What if we redefine mental health? Or, put another way, what if we more clearly define what we mean when we have conversations about mental health?
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which provides an ideal opportunity to face long-standing stigmas, typically the result of misunderstandings and stereotypes. To better understand the topic and, in turn, better help our friends and neighbors, let’s more clearly define what we mean when we talk about mental health.
Mental Wellness
You’ve likely heard that your mental wellness, or well-being, is just as important as your physical, emotional and spiritual health. Yet, mental wellness is often underappreciated and harder to recognize than the other health dimensions.
Mental wellness or well-being involves participation in a balanced, multi-dimensional life that we often define with the five C’s:
• Connection: Relationships with family, friends, and community.
• Compassion: Empathy and kindness toward others and yourself.
• Coping: Healthy, sustainable skills to manage life stressors and emotions.
• Community: Developing a sense of belonging, becoming a part of something bigger than yourself through social support systems.
• Care: Routines that incorporate the whole person (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual).
Successful navigation in these areas results in resiliency, satisfying relationships and overall happiness.
Mental Unwellness
Mental unwellness occurs when your thinking and/or emotions result in unhealthy behaviors, often the result of an imbalance among the five C’s. Specific examples may include over or undereating, social isolation, increased self-absorption (lack of empathy), or neglect of exercise or spiritual development. Patterns of these or similar behaviors may begin to emerge. Mental unwellness is different than mental illness.
Mental Illness
Mental unwellness may develop into mental illness and is typically distinguished by duration (how long it lasts) and impact on functioning and quality of life. Mental illness can develop as a result or combination of genetics/heredity, psychological and/or social factors.
Remember that mental illnesses are real medical conditions, which means they can be diagnosed, understood, treated and managed. Stigmas continue to exist around these conditions; but rather than list them and therefore give them power, let’s focus on courage in the face of fear and shed light on the dark.
Recovery
Recovery is about restoring mental wellness. It is a personal, unique and nonlinear process that varies in the amount of time it may take.
Actually, the fact that someone may always be in recovery is a distinguishing factor in recovery for mental health vs. physical health. Treatments for mental health also vary, and may include therapy, medication and /or integrated care (mental and physical health).
Keep the conversation going
Throughout May, and throughout the year, it’s important we continue to talk about mental health and clear up common misconceptions. Northeastern Center is proud to be a part of the conversation in our community, and we’re always a call or click away if you have questions.
STEVE HOWELL is CEO of Northeastern Center and current board chair of the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers. With more than 30 years of experience in the mental health field, he is a licensed mental health counselor and clinical addiction counselor, and he has a master’s degree in human services and a post-graduate certificate in educational psychology.