Mental health vs Mental illness: How to tell the difference

The last few years have put a focus on mental health and the importance of recognizing warning signs. While it is important to shine a light on this topic, it is equally as important to correctly identify the two.

 

According to MentalHealth.gov, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. Good mental health is being able to cope with everyday stress. When you are able to balance stress while emotionally connecting with the significant people in your life, you are likely in good mental shape. The inability to manage everyday stress along with not having a balanced work/life situation can be signs of declining mental health. Addressing these signs early can prevent a further decline in mental health and prevent mental disorders.

The Mayo Clinic states that Mental illnesses or mental health disorders, refer to a wide range of conditions such as, depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders and other addictive behaviors. There are many risk factors that can cause any of these conditions. Many times, it is not just one risk factor involved. The common ones are physical, psychological and social.

The physical risks factors typically refer to a person's physical health and it's effect on the their mental health. One is example is, if a person has a family history of mental health disorders, or if they have a chronic medical condition, they are more likely to have poor mental health. Psychological risks can be traumatic experiences that someone has experienced. These can be life stresses, financial problems or low self-esteem. Social risk factors are similar to psychological. Being in an abusive or toxic relationship can play a role in mental health decline, along with lack of a support system and poor social communication skills.

Despite the increasing rate of mental illnesses, the two are still widely mischaracterized. One study found that 60% of adults can't fully recognize symptoms of mental health conditions. Mischaracterization also proliferates mental health stigmas and can prevent individuals from seeking help. With this in mind, doctors and mental health advocates have been leading campaigns for "health literacy", which they believe will lower the rates of mischaracterizations and encourage others to seek help without the fear of being misdiagnosed. Higher health literacy in communities can bridge the gap between a life condemned to misunderstanding and shame to a life where warning signs are detected early and treated correctly.

There are those who encouraged us to look at mental health similar to physical health. As they are one in the same. They offer that we must take a preventative approach to mental health as we do medicine.

If you or your loved one is at risk of hurting themselves or others, contact the National Suicide Prevention Line 800-273-TALK (8255).

References

“What Is Mental Health?” What Is Mental Health? | MentalHealth.gov, www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health.

What is mental illness? (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness.