Mental health
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[[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 223165194 by [[Special:Contributions/86.130.118.179|86.130.118.179]] ([[User talk:86.130.118.179|talk]])
[[Image:Brain 090407.jpg|thumb|right|Mental health is often [[brain]] health]]
'''Mental health''' is a term used to describe either a level of [[cognition|cognitive]] or [[emotion]]al [[Quality of life|wellbeing]] or an absence of a [[mental disorder]].<ref name=About>About.com (2006, [[July 25]]). ''What is Mental Health?''. Retrieved [[June 1]], [[2007]], from http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/stressmanagement/a/whatismental.htm</ref><ref name=Princeton>Princeton University. (Unknown last update). Retrieved [[June 1]], [[2007]], from http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=mental%20health</ref> From perspectives of the discipline of [[positive psychology]] or [[holism]] mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve [[psychological resilience]].<ref name=About />
The [[World Health Organization]] states that there is no one "official" definition of mental health. Cultural differences, subjective assessments, and competing professional theories all affect how "mental health" is defined.<ref name=WHO>[http://www.who.int/whr/2001/chapter1/en/index.html World Health Report 2001 - Mental Health: New Understanding, New Hope], World Health Organization, 2001</ref>
== History ==
The treatment of [[mental disorder]]s date back to medieval [[Islamic medicine|Muslim physicians]] from the 8th to 15th centuries.<ref>Ibrahim B. Syed PhD, "Islamic Medicine: 1000 years ahead of its times", ''[[The Islamic Medical Association of North America|Journal of the Islamic Medical Association]]'', 2002 (2), p. 2-9 [7-8].</ref> An early concept of mental hygiene was introduced by the Muslim physician Abu Zayd al-Balkhi (d. 934), who often related it to [[spirit]]ual health.<ref>Nurdeen Deuraseh and Mansor Abu Talib (2005), "Mental health in Islamic medical tradition", ''The International Medical Journal'' '''4''' (2), p. 76-79.</ref>
In the mid-19th century, William Sweetzer was the first to clearly define the term "mental hygiene".<ref name=JohnsHopkins>Johns Hopkins University. (2007). ''Origins of Mental Health''. Retrieved [[June 1]], [[2007]], from http://www.jhsph.edu/dept/mh/about/origins.html</ref> [[Isaac Ray]], one of thirteen founders of the [[American Psychiatric Association]], further defined mental hygiene as an art to preserve the mind against incidents and influences which would inhibit or destroy its energy, quality or development.<ref name=JohnsHopkins />
At the beginning of the 20th century, [[Clifford Whittingham Beers]] founded the National Committee for Mental Hygiene and opened the first outpatient mental health [[clinic]] in the [[United States]].<ref name=JohnsHopkins /><ref name=CliffordBeersClinic>Clifford Beers Clinic. (2006, [[October 30]]). ''About Clifford Beers Clinic''. Retrieved [[June 1]], [[2007]], from http://www.cliffordbeers.org/aboutus.htm</ref>
== Perspectives ==
=== Mental wellbeing ===
{{Refimprovesect|date=June 2007}}
Mental health can be seen as a [[continuum (mathematics)|continuum]], where an individual's mental health may have many different possible values. Mental wellness is generally viewed as a positive attribute, such that a person can reach enhanced levels of mental health, even if they do not have any diagnosable mental health condition. This definition of mental health highlights [[emotion]]al well-being, the capacity to live a full and [[Creativity|creative]] life, and the flexibility to deal with life's inevitable challenges. Many therapeutic systems and self-help books offer methods and philosophies espousing strategies and techniques vaunted as effective for further improving the mental wellness of otherwise healthy people. [[Positive psychology]] is increasingly prominent in mental health.
