The Characteristics of Mental Health

The Characteristics of Mental Health Basics Print The Characteristics of Mental Health By Leonard Holmes Updated on February 24, 2020 Hinterhaus Productions/Taxi/Getty Images More in Psychology Basics Psychotherapy Student Resources History and Biographies Theories Phobias Emotions Sleep and Dreaming In This Article Table of Contents Expand What Is Mental Health? Characteristics Challenges to Mental Health How to Stay Mentally Healthy View All Back To Top It has always been easier to define mental illnesses than to define mental health. In the United States, the American Psychiatric Association has traditionally been the organization to define mental disorders (beginning as early as 1917 when it was known as The Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions of the Insane). More recently, many have recognized that mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. Even though many people do not have a diagnosable mental disorder, it is clear that some are mentally healthier than others. What Is Mental Health? The World Health Organization states that mental health is not just the absence of mental illness.?? It involves a state of well-being in which people are able to cope with the normal stresses they face in daily life. Mental health allows people to recognize their own abilities, work productively, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Characteristics Mental health refers not only to emotional well-being but also to how people think and behave.  There are a number of different factors that have been found to influence mental health. Life Satisfaction A persons ability to enjoy life is frequently used as an indicator of mental health and wellness. It is often defined as the degree to which a person enjoys the most important aspects of their life.   Some factors that have been found to play an important role in life satisfaction include the absence of feeling ill, good relationships, a sense of belonging, being active in work and leisure, a sense of achievement and pride, positive self-perceptions, a sense of autonomy, and feelings of hope.?? Resilience The ability to bounce back from adversity  has been referred to as resilience.?? People who are resilient also tend to have a positive view of their ability to cope with challenges and seek out social support when they need it. Those who are more resilient are better able to not only cope with stress but to thrive even in the face of it. 10 Ways to Improve Your Resilience Support Social support is important to good mental health. Loneliness has been shown to have a number of negative health effects. It has been linked to problems with both physical and mental health including cardiovascular disease, depression, memory problems, drug misuse, alcoholism, and altered brain function.?? Decreases in social support caused by life changes such as going to college, facing social adversity, changing jobs, or getting divorced can have a negative impact on mental health. Fortunately, research suggests that it is not necessarily the number of supportive connections you have that it is the most important; it is the quality of these relationships that matters.??   Flexibility Having rigid expectations can sometimes create added stress. Emotional flexibility may be just as important as cognitive flexibility. Mentally healthy people experience a range of emotions and allow themselves to express these feelings. Some people shut off certain feelings, finding them to be unacceptable. Lack of psychological flexibility has been linked to some types of psychopathology, while research suggests that increase flexibility is connected to better life balance and improved resilience.?? Challenges to Mental Health The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that an estimated one in five U.S. adults experiences a mental health problem each year.??  There are a number of risk factors that can increase the likelihood that a person may experience poor mental health. Risks to mental health can include: ?? Medical illnessSubstance useExposure to traumaFamily history of mental illnessPoor access to health servicesSocial inequalitiesDiscriminationLow incomePoor self-esteemPoor social skills   Some of the factors that can help offer protection against poor mental health including having supportive social relationships, strong coping skills, opportunities for engagement in the community, and physical and psychological security.?? How to Stay Mentally Healthy The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that some of the ways that you can promote and maintain mental health include:??   Trying to keep a positive outlook on life  Engaging in regular physical exercise  Learning new coping skills to manage stress  Staying connected to other people  Helping others  Getting adequate sleep     It is also important to be able to seek help if you are having difficulties. Talk to your doctor or mental health professional if you want help improving your mental health or addressing a psychological problem. A Word From Verywell Mental health is much more than simply the absence of illness. It is important to note, however, that there are many factors that determine mental health and overall well-being. Individual factors play an important part in this, but social, environmental, and financial circumstances also interact dynamically with these individual factors to either enhance or threaten mental health.