What is Mental wellbeing?
How do you actually define it?
According to WHO (the World Health Organisation), mental health can best be defined as ...
"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."
MentalHealth.gov (an American organisation) says ...
"Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices."
And one of my favourite sources, Beyond Blue, says ...
"Ultimately, mental health is about being cognitively, emotionally and socially healthy – the way we think, feel and develop relationships - and not merely the absence of a mental health condition."
I really think that last part is important.
Mental Health (and wellbeing) is much more than the absence of mental disorders or illnesses.
I also know from my own research and experience that our mental health is determined by a range of socioeconomic, biological and environmental factors.
When I went through PostNatal Depression, I vividly remember my doctor saying 'Sandi, this is a multifactorial illness - biological, psychological and sociological. And you and I are going to work through all of those factors so you get well.'
And we did.
So ... how is your Mental Wellbeing?
