What Is Meant by the Term “Mental Health”?

To start examining what mental health refers to, watch this video (courtesy of the Lausanne Global Classroom) of professionals and academics in the areas of psychology and psychiatry describing what is meant by mental health and related issues in society today.

Differentiating between mental illness and mental health

Mental illnesses are among the most common health conditions in the US. Mental illnesses are disorders, ranging from mild to severe, that affect a person’s thinking, mood, and/or behavior. About 1 in 25 US adults lives with a serious mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) which is a mental illness that interferes with a person’s ability to function. Over 1 in 5 youth (ages 13-18) either currently or at some point during their life, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness (CDC 2023). Let’s define mental illness to clarify what is meant by this term that affects so many people.

Mental illness is defined as follows (Merriam-Webster 2023):

Reframing the term, “mental illness”

While the severity of mental illness should not be downplayed, Scottish theologian and author of “Finding Jesus in the Storm”, John Swinton suggests that a better term for mental illnesses is mental health challenges for these two reasons (Swinton 2020):

• The word “challenges” focuses our attention on what enables us to remain healthy in the midst of psychological distress. It suggests that while mental health challenges can cause great suffering and distress, it is possible to find hope and fight in the midst of the wildest storms (i.e. worst scenarios). 
• Second, whereas the word “illness” reminds us of what is wrong and narrows the range of options, “challenges” sees the situation as potentially constructive and full of opportunities for a variety of perspectives, interpretations, and descriptions – a more positive and forward-facing orientation.

As we continue to learn how to think about mental illness and mental health, this framing may be useful to guide our reflections and engagement with the topic of this course.

So what is then meant by mental health?

Essentially, mental health refers to our overall emotional, psychological and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services n.d.).

Maintaining good mental health therefore means avoiding or mitigating mental health challenges or finding ways to overcome them through getting support medically, spiritually, or socially. Religious spirituality has been positively associated with the alleviation of many mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, anorexia, and personality disorder (Swinton 2020, 33). As Christians, we know that God is very present during times when people face mental health challenges. However, often we doubt this or do not feel that this is true when trying to overcome our own challenges. This feeling of being alone can contribute to difficulties and complications in mental health. During this course, we will consider what practical steps and principles, based on the love and power of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection, should be relied upon and practiced to overcome complex and difficult circumstances. We will not focus on curing mental health challenges but rather on how people, with Jesus’ help, can live well while overcoming mental health challenges.  

Causes of mental illness

There is no single cause for mental illness. A number of factors can contribute to putting individuals at risk for mental illness.

Select the information icons to read more about the factors contributing to people experiencing varying severity levels of mental illness.