How do you know if you have ‘mental health and well-being’?
May is mental health awareness month. As a practitioner for over 30 years, I have learned that the vast majority of people are not aware of what mental health is.
Mental health is not mental illness, and they are two very different and distinct paradigms of understanding your own or another’s psychological state of mind or condition. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” Mental health is a “state of well-being” that allows an individual to see and achieve his or her own unique potentials in life, and not simply the absence of mental illness.
People’s usual way of thinking about mental health is that something needs to be wrong, and there is a deep concern about an internal state, such as depression, anxiety, suicide ideation, and feelings of anger, or social behaviors where another is abused or demeaned. Often, we are not aware that just going through the motions in living daily life in a state of numbness or not living up to our own sense of human potential and using all of our natural gifts fully are also indicators of diminished mental health. Mental health is a state of mind where you have:
Autonomy – where a person is independent and regulates his or her behavior independent of social pressures. “I have confidence in my opinions, even if they are contrary to the general consensus.”
Circumstantial mastery – where a person makes effective use of opportunities and has a sense of mastery in managing external circumstances, factors and activities, including managing everyday affairs and creating situations to benefit personal needs. “In general, I feel I am in charge of the situation in which I live.”
Personal growth – where a person continues to develop, is welcoming to new experiences, recognizes improvement in behavior, can fully “experience his or her experiences” such as feelings, and is increasing his or her understanding of self over time. “I think it is important to have new experiences that challenge how I think about myself and the world.”
Positive relations with others – where a person engages in meaningful relationships with others that include reciprocal empathy, intimacy and affection. “People would describe me as a giving person, willing to share my gifts with others.”
Purpose in life – where a person strives for a deeper understanding of why he or she is here, possessing a strong giving orientation and conviction that life holds meaning, and wanting to contribute to the greater good. “Some people wander aimlessly through life, but I am not one of them.”
Self-knowledge – where a person has a positive attitude about his or her inner life and self, and an innate curiosity or motivation to understand who he or she is and multiple dimensions of the self. “I like the path I am on and who I am becoming.”
Holistic health – where a person feels healthy — emotionally, psychologically and physically — and has the level of energy, nutritional balance and physical stamina, as well as the motivation and hope to manifest his or her higher purpose and dreams for a better life. “I am aware of the importance of the mind-body connection.”
If you assess that any one of the above mental health and well-being criterion is not fully functioning to your own standards, then this is an opportunity to take the necessary action. If you do take action to improve any one or combination of criteria, then you will benefit — it is to your own advantage.
Finally, mental health and well-being can be viewed as a scale from -5 to 0 to +5. People usually focus on the negative side of this scale, only noticing serious problems and trying to heal back up to a 0. But mental health and well-being is assessed on the positive side, developing up to a +5 level.
To celebrate mental health month, let’s all strive for +5 and see and achieve our own unique potentials in life!
