Difference Between Mental Health and Mental Illness

What’s the Difference Between Mental Illness vs Mental Health

Mental illness" and "mental health" are interchangeable but have different meanings and causes. A person can have poor mental health but cannot suffer from mental illnesses but can progress to mental illness (e.g., chronic stress → anxiety disorder).   

Keep learning from this article to determine the difference between mental health and mental illness, clinical symptoms, and treatments.

What is Mental Health?

Similar to the physical health, mental health is a part of every individual’s life. Physical health refers to the condition of your body, while mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health refers to the psychological, emotional and social well-being of individuals. It affects someone's feelings, acting, thinking, decision-making, handling problems and interacting with others. 

At the same time, physical health can influence mental health in both way positively or negatively. 

What is Mental Illness?

While mental health is always there and it can be termed as in positive or negative, mental illness affects an individual’s ability to do function  over a prolonged time period. Mental illness is not same as feeling sad, stressed or unhappy due to some unforeseen situation or life difficulties. People living with mental illness may experience periods of distress or feel less in control of their thoughts and emotions, depending on the condition and its severity.

Mental illness refers to a range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behaviour. These can vary in severity from mild to severe. This situation can evolve into serious complications, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In 2019, around 970 million people worldwide suffered from mental illness, with the most common disorders being depression and anxiety. Mental illness can impact how we see ourselves, how we see the world around us and how we interact with the world.

Definition of Mental Health and Mental Illness

Mental health refers to the psychological, emotional and social well-being of individuals. It affects someone's feelings, acting, thinking, decision-making, handling problems and interacting with others.

Mental illness indicates severe conditions that impact feelings, thinking, and behaviour. This situation can evolve into serious complications, such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In 2019, around 970 million people worldwide suffered from mental illness, with the most common disorders being depression and anxiety.

Difference Between Mental Health and Mental Illness

Both mental illness and health impact concentration level and brain functioning. It is essential to differentiate between them to ensure proper care and create a supportive environment. The table below discusses recognisable differences between mental health and illness:

Signs of Poor Mental Health or Illnesses

Indicating signs depend on the type of mental health disorder or illness. Some common symptoms are:

• Feeling unhappy and alone
• Emotional outbursts, mood changes such as extreme anger, distress
• Sleeping problems
• Quieter than usual
• Feeling worthless
• Suicidal thoughts
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Weight gain or loss

Types of Mental Illness

There are different types of Mental Illness which includes:

• Anxiety Disorders(e.g., generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias)
• Mood Disorders(e.g., depression, bipolar disorder)
• Eating Disorders(e.g., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa)
• Psychotic Disorders (e.g., schizophrenia)
• Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder)
• Personality Disorders (e.g., borderline personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder)
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders (e.g., ADHD, autism spectrum disorder)
• Substance Use Disorders

Options to Maintain Mental Well-Being

Treating illness and fostering good mental health requires good actions, which are:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy, like counselling, reframing
• Mindfulness practices or meditation
• Spending time with family, friends, and loved ones
• Deep breathing exercises
• Regular physical exercise
• Having a routine of 8 hours of sleep
• Healthy balanced diet  
• Engaging with enjoyable activities
• Setting short-term and long-term goals

Mental health means the emotional well-being and mental state, whereas mental illness indicates a diagnosed mental condition that impacts behaviour and thoughts. A person who struggles with mental health can feel unhappy or overwhelmed or have thinking difficulties without being anxious or living with depression.

Mental illness makes you feel numb, helpless, and unable to work, experience mood swings, and have suicidal and self-harming thoughts. 

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