Mental health: Mental health is 'the emotional and spiritual resilience which allows us to enjoy life and survive pain, disappointment and sadness. It is a positive sense of well-being and an underlying belief in our own, and others’, dignity and worth.' (Health Education Authority - 1997).
It can also be used as an umbrella term to refer to both the concepts of mental health problems and mental wellbeing.
Mental health problems: A term that refers to symptoms that meet the criteria for clinical diagnosis of mental illness, or symptoms at a sub-clinical threshold which interfere with emotional, cognitive or social function. Examples include common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and, severe and enduring mental health problems such as schizophrenia.
Mental wellbeing: A term that includes:
- aspects of subjective wellbeing (affect and life satisfaction)
- psychological wellbeing (which covers a wider range of cognitive aspects of mental health such as mastery and a sense of control, having a purpose in life, a sense of belonging and positive relationships with others).