), Although the terms are often used interchangeably, mental health and mental illness is not the same thing; but they are also not mutually exclusive. While some may believe that a mental disorder and a mental illness are one and the same, there are many crucial differences between the two. All of us have varying thresholds for how much we can cope with before our mental health suffers. Recovery means that the person has stabilized and regained their role in society. [1] World Health Organization [WHO]. Mental Disorder. Economic hardship, unemployment, underemployment and poverty also have the potential to undermine mental health. Ultimately, this means that someone can be mentally healthy with a mental illness and that someone can have poor mental health without a mental illness.[4]. Anxiety about a relationship, a sick relative or child, loss of loved one or financial pressures can greatly affect how well we feel mentally and how we perform at work. As it turns out, some of the advice given to improve your physical health and wellness actually has a big impact on your mental health too. Positive psychology and the life well-lived (Washington: American Psychological Association, 2003). Serious health problems may last for a long time and have a significant negative impact on life, or may resolve quickly. Healthy relationships support good mental health, but being socially isolated or not having supportive relationships can impact your mental health. Taking care of your psychological wellbeing is just as important as taking care of your physical wellbeing. MensLine Australia (24 hours): 1300 78 99 78, SANE Helpline (mental illness information, support and referral): 1800 18 7263. Since then he has received treatment for his condition. Mental illness is much like diabetes, heart disease and a broken leg — one can live with it and recover from it. So if we can bring our awareness to the present and observe our thoughts, rather than judge them, we can reduce stress and protect against anxiety. A mental illness significantly affects how a person feels, thinks, behaves and interacts with other people. Mental ill health is a major cause of workplace absence. Everyone has mental health just as everyone has physical health. Some of the factors that influence mental health include: levels of personal and workplace stress; lifestyle and health behaviours; exposure to trauma; and genetics. Throughout your life it is likely that you will feel your mental health is better at some times than others. However not all of us will experience a mental illness. Some of the more common and well researched mental illnesses, by category of illness, include: If you are concerned that you or someone you know may have an undiagnosed mental illness, encourage them to visit a doctor or health professional or go to www.checkupfromtheneckup.ca. One in five Canadians meets the criteria for having a mental illness in their lifetime, 24.1 percent of women and 17.0 percent of men —this 20 percent affects every one of us, whether at work, at home or personally. He or she may be able to write you a mental health care plan, which will involve setting you up with expert care. But poor mental health is also a struggle, and should be recognized as such. And these techniques can help improve mental health by providing new ways to think about problems, as well as developing a positive approach to everyday challenges. We may need a day away from work to recover. But there is an important difference and not understanding this leads us to overlook the importance of good mental health and the impact of poor mental health on our lives and work. But just as sometimes an individual needs to seek help from a professional to overcome a physical health concern there are times when they may need to seek help with a mental health problem. ),” www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en (accessed January 6, 2010). If you’re happy to receive cookies from us simply carry on using our site. You’re not “better off” feeling depressed for a while than having depression, it’s still difficult and requires support and understanding from others. This is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, (DSM-5) as a syndrome characterised by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotion regulation, or behaviour that reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological, or developmental processes underlying mental functioning. Physical health and illness is common and we understand it. Mental health is defined by the World Health Organization as a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to their community. The foods that can lift (and lower) your dopamine levels, Itâs important to know and recognise which is which, Identify whether your job is to blame for your stress, Part of the first session is to build trust and openness. freedom from discrimination and violence; that it is a recognized, medically diagnosable illness; that it can cause significant cognitive, affective, or relational impairment; that it results from biological, developmental and/or psychosocial factors; that it can be managed using physical disease approaches (i.e. Addressing both mental illness and mental health is important. Article by: Government of BC While alcohol can temporarily give you a lift and help you relax, the downside is that it interferes with sleep, can make you more anxious and increases feelings of stress in the long term. Mental illness includes a range of conditions for which there are standard criteria used to diagnose them, such as depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. We often think of our mental state