What exactly do we mean when we say good mental health? What does mental wellbeing actually mean? We can all agree that it is a state of mind, what we feel and think, but more than that…
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as:
“Mental health is not just the absence of mental disorders. It is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”
But who defines what the normal stresses are? Especially in our current COVID-19 pandemic.
mind.org.uk states the following:
“Mental wellbeing describes your mental state – how you are feeling and how well you can cope with day-to-day life.
Our mental wellbeing is dynamic. It can change from moment to moment, day to day, month to month or year to year.
If you have good mental wellbeing you are able to:
- feel relatively confident in yourself and have positive self-esteem
- feel and express a range of emotions
- build and maintain good relationships with others
- feel engaged with the world around you
- live and work productively
- cope with the stresses of daily life
- adapt and manage in times of change and uncertainty”
The SCST feel that mental health is a spectrum, or a continuum, which applies to everyone. It’s part of the human condition. In our daily working lives we deal with many stresses and strains that can both degrade or lift are mental wellbeing. Due to this we are proud to promote the following service:
The company Behavioural Insights Limited, in partnership with the Academy for Healthcare Science Professional Bodies Council, the office of the Chief Scientific Officer for England and NHS England have developed a free text message service called HCS Wellbeing. By signing up, you’ll receive a welcome message, then one message a week for 7 weeks with prompts and signposting to support your wellbeing. All you need to do is provide your mobile phone number (see link below). You can opt-out of the service at any time.
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