Mental Wellness

You have probably heard of the term mental health by now, but the term mental wellness is a fairly new term that you may not be as familiar with. The term mental health is often associated with mental illness, the need for professional support, and stigma; whereas the term mental wellness is associated with holistic wellbeing, self-care, and a more empowering approach.

So what is mental wellness?

The WHO defines mental health/wellness as “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”. According to the Global Wellness Institute, “mental wellness is an internal resource that helps us think, feel, connect, and function; it is an active process that helps us to build resilience, grow, and flourish”. It is more than the absence of mental illness such as depression and anxiety. It also does not necessarily equate to happiness. Instead, it takes into consideration our emotions, our social connections, and how we function on a daily basis on top of our cognitive functioning.

Interesting facts about mental wellness:

Mental health/well-being is just as important as our physical health. Even the WHO states that “there is no health without mental health.”
Mental wellness and mental illness exist on two separate continuums. Meaning you can have no diagnosable mental health disorders but still feel sadness, worry, stress, loneliness, and disengaged from life. Or on the flip side, you can have a mental health disorder, but still be able to feel happy, fulfilled, supported, and performing at your very best in life.
Mental wellness, unlike happiness, is not a state of being. It is something that we must proactively work on. When we have mental wellness, we are better able to be resilient and cope with life’s challenges.
Mental wellness is associated with less stigma. Unlike the term mental health which may be associated with stigma, shame and the need for clinical treatment; mental wellness focuses more on self care, our innate capability to build resilience and the universal desire to find happiness and fulfillment.
Improving our mental wellness can reduce our risk of developing mental illness. By taking care of our mental wellness and learning to cope with stress, burnout, loneliness, and/or sadness, we can reduce our chances of developing a more serious mental health disorder.
Mental wellness focuses on a holistic approach. It recognizes the mind-body connection and how our mental wellness can be affected by many other factors such as our beliefs, values, and life experiences.
Recognizing the mind-body connection can help us to stay healthier. How we think can affect how we feel and how we feel can affect our thinking. By approaching life with a positive attitude, we may be able to stay healthier than someone with more negative thoughts and emotions.