Concepts of Mental Health and Well-Being

According to the US National Institute of Health,

“mental health includes our emotional, psychological,
and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel,
and act as we cope with life. It also helps to
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.”

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

Concepts of Mental Health and Well-Being
The 1999 US Surgeon General’s Report on Mental
Health defined mental health as “successful
performance of mental function, resulting in
productive activities, fulfilling relationships with
other people, and the ability to change and to cope
with adversity.”

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

Concepts of Mental Health and Well-Being
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Health Report
released in 2001 stated that “mental health is defined
differently by different experts from different cultures.
Concepts of mental health include the following:
1. subjective well-being; 6. self-actualization of one’s
2. perceived self-efficacy; intellectual and emotional
3. autonomy; potential, among others
4. competence;
5. intergenerational dependence
CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING
1. Subjective Well-Being
◦ This may defined as one’s personal (subjective) thoughts and feelings
about one’s overall state of being. Mental health denotes positive and
healthy interpretations of a person’s self-concept, and how a person feels
about himself.
◦ Good mental health is tied to the individual’s self-concept and
emotions about him. A persons with a healthy self-concept or self-
identity exudes charm and confidence, is usually sociable, productive and
can maintain healthy relationships. A positive warm regard
for oneself serves as a foundation of mental health

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

1. Subjective Well-Being
◦ A negative self-concept will have a negative effect on
one’s mental health and well-being. For example, if a
persons perceives herself as unattractive, she will start
feeling inadequate and will compare herself with others.
She will feel anxious, and might even end up having
paranoid thoughts that people are avoiding her or talking
behind her back.

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

1. Subjective Well-Being
The anxiety and unhappiness this person experiences will
then affect her behavior such as having fits of anger, lost of
interest in her studies, shunning away from people, and
ending up alone and miserable. These type of thinking,
feeling and behavior can trigger mental disorders, if not
properly addressed, immediately .

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

2. Perceived Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy is one’s perception of one’s value and
worth, effectiveness, and ability in performing a task or
activity. Mental health and well-being is also anchored on
one’s self-worth and value of self-esteem. A person with
low self-esteem may exhibit types of behavior that are self-
destructive or self-sabotaging

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

2. Perceived Self-Efficacy
A person with low self-esteem may exhibit types of
behavior that are self-destructive or self-sabotaging. Low
self-esteem produces thought that say one is not worthy of
being loved or not adequate enough to be somebody’s
friend. This thought then produces emotions such as anger
or hopelessness, pushing the person to certain risky
behavior like drug or alcohol addiction, sexual promiscuity,
social isolation, extreme emotional swings, unhealthy
dependency on others, and mental disorder.

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

2. Perceived Self-Efficacy

On the other hand, a person with a healthy self-concept will

move toward self-fulfillment and self-actualization, have
healthy relationships, and live happier and fulfilling lives.

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

 3. Autonomy

Autonomy deals with one’s capacity to separate

one’s identity from other significant person like parents,
lovers, and special friends. Autonomy is the capacity for
self-direction and having a clearly defined role identity. It
is crucial to have autonomy since this defines how a
person interacts with other people and the environment.

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 3. Autonomy

Expectations are clarified and adjusted according to

the role an individual takes, and this can result in better
appreciation of the individual in terms of relationships
either at work, at play, or with the family.

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

 3. Autonomy
Lack of autonomy, on the other hand, can lead to co-
dependence among those who cannot define themselves as
separate entities from people they depend on either
emotionally, physically, socially, spiritually, or even
financially. This can also lead to relational conflicts as some
people stay away from overly dependent or “clingy, needy”
individuals.

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

 4. Competence
Competence is related to self-esteem and self-
identity. Competence is the perception of one’s capacity to
effectively perform a function or activity using specific skills
and knowledge, and achieving the desired results at a given
time. Responsibility is a major underlying factor for
competence.

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 4. Competence

An individual who is competent will always assume

full responsibility for the actions and results of his behavior.
Because competence is gained through time, a competent
individual produces trust with those he or she deals with.

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 4. Competence
The ability to accept changes and being resilient is
also part of being competent. A competent person will
adapt to the changes that can happen while he is in the
thick of things, understand why such changes happen, and
will adjust his actions and attitude according to the new
demands that those changes bring.