A [[Holism|holistic]] model of mental health generally includes concepts based upon [[Anthropology|anthropological]], [[education]]al, [[psychology|psychological]], [[Religion|religious]] and [[Sociology|sociological]] perspectives, as well as theoretical perspectives from [[Personality psychology|personality]], [[Social psychology|social]], [[Clinical Psychology|clinical]], [[Health psychology|health]] and [[Developmental psychology|developmental]] [[psychology]].<ref name=WitmerSweeney_p71> {{cite journal
| last = Witmer
| first = J.M.
| coauthors = Sweeny, T.J.
| title = A holistic model for wellness and prevention over the lifespan
| journal = Journal of Counseling and Development
| volume = 71
| pages = 140–148
| date = 1992
}}</ref><ref name=HattieMyersSweeney_p354364> {{cite journal
| last = Hattie
| first = J.A.
| coauthors = Myers, J.E.; Sweeney, T.J.
| title = A factor structure of wellness: Theory, assessment, analysis and practice
| journal = Journal of Counseling and Development
| volume = 82
| pages = 354–364
| date = 2004
}}</ref>
An example of a [[wellness]] model includes one developed by Myers, Sweeny and Witmer. It includes five life tasks — essence or spirituality, [[Labour (economics)|work]] and [[leisure]], [[friendship]], love and self-direction—and twelve sub tasks—[[Self-esteem|sense of worth]], [[Self-efficacy|sense of control]], realistic beliefs, [[Emotional intelligence|emotional awareness]] and [[Coping skill|coping]], [[problem solving]] and [[creativity]], [[Humour|sense of humor]], [[nutrition]], [[exercise]], self care, [[stress management]], [[gender identity]], and [[cultural identity]]—are identified as characteristics of healthy functioning and a major component of wellness. The components provide a means of responding to the circumstances of life in a manner that promotes healthy functioning.<ref name=MyersSweenyWitmer_p251266>
{{cite journal
| last = Myers
| first = J.E.
| coauthors = Sweeny, T.J.; Witmer, J.M.
| title = The wheel of wellness counseling for wellness: A holistic model for treatment planning. Journal of Counseling and Development
| journal = Journal of Counseling and Development
| volume = 78
| pages = 251–266
| date = 2000
}}</ref>
=== Lack of a mental disorder ===
{{see also|Mental disorder}}
Mental health can also be defined as an absence of a major mental health condition.
=== Cultural and religious considerations ===
Mental health can be socially constructed and socially defined; that is, different professions, [[Community|communities]], [[Society|societies]] and [[culture]]s have very different ways of conceptualizing its nature and causes, determining what is mentally healthy, and deciding what interventions are appropriate.<ref name=Weare2000_p12>{{cite book | last = Weare | first = Katherine | title = Promoting mental, emotional and social health: A whole school approach | publisher = RoutledgeFalmer | date = 2000 | location = [[London]] | pages = 12 | id = ISBN 978-0415168755 }}</ref> Thus, different professionals will have different cultural and religious backgrounds and experiences, which may impact the methodology applied during treatment.
Many [[mental health professional]]s are beginning to, or already understand, the importance of competency in religious diversity and [[spirituality]]. The [[American Psychological Association]] explicitly states that religion must be respected. Education in [[Spirituality|spiritual]] and religious matters is also required by the [[American Psychiatric Association]].<ref name=HandbookofPsychotherapyandReligousDiversity_p4>{{cite book | last = Richards | first = P.S. | coauthors = Bergin, A. E. | title = Handbook of Psychotherapy and Religious Diversity | publisher = [[American Psychological Association]] | date = 2000 | location = [[Washington D.C.]] | pages = 4 | id = ISBN 978-1557986245}}</ref>
==Mental health profession==
{{main|Mental health professional}}
