Mental Health is
a psychological state of well-being,
characterized by continuing personal growth, a sense of purpose in life,
self-acceptance, and positive relations with others. Some people define
mental
health as the absence of mental illness, but many psychologists consider
this
definition too narrow. Mental health can also refer to a field of study
encompassing both mental health and mental illness.
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II
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ELEMENTS OF
MENTAL HEALTH
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Psychologists have identified
a number of distinct
dimensions of mental health. These include self-acceptance, or
self-esteem,
characterized by a positive evaluation of oneself and one’s past
experiences;
personal growth reflected in one’s sense of continued psychological
growth and
development; a sense that one’s life has purpose and meaning; positive
relations with others; environmental mastery, the capacity to manage
effectively in the surrounding world; and autonomy, a sense of
self-determination and the ability to control one’s own life.
Self-acceptance,
relations with others, environmental mastery, and autonomy usually
improve as a
person ages and gains life experience. However, many people find that
their
personal growth and sense of purpose in life begin to decline in
midlife.
Some psychologists regard
mental health as the ability
to maintain a balance between positive and negative emotions, such as
elation
and sadness. In this view, a person who displays emotional extremes in
either
direction is less well-adjusted. Other psychologists emphasize the role
of
one’s environment in influencing well-being. This perspective sees
mental
health reflected in a person’s overall happiness with various domains of
life,
such as social relationships, work, and community life.
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III
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FACTORS THAT
INFLUENCE
MENTAL HEALTH
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A number of different
aspects of life can influence
mental health. In a mid-1970s study of people living in the United
States,
researchers identified critical areas that influence one’s mental
health. These
areas are working life, family life, and the social role that one
occupies in
the community. Negative experiences in these areas, such as an
unreasonable
boss or a turbulent family life, can reduce one’s overall sense of
well-being.
Another important influence
on mental health is stress.
In general, people experience stress when the demands placed on them
exceed the
resources they have available to meet those demands. Significant sources
of
stress include major life events, such as divorce, death of a spouse,
loss of a
job, and illness in the family. These events can overwhelm a person’s
ability
to cope and function effectively. In addition, one source of stress may
lead to
another, as when financial hardship follows job loss. People who
experience
unusually traumatic events, such as rape and natural disasters, may
develop
post-traumatic stress disorder.
People may experience
chronic stress when confronted
with a continuing set of demands that reduce their ability to function.
Examples of such demands include working long hours under difficult
circumstances and caring for a chronically ill relative. Economic
hardship,
unemployment, and poverty can also produce chronic stress and undermine
mental
health.
Some studies suggest that
genetic factors may
partly determine one’s level of happiness and mental health. People seem
to
display a characteristic level of well-being, with some people usually
feeling
happy and others typically feeling sad or unhappy. Researchers have
found that
although people’s moods change in response to both positive and negative
events, the effect wears off over time. For example, people who win the
lottery
or receive an unexpected promotion may feel happier at first, but over
time
they return to their former characteristic level of mental health.
Research
suggests that one’s genetic background—that is, the genes inherited from
one’s
parents—explains more than half of the differences in people’s
characteristic
mood levels. Genes may also partly determine the range of ups and downs
that
people feel, including whether people have large mood swings or remain
stable
from day to day.
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IV
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MAINTAINING
MENTAL HEALTH
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The ability to cope with
adversity can be
crucial for the mental health of the individual. Coping means
successfully
dealing with problems that arise in life. People differ substantially in
the
way they cope with adversity. Some people engage in emotion-focused
coping, a
strategy that focuses on managing one’s emotions. Examples of
this
coping strategy include distracting one’s attention from the problem,
denying
the problem, venting one’s emotions, or sharing emotions with others. A
second
form of coping, problem-focused coping, involves efforts to
reduce
stress by solving the problem. People who use this strategy take active
steps
to overcome the problem, such as seeing a counselor to repair a
relationship or
looking for a new job in response to problems at work. They may also
seek
advice from friends and family members.
Some people use coping
skills more effectively than
others. However, research has shown that people can learn new coping
skills.
For example, counselors can teach children how to handle difficulties in
school. Adults can be taught skills to cope with stressful life events,
such as
job loss and divorce. Teaching people coping skills before they
encounter
adversity, or early in the stages of a crisis, appears an effective
method of
preventing poor mental health. Learning effective coping strategies also
directly improves mental health by improving one’s sense of mastery and
self-esteem.
Social support from friends
and family members also
promotes good mental health. This support can take several forms. Other
people
can offer concrete help in a crisis, such as providing shelter to
families
victimized by a natural disaster or alerting an unemployed person to a
job
opportunity. In addition, other people can provide an important source
of
emotional support. Friends respond with concern, empathy, and advice to a
person facing difficulties or loss. They boost confidence and
self-esteem by
offering reassurance and compliments. Self-help groups provide support
by
enabling people with similar problems to share their experiences and
emotions.
Conversely, research has shown that negative social interactions, such
as
constant criticism and belittlement from other people, can undermine
mental
health.
Other ways of maintaining
good mental health
involve physical activities. For example, research has shown that
regular
aerobic exercise helps to boost self-esteem, relieve depression, and
improve
concentration. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and
meditation,
also help to combat the effects of stress.
