MENTAL HEALTH

MENTAL HEALTH

          Mental health (or behavioral health) is a level of psychological well-being,or an absence of a mental disorder, it is the "psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment".From the perspective of positive psychology or holism,mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life, and create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience.According to World Health Organization (WHO) mental health includes "subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, inter-generational dependence, and self-actualization of one’s intellectual and emotional potential, among others." WHO further states that the well-being of an individual is encompassed in the realization of their abilities, coping with normal stresses of life, productive work and contribution to their community. However, cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined.“Behavioral health” is the preferred term to “mental health.”

A person struggling with his or her behavioral health may face stress,depression,anxiety,relationship problems, grief , addiction, ADHD or learning disability,mood disorders,or other psychological concerns. Counselors, therapists, life coaches,psychologists,nurse practitioners or physicians can help manage behavioral health concerns with treatments such as therapy, counseling, or medication. The new field of global mental health is "the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving mental health and achieving equity in mental health for all people worldwide".

Mental health can be seen as an unstable continuum, where an individual's mental health may have many different possible values.Mental wellness is generally viewed as a positive attribute, such that a person can reach enhanced levels of mental health, even if the person does not have any diagnosed mental health condition. This definition of mental health highlights emotional  well-being, the capacity to live a full and creative life, and the flexibility to deal with life's inevitable challenges. Many therapeutic systems and self-help books offer methods and philosophies espousing strategies and techniques vaunted as effective for further improving the mental wellness of otherwise healthy people.Positive psychology is increasingly prominent in mental health.

A holistic model of mental health generally includes concepts based upon anthropological,educational,psychological,religious and sociological perspectives, as well as theoretical perspectives from personality,social,clinical,health and developmental psychology.

An example of a wellness model includes one developed by Myers, Sweeney and Witmer. It includes five life tasks—essence or spirituality, work and leisure,friendship, love and self-direction—and twelve sub tasks—sense of worth,sense of control,realistic beliefs, emotional awareness and coping,problem solving and creativity, sense of humor,nutrition,exercise,self care, stress management,gender identity,and cultural identity - which are identified as characteristics of healthy functioning and a major component of wellness. The components provide a means of responding to the circumstances of life in a manner that promotes healthy functioning. The population of the USA in its majority is considered to be mostly uneducated on the subjects of mental health . Another model is psychological well-being.