What is mental wellness?
Mental wellness is a term that considers psychological, physical, emotional, and social well-being. Looking at the whole self in this way can help people flourish. Mental wellness is relevant to all of us, not just those experiencing mental health challenges.
Mental wellness isn’t just the opposite of a mental health condition like Opens in a new tabanxiety or Opens in a new tabdepression. While treating these conditions may help put people on a path toward mental wellness, it’s not the whole picture.
Mental wellness is marked by:
- feeling up to the challenges of day-to-day life
- experiencing moments of pleasure and joy in activities or relationships
- feeling satisfaction with life
- experiencing positive emotions
- having the resources to help cope with the circumstances you face.
Everyone’s challenges and resources are different. Our mental wellness can be impacted by our family, friends, community, the environment in which we live, and what is happening in the world at large. So, it fluctuates as circumstances change. But with helpful tools and support, when faced with challenges, young people and adults can lean into their strengths and develop resilience: an ability to handle difficulties and move forward.
Intentionally nurturing mental wellness makes a difference in long-term life satisfaction, physical health, and establishing healthy relationships. Taking care of your mind is like taking care of your body — both involve stretching and strengthening muscles to keep your whole self strong and healthy. Nourishing your body can help improve your mental wellness, and vice versa. Taking care of yourself better equips you to help your child or another young person.
What is a mental health condition?
It’s common to occasionally feel depressed or anxious. But a mental health professional will only diagnose a mental health condition or disorder when certain criteria are met:
- specific symptoms
- how severe the symptoms are
- how long the symptoms last
- whether symptoms interfere with ability to function in daily life.
For example, major depression can cause profound sadness, a sense of despair, or a loss of enjoyment for at least two weeks.
You can learn more about specific mental health conditions like different forms of depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more on the Opens in a new tabNIMH website.
Seeking Help
Recognizing when your teen needs mental health support can be difficult. We’re here to help you identify the warning signs.
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Learn about youth mental wellness, how to recognize warning signs, and where to find help. Essential guidance for parents supporting teens through mental health challenges.
