The CORRECT definition of Mental Health

OK. So this week we will be concentrating on getting the terminology right and where we sit in that lane.

With Mental Health, there are two doorways:

1. The medical model with definitions found from the World Health Organization (W.H.O);

2. Whatever definition YOU choose, in order to make sense of your own thoughts, feelings and behavior. This is an alternate pathway that includes culture, spirituality, energy, nature etc.

In the Mental Health First Aid Responder's qualification (In the medical W.H.O. model) they have an acronym:

A = Assess, Assist and Advise

L = Listen without judgement

G = Give support

E = Encourage to give professional (W.H.O. model) support

E = Encourage to give 'other' support. (Alternate pathway, but advises that is should be based in CBT - Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Again, a medical model - W.H.O.)

The W.H.O. definition of 'Mental Health' is:

"A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community."

So Mental HEALTH mentions the 'normal stresses of life.'

There is nothing NEGATIVE about Mental HEALTH.

Mental DISORDERS and Mental ILLNESS (including diagnosed Mental Health (!) CONDITIONS) are DIFFERENT.

(I'll explain those later.)

Upcoming Mental HEALTH week, is about helping people deal with the 'NORMAL stresses of life. (Which evolve as society evolves.)

Please share. I'll explain the others tomorrow.