health and addiction challenges. The core of her practice focuses on promoting holistic wellness, fostering resilience, and empowering patients in their recovery journey. Specializing in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of adolescents with various mental health disorders, Griselda strives to create a therapeutic environment where patients feel valued, respected, and supported.

“My approach is grounded in years of diverse experience, including work in psychiatric units and medical detox units for both adults and adolescents. This extensive background has equipped me with the skills and knowledge to manage complex psychiatric and substance abuse conditions effectively. I am committed to staying updated with the latest advancements in psychiatric care, integrating cutting-edge therapies and best practices into my treatment plans. Collaboration is key to my practice; I work closely with multidisciplinary teams, families, and community resources to provide coordinated and comprehensive care tailored to each individual’s unique needs.”

Griselda holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatric-Mental Health from West Coast University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Additionally, she is fluent in the English and Spanish language, enhancing her ability to connect with a diverse patient population.

Griselda currently practices as a Nurse Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Orange Coast Psychiatry, where she is supervised by Dr. Barrios.

Dr Barrios

Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Dr. Carlos Barrios is a Board-Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over two decades of experience in mental health care. His expertise in telepsychiatry has allowed him to serve patients across California and beyond. In his practice, Dr Barrios integrates metabolic and functional methodologies, focusing on guiding patients toward medication independence and emphasizing the connection between physical and mental health.
Outside of his professional life, Dr Barrios is passionate about kettlebell training, which helps him maintain my physical and mental wellness. He cherishes visiting his family in Guatemala, to reconnecting with his cultural roots and rejuvenating his spirit. Dr Barrios is also deeply involved in transcendental meditation and rucking, practices that not only provide him with tranquility but also keep him grounded and connected to nature. These hobbies reflect his commitment to a holistic approach to health, both personally and professionally.