A number of [[profession]]s have developed specializing in [[mental disorder]]s, including the [[Medicine|medical]] speciality of [[psychiatry]], divisions of [[psychology]] known as [[clinical psychology]], [[abnormal psychology]], [[positive psychology]], [[applied behavior analysis]], [[behavior therapy]], clinical or mental health [[social work]], mental health counselors, [[Family therapy|marriage and family therapists]], [[psychotherapists]], [[counselors]] and [[public Health]] professionals.<ref name=KingLS>King, L.S. (1952) Is Medicine an Exact Science?. ''Philosophy of Science, 19'', 131-140.</ref><ref name=AJP154Editorial>A, N.C. (1997). What is Psychiatry? ''The American Journal of Psychiatry, 154'', 591-593.</ref><ref name=APASiteAbout>American Psychiatric Association. (2006). ''About APA''. Retrieved [[April 19]], [[2007]], from http://www.psych.org/about_apa/</ref><ref name=PrincetonDef2>Princeton University. (2006). ''psychiatry''. Retrieved [[April 19]], [[2007]], from http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=psychiatry</ref><ref name=SCHHS>South County Hospital Healthcare System. (2006). ''Glossary of Specialties''. Retrieved [[April 19]], [[2007]], from http://www.schospital.com/glossary.cfm</ref><ref name=UM>University of Melbourne. (2005, [[August 19]]). ''What is Psychiatry?''. Retrieved [[April 19]], [[2007]], from http://www.psychiatry.unimelb.edu.au/info/what_is_psych.html</ref><ref name=Stedman>Stedman, T. (2005). Psychiatry. In ''Stedman's Medical Dictionary'' (28th Edition). Pennsylvania: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.</ref><ref name=StonybrookHospital>Stony Brook University Medical Center. (Unknown last update). ''Psychiatry''. Retrieved [[April 19]], [[2007]], from http://www.stonybrookhospital.com/index.cfm?id=1874#whatis</ref><ref name=CPA>California Psychiatric Association. (2007, [[February 28]]). ''Frequently Asked Questions About Psychiatry & Psychiatrists''. Retrieved [[April 19]], [[2007]], from http://www.calpsych.org/publications/cpa/faqs.html</ref> Different clinical and academic professions tend to favor differing models, explanations and goals.<ref name="Rogers&Pilgram05">Rogers, A. & Pilgram, D. (2005) ''A Sociology of Mental Health and Illness'', Open University Press, 3rd Edition. ISBN 0335215831</ref>
==See also==
* [[Global Mental Health]]
* [[Health]]
* [[Public health]]
* [[Self-help groups for mental health]]
* [[Baker Act]]
=== Related concepts ===
* [[Dissociation (psychology)|Dissociation]] ''(psychology)''
* [[Mental disorder]]
* [[Mental health professional]]
* [[Sanity]]
* [[Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV]]
=== Related disciplines and specialties ===
* [[Psychology]]
** [[Positive psychology]]
* [[Psychiatry]]
:* [[DSM-IV Codes]]
* [[Social work]]
* [[Youth Health]]
== References ==
=== Further reading ===
* Atkinson, J. (2006) '''Private and Public Protection: Civil Mental Health Legislation,''' Edinburgh, Dunedin Academic Press
* Nesse, R.M. (2005). '''Evolutionary Psychology and Mental Health''' in [[David Buss]], (Ed.), ''Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology''. John Wiley and Sons: Hoboken, NJ. Pp. 903-937. [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~nesse/Articles/Nesse-EvolMentHlth-Buss-HBEvPsy-2005.pdf Full text]
=== Notes ===
{{reflist}}
=== External links===
* [http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/international/ International Mental Health]
* [http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocialcaretopics/Mentalhealth/index.htm Mental Health Department of Health (United Kingdom)]
* [http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ National Institute of Mental Health (United States)]
* [http://www.mh-center.org/en/ Mental Health and HIV/AIDS (Articles in Eng/Rus versions) (Kazakhstan)]
{{Psychology}}
{{Mental and behavioural disorders}}
[[Category:Mental health| ]]
[[Category:Social issues]]
[[Category:Positive psychology]]
[[ar:صحة نفسية]]
[[es:Salud mental]]
[[fr:Santé mentale]]
[[is:Andleg heilsa]]
[[it:Salute mentale]]
[[he:בריאות הנפש]]
[[ja:メンタルヘルス]]
[[pl:Zdrowie psychiczne]]
[[pt:Saúde mental]]
[[ru:Психическое здоровье]]
[[sr:Ментално здравље]]
[[fi:Mielenterveys]]