What does it mean to be mentally healthy? It’s something that may be difficult to put into words but most of us have a sense of it when we come into contact with a person who is mentally healthy. And, of course, the opposite, when we come into contact with someone who demonstrates its absence. We might define mental health as a general sense of well-being, of feeling reasonably comfortable with ourselves and with our lives, feeling as though we have at least some degree of control over our destiny.
More formal definitions of mental health, for example the World Health Organisation’s definition, take into account a person’s being in a position to reach their full potential, being able to manage the usual stresses of life, being able to contribute to their community – not necessarily a paid job, but a role with some responsibilities. You can see why many critics of Australia’s immigration policies have pointed out that to be mentally healthy in a mandatory detention centre is virtually impossible.
Mental health is more than just the absence of mental illness. It can be divided into four key areas.
1) A degree of physical health. Not just the absence of disease, but having a reasonably good diet, getting enough sleep and sunshine, being active. Not necessarily being superfit and running marathons, but able to move around and enjoy your own efforts.
2) Have a purpose. It might be a paid job, or study, or if you’re lucky, a vocation. It might be caring for others, tending a garden, being part of a club. It helps to have several of these purposes – we could actually call them roles – so that if things aren’t going well in one area, the others can act as a buffer.
3) Connecting with others. Having someone you can talk to, listen to, do things with, and just be with. (Are any readers thinking of their dogs or cats?!?) No-one is an island.
4) Get help for any mental illness. Mental illnesses affects our minds more than our bodies, although left unchecked they can impact on our physical health too. Mental illnesses affect how we think, feel and act. Getting treatment for them will maximise the chances of achieving good mental health.
