What is mental health?

As the public becomes more aware and educated about mental health and self-care, it is especially important to understand the role mental health plays in overall health. It has been proven that people who prioritize mental health have lower physical health risks, higher happiness scores, and more meaningful relationships in their lives (more on that later).

Mental health is when you are mentally healthy and have a positive overall feeling about your life.

Let’s break down mental health, how it differs from psychological well-being, and how you can improve your well-being.

Is mental health equal to mental wellness?
The short answer is: it’s not the same. While the two concepts are similar and often easily confused, there are some differences between mental health and mental well-being.

Good mental health is only one part of overall mental health. Mental health focuses more on your state of mind, whether or not you struggle with mental illness, and how your spirit functions on a daily basis.

So what is mental health? It goes a step further and refers to how people view their lives and assess their condition. When your body is functioning normally and feeling good, you have achieved mental health.

You may have good mental health but feel poorly about your life situation, which means your mental health is not as good as it could be. However, if your mental health is suffering, then you are probably missing out on the functional part of mental health.

What is mental health?
When people talk about mental health they are usually referring to the health and well-being of the mind. When you are mentally healthy, you feel positive about yourself, you are satisfied with your life situation and you feel optimistic about the future.

Why is mental health important?
The importance of mental health cannot be overstated, as it affects your overall sense of happiness and fulfillment in life. Achieving such a sense of well-being means that you are content with your life and have a positive view of yourself and your overall situation. You are better able to navigate negative emotions and maintain emotional vitality.

Additionally, mental health is tied to better physical health. Numerous studies have proven that a positive mindset is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease or complications. This is likely due to the fact that people with higher levels of mental health are more willing to take care of themselves.

Another benefit of mental health is a better social life. If you are satisfied with your life and feel good about yourself, you are more likely to have social relationships and engage in social activities with others. This benefit is also twofold, as having close relationships has been found to improve mental health and contribute to better mental wellbeing.