Term for: actions taken to avoid the effects of a particular risk?

we have more emotional issue than ever in this country. with those emotional issues comes a lot of mental illness whether it be depression, bipolar disease, ptsd etc. having emotional issues comes with a lot of guilt and pain and people tend to stuff their feelings with food, drugs alcohol. however food is the most common and obesity is growing in this country as fast as mental illness is.

sex is when a male and female has intercourse (sexual)