What is Mental Health?

It may seem easy to define mental health, but is important to know that its definition involves many discussions still unresolved. As the main purpose of this site is the communication of key issues, we will try to develop the topic rather than giving a definition, so that is you who can in any case give this last step.

WorldHealthOrganization, warns as that there is no "definition" of Mental Health. In fact there are several definitions influenced by cultural, subjective, ideological, and professional issues, and many of them can be considered valid and useful depending on the level of analysis that takes into account.

Is Mental health the opposite of mental illness or insanity ?

For non-specialists, is common and natural to define mental health in this way. In other words, if I'm not crazy, I'm healthy, and then I have mental health. Recall that the fear of insanity is probably one of the most common universal fears after the fear of death, and is perhaps on the basis of many forms of discrimination against the mentally ill. The problem arises when defining complex concepts such as madness, or illness. This conception of mental health leads easily to differentiate healthy patients in a black or white sense, regardless of possible spectrums within the normal or the pathology. That every normal human being can go through periods of higher and lower mental health is something that is not always evident to all.

In general, it is widely recognized, at the professional level that most people suffering from mental disorders which may be regarded as pathological, can enjoy a healthy life if treated properly.

Mental Health as subjective well-being

This definition of mental health at the microsubjective level is important but not sufficient by itself to talk of Mental Health. It is a goal to achieve within any treatment. This does not mean that people should be always happy and without problems since it is impossible for any normal human life. Often the goal of treatment is achieved by the individual to cope with the inevitable complications and troubles of life as best as possible and without excessive distress. It is important to achieve this goal a significant degree of independence, autonomy, and competitiveness while developing emotional potential to promote positive interpersonal relationships.

Mental Health as adaptation

Mental health can also be conceived as the ability to adapt to a given society. We remark here the word capacity. In general the loss of social resilience is the determinant of the most important mental pathology, whether in affective disorders, or psychotic disorders. In other words, a particular mental disorder is considered as such by the social deterioration that occurs. This does not mean submission or unthinking acceptance of certain positions. In fact adequate resilience requires creative and transformative potential.

The mental health as a right

That mental health is a right for all people, which is proclaimed as such in international conventions and the national constitution of most countries is something that not all professionals and non professionals know, nor consider. Saying that is a right, means that states have the responsibility to develop and implement health policies aimed at ensuring this right. In general, it is recommended to integrate mental health treatments in the general health system, and its incorporation into the primary care system.