as a continuum, with good mental health being at one end and diagnosable mental illness at the opposite end - and we are somewhere on this scale at any one time. (Government of Canada. [4] Jake Epp, “Mental health for Canadians: Striking a balance,” Health & Welfare Canada (1988). They can also learn the techniques of “mindfulness” to help focus on the “now” and acknowledge the positive aspects of their life. Plus being able to take pleasure and satisfaction from life. [1], Mental illness is a recognized, medically diagnosable illness that results in the significant impairment of an individual’s cognitive, affective or relational abilities. (2009) 82. That said, if a mental health issue like stress is intense or allowed to continue unrestrained, it can lead to a mental illness such as anxiety or depression. In Australia we also have access to free support â check out our article 6 ways to get help for mental health â and you wonât have to pay a thing! Organisations need to reassess their wellbeing strategy to ensure that they are supporting employees in a way that considers more than just their physical wellbeing. What is the difference between mental health and mental illness and is it important? It illustrates how mental health and mental illness are found on two separate continuums. The illness may be long lasting and require the intervention of mental health services and medication and/or therapies. For example, a person may become distressed and overly anxious. Although resilient people are still affected by set-backs, they handle the stress and disappointment and recover more quickly. Good mental health isn’t defined by feeling happy and confident at all times; it is about living and coping well even when challenged by problems. [7] Edelman Wyeth, “Beyond Emotion: Depression Creates Disconnect for Canadians at Home, with Friends and in the Workplace,” (2009) http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/documents/Publications/Depression%20Survey%20Release%20Beyond%20Emotion%20ENG%20July6.09.pdf (accessed January 6, 2010). The Human Face of Mental Health and Mental Illness in Canada 2006. Optimal mental health, often referred to as mental well-being or mental wellness, is at one end of the continuum, while poor mental health, also referred to as languishing, is at the other end. If you are like me you probably never gave it a lot of thought. Fully funded by nib for eligible nib members, it includes one-on-one coaching, practical tips and a tailored program designed to complement your GP, psychologist or psychiatrist care plan. A fundamental difference between mental health and mental illness is that everyone has some level of mental health all of the time, just like physical health, whereas it is possible to be without mental illness. We move along a spectrum ranging from good health, middling to poor health, to illness or disability throughout our lives. [5] The effects of poor mental health are both severe and prevalent, with poor mental health being more common than depression. We all agree that there is no on/off switch. We all have days when we feel stressed or overwhelmed by events in our life. To improve our mental health we must first understand what mental health means and how it affects us. With a Healix Corporate Healthcare Trust, we are able to offer a Wellbeing and Mental Health pathway which aims to support employees at all stages by combining the services traditionally provided through an EAP with the services that have historically been offered as part of a corporate healthcare plan. 0001), but “mental health” is—and always has been—used more frequently than “mental illness”. Illicit drugs are never a good idea - and can tip a vulnerable person into mental illness. And, while thereâs nothing wrong with taking a mental health day away from the office when things get too much, how do you know when your stress has become something more serious? While itâs true that our mental state is not constant â it moves about over time â this continuum model may not truly reflect the relationship between mental health and mental illness. This is another important aspect of mental health. Yet, still in these more enlightened times, the impact of poor mental health can often be ignored or overlooked. Mental health and mental illness are not interchangeable terms. When the demands placed on any individual exceed their resources and coping abilities, their mental health will be negatively affected. Learning coping skills and improving your resilience can also help you manage your feelings and weather lifeâs ups and downs with more ease. The model below more accurately fits the relationship between mental illness and mental health. He considers himself to be well currently, he enjoys his job, is in a happy relationship and has many fulfilling friendships and interests. Yet we are often reluctant to accept that mental health professionals can help us regain mental health through the use of therapies and techniques that help us to think and respond differently to challenging situations and feelings. A mental disorder deals with the concept of psychological health, whereas a mental illness is much different. Itâs helpful to think of mental health and mental illness as separate entities working independently. It is possible to have good mental health and a diagnosis of a mental illness. It is important to remember that mental health and mental illness are not static; they change over time depending on many factors. We generally accept that health professionals may prescribe medication and physical therapies to help us to regain physical health.
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