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

 5. Intergenerational Independence
intergenerational Independence refers to the
relationships between individuals who belong to the
different generations but may be living separately as
independent, autonomous persons during a specific period
of time. An example of this which is very common among
Filipinos is the relationship between parents and their
grown-up children. When the children have all grown-up,
are pursuing their own dreams, and are forming their own
“nests,” their parents, who may already be retired by then,
are usually left at home.
CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING
 5. Intergenerational Independence
This phenomenon is referred to s the “empty nest.”
However, with healthy relationships between family
members, older parents will often be visited by their
children (and grandchildren) during weekends or during
special occasions to celebrate and be in touch.
Cultural differences will have different variations of
how the members of society practice intergenerational
independence.

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 5. Intergenerational Independence
In the USA, sending old parents to retirement
homes is still practiced. However, there is also a trend today
of children providing care to their ageing parents while
maintaining their own independence.
Today’s technology has helped intergenerational
independence thrive as it closes the gap of time and space
so that even physically separated family members can still
be in touch easily. This is true particularly among Filipino
households that have members working abroad.

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6. Self-actualization of One’s
Intellectual and Emotional Potential

Maslow’s pyramid of human hierarchy of needs places

self-actualization at the peak. This means that once a person
fulfills his or her physiological needs, security and safety
needs, emotional and social needs, and self-esteem needs,
the next need to be fulfilled is self-actualization.

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

6. Self-actualization of One’s
Intellectual and Emotional Potential

The fulfillment of these needs does not have to be in

sequence or progression. One person’s need for love may be
stronger than the need for security. Self-actualization is
about fulfilling one’s potentials, becoming the person that
one has always aspired for.

CHAPTER 8: CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH and WELL-BEING

6. Self-actualization of One’s
Intellectual and Emotional Potential
Maslow identified the key characteristic of self-
actualized individuals. They have acceptance of their reality,
and have compassion to help solve problems of other
people and society in general. Their spontaneous with their
thoughts and behavior, and are open to change. They have
strong need for privacy and solitude as they continue to
strive in fulfilling their potentials.
6. Self-actualization of One’s
Intellectual and Emotional Potential

They are highly appreciative of events and people and

maintain their awe wonder of the things around them. They
may often experience peak experiences of intense joy and
happiness which generate inspiration and strength.
Individual who are self-actualizing nurture good mental
health and well being.
Another example of mental health and well-being model we
can look into is the one developed in 1991 by Witmer
Sweeney. The model includes what is referred to as the five
life tasks:
1. Essence or spirituality
2. Work and leisure
3. Friendship
4. Love
5. Self-direction
Related to these five tasks are twelve sub-tasks as major
components of wellness or well-being that comprise the
Wheel of Wellness espoused by Myers, Witmer, and
Sweeney in 2000.
1. Sense of worth
2. Sense of control
3. Realistic beliefs
4. Emotional awareness and coping
5. Problem solving and creativity
Related to these five tasks are twelve sub-tasks as major
components of wellness or well-being that comprise the
Wheel of Wellness espoused by Myers, Witmer, and
Sweeney in 2000.
6. Sense of humor 11. gender identity
7. Nutrition 12. cultural identity
8. Physical exercise
9. self-care
10. Stress management
In addition to the five components, maintaining good
mental health and well-being requires resiliency and
adaptability, two important skills that need to be developed
in every person particularly the adolescent.
Resiliency – the capacity to establish and maintain one’s
balance and well-being in the face of adversity. It is the
ability to get back on one’s feet after a disaster or a crisis.
Adaptability – is the capacity to adjust to changes
necessary for one’s survival and balance.
Healthy Self-Concept at the Core of Mental
Health and Well-Being

Having a positive regard for oneself means

looking at oneself as someone who is worth loving
and worth caring for, regardless of physical flaws
and defects, regardless of what other people
perceive him to be, and in spite of the thoughts,
feelings, and behavior on experiences. It is about
understanding and accepting one’s personality,
uniqueness, and individuality.
 Good Physical Health is Good for Mental Health

The World Health Organization clearly noted that

the poor mental health plays a significant role in
diminished immune functioning and the
development of certain illness, and eventually
premature death.
 Good Physical Health is Good for Mental Health

