The term “mental health” is becoming more and more common in everyday speech, all the while, the true meaning of the words is often lost in translation. In a grand push to help the world become more aware and better equipped to handle everyday life, a blanket of terms and tactics originally aimed towards bringing about positive change in a person’s mental health has become a daunting roadblock for those who stand to benefit most from the knowledge.
“Mental health needs a great deal of attention. It’s the final taboo and it needs to be faced and dealt with.”
Adam Ant
The WHO (World Health Organization) defines mental health as a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.
Mental health is certainly an umbrella term, meaning it covers a long list of different mental struggles and challenges, along with joy, love, and other positive states of feeling/thinking as well. However, the scope of the term doesn’t have to be daunting or disconcerting to those seeking a better grasp on mental health. In the simplest of terms, mental health is a broad-scope term used to describe the state of someone’s overall mental well-being.
The multifaceted ways in which one’s mental health can be disrupted or boosted are cryptic and hard to understand at a glance. That’s where the term can get hairy for some folks. Instead of overwhelming yourself with definitions and descriptions, try viewing your mental health in the same category as your physical health. There are a variety of different reasons why you might need to see a doctor, and there are a lot of different kinds of doctors, specializing in different parts of the physical body.
“Anyone can be affected, despite their level of success or their place on the food chain. In fact, there is a good chance you know someone who is struggling with it since nearly 20% of American adults face some form of mental illness in their lifetime. So why aren’t we talking about it?”
Kristen Bell
In terms of mental health, you’ll find the same sort of setup. The distinction is that most people don’t fully understand how to identify the need for help or a doctor when it comes to their mental health. If you break your arm, you know you’re hurt, and you know you need a doctor. Sometimes things aren’t quite so clear when it comes to your mental health.
Mental health is more than just not being mentally “sick”. It’s a continuous concept to consider throughout all the stages of your life, just as you should always consider the state of your physical health. You may not be sick right now, but you did something today to uphold the physical health of your body.
Mental health is maintained in the same manner. You may feel like you’re just fine, mentally speaking, but that doesn’t mean you don’t still have to make decisions throughout the day that help you avoid mental pitfalls.
“Mental health…is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.”
Noam Shpancer, PhD.
Overall, it’s best to approach the term “mental health” with a broad outlook rather than the standard stigma attached to the term. Tending to the well-being of your internal psyche doesn’t make you broken, weak, or faulty. It makes you wise and better equipped to take on the day.
Check out this video, The Breakdown – with Eric Bender. Bender breaks down mental health scenes from movies and TV and provides an excellent setting to define various elements of mental health in a relatable and entertaining manner.
Enjoy!
