Mental health is an essential part of our overall health. It influences the way we think, feel, behave, relate to others, and respond to the situations we experience throughout life.
However, mental health is often misunderstood. Terms such as mental health, mental wellness, and mental illness are sometimes used as if they mean the same thing.
Mental health refers to our psychological and emotional functioning and the way we respond to ourselves, other people, and our surroundings.
It includes our thoughts, emotions, behaviour, relationships, ability to cope with challenges, and ability to function in everyday life.
Mental health can change throughout life. Relationships, loss, trauma, work or academic pressure, physical health, social circumstances, and major life changes can all influence mental health.Having a difficult period does not automatically mean that a person has a mental illness.
Mental health is the broader concept that includes our psychological and emotional functioning.
Mental health refers to our psychological and emotional functioning and the way we respond to ourselves, other people, and our surroundings.It includes our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, relationships, ability to cope with challenges, and ability to function in everyday life.Mental health can change throughout life. Relationships, loss, trauma, work or academic pressure, physical health, social circumstances, and major life changes can all influence mental health.
Mental wellness focuses on supporting and developing psychological wellbeing. It includes emotional awareness, healthy coping, meaningful relationships, self-understanding, and the ability to adapt to life’s challenges.
Mental illness refers to specific health conditions that can affect a person’s thoughts, emotions, behaviour, or functioning. It refers to a range of clinically recognized health conditions that can affect how a person thinks, feels, behaves, or functions. Mental illnesses can vary greatly in their symptoms, severity, duration, and impact on daily life.
Therefore, mental health is the broader concept, while mental wellness and mental illness describe different aspects of our mental health experience.
