What is Mental Health?

Subarna Debbarma, B.P.T, D.N.H.E, C.P.D.

 What is Mental Health?

Mental health is a component of overall well-being.Foundation for emotions,learning, communication, personal & relationship, realistic, thinking,hope,social and structural stresses and vulnerabilities.

What is Mental Illness?


Mental illnesses is a health conditions,changes in emotion, thinking & behavior. Associated with distress, problems  in social, work & family activities.

Common Mental Illness:

•1/5 adults experience mental illness.

•1 in 24 has a serious mental illness.

•1in 12  has a substance use disorder.

Mental Illness conditions include :

•mental disorders

•psychosocial disabilities

•stresses

•self-harm

•distress

•impairment in functioning

Diagnosis of mental Health condition

Mental health conditions are treatable and improvement is possible. Many people with mental health conditions return to full functioning. Some mental illness is preventable.

It is not always clear when a problem with mood or thinking has become serious enough to be a mental health concern. Sometimes, for example, a low or depressed mood is normal, such as when a person experiences the loss of a loved one. But if that depressed mood continues to cause distress or gets in the way of normal functioning, the person may benefit from professional care. Family or friends may recognize changes or problems that a person doesn’t see in themselves.

Some mental illnesses can be related to or mimic a medical condition. For example, depressive symptoms can relate to a thyroid condition. Therefore, a mental health diagnosis often involves a full health evaluation including a physical exam. This may include blood work and/or neurological tests.

People of diverse cultures and backgrounds may express mental health conditions differently. For example, some are more likely to come to a health care professional with concerns about physical symptoms that are caused by a mental health condition. Some cultures view and describe mental health conditions in different ways from most doctors in the U.S.

Stigma around mental illness and treatment prevents many people from seeking needed treatment.

Mental health promotion and prevention

According to the WHO Promotion and prevention interventions work by identifying the individual, social and structural determinants of mental health, and then intervening to reduce risks, build resilience and establish supportive environments for mental health. Interventions can be designed for individuals, specific groups or whole populations.


Reshaping the determinants of mental health often requires action beyond the health sector and so promotion and prevention programmes should involve the education, labour, justice, transport, environment, housing, and welfare sectors. The health sector can contribute significantly by embedding promotion and prevention efforts within health services; and by advocating, initiating and, where appropriate, facilitating multisectoral collaboration and coordination.


Suicide prevention is a global priority and included in the Sustainable Development Goals. Much progress can be achieved by limiting access to means, responsible media reporting, social and emotional learning for adolescents and early intervention. Banning highly hazardous pesticides is a particularly inexpensive and cost–effective intervention for reducing suicide rates.


Promoting child and adolescent mental health is another priority and can be achieved by policies and laws that promote and protect mental health, supporting caregivers to provide nurturing care, implementing school-based programmes and improving the quality of community and online environments. School-based social and emotional learning programmes are among the most effective promotion strategies for countries at all income levels.


Promoting and protecting mental health at work is a growing area of interest and can be supported through legislation and regulation, organizational strategies, manager training and interventions for workers


Mental Illness care and treatment


1.Community-based mental health care.It's helps prevent human rights violations and delivers better recovery outcomes for people with mental health conditions.

2.general health care, in general hospitals and  task-sharing with non-specialist care providers in primary health care;

3.psychosocial rehabilitation center, peer support services and supported living services; and services that deliver mental health care in social services and non-health settings, such as child protection, school health services, and prisons. 

4.non-specialist psychological counselling or digital self-help

5. Stay with Family & Friends ,talk to them what things trigger your mind.

6.lifestyle changes, Physiotherapy exercise & yoga  that enhance recovery & well-being.

7.clinicians, psychiatrists and  mental health clinicians help individual & family by the psychotherapy (talk therapy), medication or other treatments.



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