by Angela S. Young

Created on: May 16, 2007   Last Updated: May 18, 2007

Defining mental health is not an easy issue, but then neither is defining mental illness. Years ago, scientists merely described mental health as a lack of "disease or illness." But health is not that simple. You can have a disease in one aspect of your health and not in another.

Merriam-Webster says mental health is "A state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of every day life."

In defining mental health, the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health says it "refers to the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and cope with adversity."

Another view of mental health is that it is "successful mental functioning, as opposed to "impaired functioning." In order to truly understand the term mental health, it is necessary to look at cultural contexts of the term.

The Western world divides health into three parts, while in the East, mental health is seen as "harmony" among all the health systems, working together.

Modern psychiatry sees mental health as a continuum with mental health on one side and mental illness on the other. Depression is a mental illness, but not in the same league as schizophrenia. This is probably the best explanation of mental health.

However the term is viewed, mental health is an important component of our overall health. Studies have shown a connection between mental illness and associated physical and social factors. This happens through "psychophysiological hyperactivity" (continuing mental stress), "disease stability" (how mental health issues will effect an already existing disease, i.e. asthma, diabetes) and "host vulnerability" (extended periods of stress make us more vulnerable to disease and illness).

Mental health should concern us all, because if we are not mentally healthy, we are not really healthy. By taking care of ourselves mentally (preventive) we can help assure we will not as readily fall victim to mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.

For information:
http://health.discovery.com/
http://en.wi kipedia.org/

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