What is Languishing? Talking Mental Health with Wellbeing Researcher Dr. Matthew Iasiello

What is Languishing? Talking Mental Health with Wellbeing Researcher Dr. Matthew Iasiello

Dr. Matthew Iasiello is a mental health researcher at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and Head of Data and Research Translation at Be Well Co. His work focuses on the dual-continua model of mental health, which treats wellbeing and mental illness as separate but related. He completed his PhD at Flinders University and is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Adelaide. Through both research and public engagement, including his podcast Researching Happy, he works to translate evidence into practical strategies for improving mental wellbeing.

This conversation delves into the complexities of mental health, exploring definitions, the importance of well-being, and the concept of languishing. The speakers discuss the dual-continuum model of mental health, cultural influences on well-being, and practical strategies for improving mental health. They emphasize the need for better measurement of well-being and the importance of addressing languishing as a significant issue in mental health.

00:00 Mental health vs. mental illness; importance of positive mental health
00:29 Varying definitions of well-being across disciplines
01:47 Competing views on well-being: quality of life vs. philosophy
03:11 Wealth and happiness don’t always align
03:38 The Easterlin Paradox: income and happiness
04:18 Languishing: low well-being without illness
05:00 “Well-being” as a vague marketing term
05:15 Academics aim to define well-being globally
06:25 155 tools measure 400 aspects of well-being
07:49 Core well-being themes: happiness, meaning, autonomy
09:11 Experts agree on 19 dimensions of well-being
10:07 Study included highly cited researchers
11:00 Defining positive mental health
14:32 Why positive mental health matters
16:25 Languishing’s impact on life quality
18:03 How to address languishing
18:48 Mental illness and well-being as separate concepts
20:08 High well-being can coexist with illness
21:54 Recovery defined personally, not clinically
23:02 Depression and well-being can overlap
24:40 Dutch research tracks fluctuating well-being
26:05 Languishing affects one in five
27:02 Languishers face higher risk of future illness
28:11 Declining community ties and well-being
30:02 Languishers vs. flourishers: different life outlooks
33:03 Cultural change needed for mental health
34:52 Pandemic’s role in well-being awareness
36:44 Personalised well-being interventions work best
39:42 CBT helps illness, not general well-being
41:32 Tailoring therapy to individual needs
43:34 Empowering people with adaptable strategies
44:29 Languishers often unaware of the problem
45:12 Need for early detection of languishing
46:08 Raising awareness for systemic change
46:37 Company shifts focus to fund well-being research
47:18 Shift focus from flourishing to its absence
48:12 Happiness declining in younger generations
49:51 Economic and cultural pressures on youth
50:47 Constant news adds to Western pessimism
52:09 Beyond Blue offers practical well-being tips
53:05 Art and socialising boost mental health
54:29 Using photos to spark mental health reflection

—–
Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values.

Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology.

Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship.

—

Quillette’s revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream.

Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup

Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support

We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91