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“Defining” mental well-being
There is no universally accepted
“definition” of mental well-being. This is probably because mental well-being
may have different connotations for different individuals, groups and
cultures. For some, it may be the notion of happiness or contentment. For
others it may be the absence of disease. For some it may be economic
prosperity. It could be based on the goals sought to be achieved and the
challenges placed on an individual or a culture. It also may mean the absence
of negative determinants in the life of an individual or a community. Mental
well-being includes cognitive, emotional and behavioural responses at a
personal level. Some may also interpret mental well-being as determined by
external stimulants and factors, sometimes beyond the control of individuals,
such as housing and employment. Thus, mental well-being should be interpreted
in the sociocultural context of the individual. It should be considered as a continuum
and as operating within a spectrum, rather than a state that is present or
absent. An individual, group or community can be at any given point within
this spectrum.
Promotion of mental well-being through primordial
prevention
In programmes on promotion of
mental well-being, the concept of primordial prevention should be used. In
1978, Strasser coined the term "primordial prevention" to mean
activities that prevented the penetration of risk factors into populations.
The basic idea is to intervene in order to stop the appearance of risk
factors in the population. For example, stress management at the workplace
may be considered as a strategy of primary prevention of executive burn-out,
but programmes to prevent stress from occurring would be considered
primordial prevention of executive burn out.
Concepts related to mental well-being
The World Health Organization
describes mental well-being as 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 community1. This description asserts that mental well-being is
more than an absence of mental illness. There are relative and subjective
elements in this description which are necessary in trying to encapsulate
mental well-being.
There are other concepts available
in literature which are related to mental
well-being.
Resilience: Resilience is described as the capacity to cope with
adversity and to avoid breakdown when confronted with stressors. Many
internal and external factors have been found to increase personal
resilience. For example, resilience in children is strengthened through good
relations with parents. Resilience also depends on a person’s cognitive make
up – a sense of self esteem – which could change along a spectrum depending
on diverse factors.
Positive psychology: The term “positive psychology” is based on
the idea that if people are taught to be resilient and optimistic they will
be less likely to suffer from depression and will lead happier and more
productive lives. Building on human strengths can be described as building
psychological “potency” before problems occur.
Salutogenic perspective of mental health: Antonovsky’s
salutogenic perspective of mental health also contains concepts related to
mental wellbeing2. Factors promoting health, not disease are
considered. Here, health is considered a relative state, is projected as a
continuum in the presence of life’s stress, chaos etc. In this concept
individuals use resources to resist negative determinants of health. Some
examples of these resources are money, knowledge, experience, social support,
culture, intelligence, traditions and ideologies. Added to this is the
concept of sense of coherence which encapsulates factors that enable a person
to use these resources optimally.
Social capital: The concept of “social capital” that came into
being during the past decade has been known and experienced in many
communities in the South-East Asia Region. This concept states that “social
capital” consists of social life such as institutions, networks, norms,
reciprocity and social trust that shape the quality and quantity of social
interactions and facilitate collective action, coordination and mutual
benefit3. It asserts that such social cohesion is critical for
societies to prosper economically and their development to be sustainable.
Aspects of social capital such as trust, social support and social networks
are also considered important determinants of mental health and well-being of
individuals. Therefore, it consists of both structural and cognitive aspects.
Such support, networks, trust and reciprocity and protective norms have
always been embedded in cultures of the Region. They have perhaps played an
unrecognized role in maintaining well-being of societies of this Region
despite severe financial and other constraints. Some believe that such
factors are being eroded by the western concepts of materialism and
“development” that is becoming more widely apparent in countries of this
Region.
Quality of life: A wide ranging and inclusive description
relevant to mental well-being is the concept of “quality of life” expounded
by the WHO Quality of Life Group. This description was developed following
work in several culturally diverse centres over a period of time. It
conceptualizes that the quality of life is an individual’s perception of his
or her position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in
which he or she lives, in relation to his or her goals, expectations,
standards and concerns4. This reflects a broad view of mental well-being
encompassing social indicators, happiness and health status. It also captures
positive aspects of coping, resilience, satisfaction and autonomy, among
other issues.
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Concept
of Mental Well-Being
[PDF 119 KB]
Meeting Reports
· Colombo,
6–9 October 2009 [PDF 444 KB]
· Jakarta
11–13 June 2009 [PDF 397 KB]
· New
Delhi 14-15 October 2005 [PDF 153 KB]
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