I'm so grateful that people are more aware of the importance of mental health. This supports efforts to reduce and hopefully eliminate mental health stigma. I also think it's important to explore some of the ways that mental health is viewed and talked about:
Let's start with the language that we use..."mental health". The root of the word health literally means whole. Yet, the word "health" is usually associated to the body. If humans are spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, sexual, and social beings, then wouldn't health include all of these? I'm often struck by how often we think of ourselves in detachable fragments while living a whole and interwoven existence. In summary, mental health is health. But, for the sake of generally-accepted terminology, this post will still reference "mental health".
...we think of ourselves in detachable fragments while living a whole and interwoven existence
We can (loosely) define mental health as a state of emotional, mental, spiritual and social well-being that affects how we think, feel, act and relate to others. This state often varies throughout the lifespan. While considering that definition, it's worth it to remember that mental health is more than the absence of mental illness because, there is no health without mental health.
...mental health is more than the absence of mental illness
Further, many factors affect our mental health in one way or another not limited to:
Income, education, support systems and our sense of community safety
Physical health, genetics, medications/ substances we consume - including food
Local and larger communities and the policies, laws and living conditions that shape our daily lives, environmental pollutants and social settings such as where we live, work and play
Intrapersonal factors like our sense of identity, belonging, worthiness and self-acceptance
...there is no health without mental health
I also think we should clear up another common misconception: periods of poor mental health does not mean a person has a mental health disorder. For example, experiencing sadness and low energy after the loss of a relationship is a reasonable response to something significant. It does not mean that a person has a diagnosable depressive disorder.
periods of poor mental health does not mean a person has a mental health disorder
MENTAL HEALTH IMPAIRMENTS & DISORDERS
When we do experience issues with our mental health, it can affect the way we think about ourselves, relate to others and interact with the world around us. This can also affect our thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
Impairments to mental health become diagnosable disorders when certain factors are met, which varies from one diagnosis to another. Meeting the criteria for a disorder usually involves 1) experiencing a certain amount or category of (or both) symptoms/ signs* and/ or behaviors that 2) occur for a specific duration of time and 3) significantly impair how we function in major areas of life - self, social and work/ education.
The symptoms of a mental health disorder can be mild, moderate or severe. Again, the impact to individuals’ day-to-day living and how they relate to others is crucial for confirming a diagnosis. Another crucial point to remember is that people diagnosed with mental health disorders can and often do experience long or permanent periods of mental health and lead thriving lives.
I point this out because people may believe that living with a mental health diagnosis involves a low quality of life or that the diagnosis will only worsen over time. It can lead to questions about sanity, assumptions that medications are always involved and judgments that a person's behaviors are only influenced by their diagnosis. This bias can perpetuate harm even when it's not intentional.
...people diagnosed with mental health disorders can and often do experience long or permanent periods of mental health
REMEMBER:
Not everyone will experience a mental illness. But, just like most of us have challenges with our physical health at times, at some point, we we likely experience challenges with our mental health.
Also, mental health isn’t about feeling happy and confident 100% of the time and ignoring problems; It’s about coping and living well even when problems exist.
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*Symptoms and signs are physical or psychological changes that let us know something exists: Symptoms refer to our internal experiences and signs can be observed by others
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