Mental health and wellbeing

Mental health and mental wellbeing are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably, though often ‘mental health’ is used to describe more clinical aspects, particularly diagnosable illness. A useful definition of mental health comes from the World Health Organization:

“Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”

The UK Government Office for Science defines mental wellbeing as:  

“a dynamic state, in which the individual is able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build strong and positive relationships with others, and contribute to their community. It is enhanced when an individual is able to fulfil their personal and social goals and achieve a sense of purpose in society.”

Mental health and wellbeing includes how we think and feel about ourselves and others, and how we interpret events. It affects our capacity to learn, to communicate and to form relationships, and our ability to cope with change, transition and life events. When mental health is discussed, it is often taken to mean mental health problems or mental ill health. This refers to a continuum of symptoms ranging from the sub-clinical which might interfere with emotional, cognitive or social function; to clinically diagnosable severe and enduring mental illnesses. In addition to the impacts that mental ill health causes the sufferer, there are impacts on the friends and family who support that individual. These impacts can range from violence to anxiety and depression.  

This framwork also focusses on good or positive mental health and wellbeing. This can encompass the experiences of happiness, life satisfaction, having a sense of control, purpose and belonging, and having positive relationships with others. A person’s mental health and wellbeing is intrinsically subjective; activities, relationships and experiences that nurture one person or group may not nurture another. 

Mental health and wellbeing covers an array of psychological and emotional experiences from grief following the loss of loved ones, which everyone experiences; to depression and anxiety which may be linked to specific events, affect individuals periodically or constantly and may be manageable day to day or debilitating; to acute episodes of psychosis, which are life changing to a much smaller number of people. 

It is possible to experience aspects of mental ill health simultaneously with positive mental wellbeing. Just as we recognise that a person with diabetes can have good physical fitness, so a person with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder may experience a sense of purpose, belonging, have positive relationships with others and lead a fulfilling life.