What are the key elements for good mental health?

Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being are all integral components of mental health. It influences our thoughts, emotions, behaviours as well as how we respond to stress, interacts with others, and make sound decisions. From childhood and youth through adulthood, mental health is crucial for everyone. Mental health is a vital aspect of overall well-being; it goes beyond the mere absence of mental illnesses. It forms the foundation for the well-being and effective functioning of individuals. Good mental health occurs when you maintain a positive self-perception and effectively manage everyday pressures.

In alignment with the foundational document of the World Health Organisation, which states, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity,” meaning that mental health holds significant implications. Mental health encompasses more than just the absence of mental disorders. The ability of individuals and society as a whole to think, feel, interact, work, and enjoy life is contingent on mental health. Therefore, the promotion, preservation, and restoration of mental health are critical concerns for people, communication, and societies worldwide.

Mental health has been defined in numerous ways by various philosophers. J.A. Hadfield writes, “Mental health is the whole and harmonious functioning of the entire personality.” Moreover, according to Menninger, mental health is the adjustment of human beings to the world and to each other with the highest possible effectiveness and satisfaction. A mentally healthy individual can cultivate a balanced personality, regulating emotions such as anger, jealousy, stress, and fear, and leading a harmonious life filled with happiness and success while adapting readily to personal and social circumstances.

There are two fundamental aspects of mental health: personal and social. The individual facet denotes internal equilibrium and emotional control. The person possesses self-assurance, adaptability, and resilience against internal conflicts or tensions. Not only is internal alignment crucial, but adaptability to novel situations is also essential. Hence, mental health significantly contributes to one’s personality and quality of life in society. Only an individual with strong mental health can readily adjust to new circumstances and flourish in an ever-changing world.

Several factors impact mental health, and its manifestation varies among individuals due to a multitude of variables. People exhibit diverse mental health states ranging from normalcy to aggression, anxiety, and beyond. To evaluate someone’s mental health, it’s vital to consider several critical elements influencing it.

Based on the aforementioned criteria, we can conclude that mental health is the ability to adeptly navigate life’s evolving circumstances. It involves achieving a harmonious balance between physical and mental endeavours to reach common goals. It signifies a person’s personality functioning cohesively. Happiness, optimism, ambition, independent judgment, self-assuredness, adaptability, accountability, and more serve as indicators of mental health.