What is Mental Health?
What is Mental Health?
The term mental health is defined in different
ways. Some definitions emphasize positive
psychological well-being, whereas others see
it as the absence of mental health problems.
For example, the World Health Organization has
defined mental health as "a state of well-being in
which the individual realizes their own abilities,
can cope with the normal stresses of life, can
work productively and fruitfully, and is able to
make a contribution to their community."
The definition of mental health varies across
individuals and cultures. Culture influences
mental health, mental health challenges and
disorders, and mental health services in many
ways. Historically, mental health has been
seen as a continuum ranging from good mental
health to having a mental illness. Recently, an
alternative view is to consider a mental health
continuum and a mental health problem as
coexisting and independent from each other."
In other words, someone with a diagnosable
mental health problem, such as depression
or schizophrenia, can still have a high level
of positive mental health, such as social and
emotional well-being. However, many people
who have no serious or diagnosable mental
health challenges or problems may still lack
good mental health."
There has been an increasing emphasis on
taking a public health approach to children's
mental health, which aims to balance the focus
on children's mental health problems with a
focus on children's positive mental health.""
This approach not only focuses on treatment,
but also includes promotion, prevention,
early intervention, and education to improve
outcomes and health. This approach includes
creating environments that promote and
support optimal mental health as well as building
skills that enhance resilience. Resiliency can
be defined as the capacity of children, youth,
and families to successfully overcome life's
challenges.
What Are Mental
Health Challenges and
Mental Disorders?
A variety of terms are used to describe mental
health challenges and mental disorders in
children, youth, and young adults, such as
serious emotional disorder, emotional and
behavioral disorder, extreme emotional distress,
psychiatric illness, mental illness, nervous
exhaustion, mental breakdown, nervous
breakdown, and burnout.
A mental disorder or mental illness is a
diagnosable illness that affects a person's
thinking, emotional state, and behavior as well
as disrupts the person's ability to work or carry
out other daily activities and .engage in satisfying
personal relationships."
The term mental illness is usually used to refer
to severe mental health problems in children,
youth, and young adults. There are different
types of mental disorders, some of which are
more common, such as depression and anxiety
disorders, and some which are not common,
such as schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa.
Mental health challenge is a broader term
including both mental disorders (e.g., anxiety
disorder, depression, bipolar disorder) and
symptoms of mental disorders that may not
be severe enough to warrant the diagnosis of
a mental disorder (e.g., confused thinking or
extreme highs and lows in mood).
The Main Place, a consumer-operated mental health
recovery center in Ohio, defines a mental health
challenge as any disease or condition affecting the brain
that influences the way a person thinks, feels,
behaves, and/or relates to others and to their
surroundings....Many mental health challenges
are caused by a combination of genetic,
biological, psychological, and environmental
factors ....They are not a result of personal
weakness, a character defect or poor upbringing.
The term mental health is defined in different
ways. Some definitions emphasize positive
psychological well-being, whereas others see
it as the absence of mental health problems.
For example, the World Health Organization has
defined mental health as "a state of well-being in
which the individual realizes their own abilities,
can cope with the normal stresses of life, can
work productively and fruitfully, and is able to
make a contribution to their community."
The definition of mental health varies across
individuals and cultures. Culture influences
mental health, mental health challenges and
disorders, and mental health services in many
ways. Historically, mental health has been
seen as a continuum ranging from good mental
health to having a mental illness. Recently, an
alternative view is to consider a mental health
continuum and a mental health problem as
coexisting and independent from each other."
In other words, someone with a diagnosable
mental health problem, such as depression
or schizophrenia, can still have a high level
of positive mental health, such as social and
emotional well-being. However, many people
who have no serious or diagnosable mental
health challenges or problems may still lack
good mental health."
There has been an increasing emphasis on
taking a public health approach to children's
mental health, which aims to balance the focus
on children's mental health problems with a
focus on children's positive mental health.""
This approach not only focuses on treatment,
but also includes promotion, prevention,
early intervention, and education to improve
outcomes and health. This approach includes
creating environments that promote and
support optimal mental health as well as building
skills that enhance resilience. Resiliency can
be defined as the capacity of children, youth,
and families to successfully overcome life's
challenges.
What Are Mental
Health Challenges and
Mental Disorders?
A variety of terms are used to describe mental
health challenges and mental disorders in
children, youth, and young adults, such as
serious emotional disorder, emotional and
behavioral disorder, extreme emotional distress,
psychiatric illness, mental illness, nervous
exhaustion, mental breakdown, nervous
breakdown, and burnout.
A mental disorder or mental illness is a
diagnosable illness that affects a person's
thinking, emotional state, and behavior as well
as disrupts the person's ability to work or carry
out other daily activities and .engage in satisfying
personal relationships."
The term mental illness is usually used to refer
to severe mental health problems in children,
youth, and young adults. There are different
types of mental disorders, some of which are
more common, such as depression and anxiety
disorders, and some which are not common,
such as schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa.
Mental health challenge is a broader term
including both mental disorders (e.g., anxiety
disorder, depression, bipolar disorder) and
symptoms of mental disorders that may not
be severe enough to warrant the diagnosis of
a mental disorder (e.g., confused thinking or
extreme highs and lows in mood).
The Main Place, a consumer-operated mental health
recovery center in Ohio, defines a mental health
challenge as any disease or condition affecting the brain
that influences the way a person thinks, feels,
behaves, and/or relates to others and to their
surroundings....Many mental health challenges
are caused by a combination of genetic,
biological, psychological, and environmental
factors ....They are not a result of personal
weakness, a character defect or poor upbringing.