What Is Mental Health?

Most people define mental health by its absence. We may know someone who has experienced a breakdown or who deals with depression, addiction, codependency, or is bipolar. When someone has or is heading towards a mental health crisis, it's often quite evident to those who interact with them regularly. However, when mental illness is in remission and being managed, it can be surprising to discover that a person who seems quite stable has been through so many difficulties.

Mental health is more than the absence of mental illness, however, just as physical health is more than the absence of disease. Those who struggle with mild mood disorders or have no diagnosed disorder at all still must work on their mental hygiene, taking care of their physical and emotional needs. Just as physical discomfort usually indicates a problem that needs to be addressed such as removing your finger from a hot stove or taking a break after being in the hot sun all day, emotional discomfort indicates a need for rest, self-care, emotional processing, honesty or making changes in a relationship, religion or career.

Those who are mentally ill do not have weaker characters than their mentally healthy counterparts. We don't usually blame individuals for getting cancer, the flu, or a cold. Yet somehow there is a social stigma associated with mental illness, as if those who experience it somehow brought it upon themselves. The development of a psychological diagnosis is usually due to a combination of biological and environmental factors, many of which were not chosen by an individual such as DNA or family, cultural and school environment. Others seem to be doing fine and then have a setback such as the death of a loved one, loss of a job or a crisis of some kind. Many lack the skills to overcome these challenges, and even those with good skills sometimes need knowledgeable people to walk with them through a difficult spot. This is where therapy and medication can be useful.

Mental health is becoming increasingly important in our society. Due to a variety of factors, many children and adults are struggling to cope with life. There is no shame in reaching out to a professional for assistance. Today's psychological practices are generally brief and effective. My personal definition of mental health is having the coping skills to deal with whatever you are facing. It's natural for a person's challenges to exceed their capabilities at times, but with effort it's possible to regain perspective, growing as an individual by addressing what needs to be addressed. Even if your external circumstances cannot be easily changed, you can develop the resources needed to exist in your newly changed world.

Most people are doing the best they can in their circumstances with the skills they've got. Criticism, ridicule and blame are never helpful, whether we are judging others or ourselves. Although we may want to hold ourselves to high standards, self-compassion is a requirement for good mental health. When we fall short, we need to acknowledge our own worth and examine the full context in which our "failure" occurred, using it as a learning opportunity rather than a weapon of self-condemnation.

It may be difficult to understand why some people struggle the way they do, especially when their behaviors can hurt us so deeply, such as when a loved one develops a chemical dependency. However, we can learn to see even those who hurt us with compassion and be part of the solution rather than adding to the problems they are trying to avoid. Mental health is both an individual and a community concern. How we treat someone who is mentally ill can be a key factor in that person's recovery. We can each to our part to create a positive social environment from someone who is suffering.

Wherever you might find yourself on the mental health spectrum, know that it is possible to strengthen your ability to overcome the many challenges life brings. Clinical treatment can address some of the more difficult problems, but it is not enough on its own. People need strong social support networks and good old fashioned loving in order to live full and healthy lives. There is no need to be afraid of someone else's emotional pain, and there is no need to be afraid of your own. Be willing to address issues as they arise rather than ignoring them. Be a friend to someone who is lonely or sad. Mental health is something that is within everyone's power to improve.