One’s physical Health is also an important factor

to good mental health. Sleep and nutrition, for
example, should be given importance and property
observed by an adolescence whose tendency is to
take these things for granted.
 Good Physical Health is Good for Mental Health

An individual who is deprived of sleep, for

example will be cranky, will have a short temper, will
sometimes become emotionally sensitive, and will
also have a bad memory.
Physically the individual deprived of sleep may
develop skin rashes or acne, have dark circles
around the eyes and may even develop bad posture
because of feeling weak and having low energy.
 Good Physical Health is Good for Mental Health

People around this person will take notice and

might even get affected by certain behavior a sleep
deprived person exhibit.
 Healthy Concept + Healthy Mind and Body=
Good Mental Health and Well-Being

A healthy self-concept plus a healthy mind and

body are once guarantee to good mental health.
When all of these elements are balanced are in
balanced, the general well being is experienced.
Well being is the state of wellness where every
aspect of a person is in balance.
 Healthy Concept + Healthy Mind and Body=
Good Mental Health and Well-Being

Developing one’s good mental health and well-

being is very important to the adolescent because
this serves as a strong foundation toward a happy
and healthy adulthood.
 Challenges to Mental Health and Well-Being
A mental health is a short term and temporary
change in a person’s thoughts, feelings, or behavior
that upsets one’s well-being, interpersonal
relationships, and productivity.
Mental health illness, on the other hand, refers to
diagnosable mental disorders characterized by
changes in one’s thinking, feeling, and behavior, as
well as in one’s relationships and productivity. There is
usually distress or impaired functioning during mental
illness (Knopf, Park, and Muyle 2008).
 Challenges to Mental Health and Well-Being

Many adolescents are more susceptible to

mental health concerns than adults. This is primarily
due to their undeveloped brains and continuing
changes in their bodies.
In addition to this, the adolescent is also going
through tough times in resolving their identity crisis and
role confusion.
 Challenges to Mental Health and Well-Being

Roughly 20% of a country’s total population falls

under the 10 to 19 years of age category or the
adolescence category. The WHO estimates that there
are around one billion adolescents around the world
today. This is the reason why World Health
Organization has mandated every member-nation to
provide special health services to the adolescent
segment of their population.
 Challenges to Mental Health and Well-Being

The WHO enumerated possible mental health

challenges faced by adolescents worldwide. These
include “conduct or behavior disorders, anxiety,
depression and eating disorders, as well as risk
behaviors including those that relate to sexual
behavior, substance abuse, and violent behavior”.
 Challenges to Mental Health and Well-Being

The WHO enumerated possible mental health

challenges faced by adolescents worldwide. These
include “conduct or behavior disorders, anxiety,
depression and eating disorders, as well as risk
behaviors including those that relate to sexual
behavior, substance abuse, and violent behavior”.
FIVE POPULAR STEPS TO
IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH
AND WELL BEING
FROM : NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE OF UNITED
KINGDOM
 CONNECT
 Connect with the people
around you: Your family, friends,
classmates, schoolmates, and
neighbors. Spend time
developing these relationships.
 BE ACTIVE
 Physical activity generates a positive
sense of wellness. Engage in some sports
or physical activity like playing
basketball, badminton, bowling, biking,
or swimming. Take a walk if you do not
have enough time for some sports.
 KEEP LEARNING

Learning new skills or obtaining new knowledge

can give you a sense of achievement and new
confidence. Some recommended doing
something new everyday. It can be a short
program in cooking or baking, joining an acting or
writing workshop, learning to play a musical
instrument, or fixing a car problem.
 GIVE TO OTHERS
 Giving to others is not limited to money or other
material things. A smile or a warm and sincere
greeting or thank you can brighten up the day for
both the giver and receiver. Social involvement
such as volunteering during disasters or helping
out in your communities is also good for
developing mental health.
 TAKE NOTICE
Be in the here and now, be in the present
moment, be aware of what is happening around
you, your own thoughts and feelings, and the
physical sensations that you experience . This
awareness is also referred to as “mindfulness”, and
being mindful can positively change the way you
feel about life and how you feel about life and
how you approach challenges.