Mental Wellbeing

Mental health is often described as the absence of mental ill health. However, it may be described in positive terms as well. This view is becoming more popular in recent years with the increasing popularity of positive psychology and campaigns aimed at preventing mental ill health.
Mental wellbeing includes having effective coping strategies. It is the ability to form positive relationships with others and to be able to recognise one's own strengths.
Mental health can also be thought of in terms of social participation. Taking part in social and economic activities such as employment and maintaining relationships with friends or family are seen as signs of mental wellbeing. Joining social groups or sports clubs are seen as ways to
promote

Self-esteem may often be linked to socio-economic value. The UK's Faculty for Public
Health website states that mental well-being is 'inextricably linked, as to both cause and effect, to social wellbeing'.
Mental ill health may be thought of in terms of the absence of mental health or well-being. Low selfesteem, a lack of social connections or a belief in one's economic value may lead to depression and anxiety. The concept of mental ill health may also be considered as the presence of certain symptoms or behaviour patterns. The presence of symptoms such as low mood or insomnia may be an indicator of depression. Paranoia or irrational beliefs may be associated with psychosis. Maladaptive behaviour patterns such as self-harm can indicate a lack of mental well-being. As mental health is more than an absence of mental illness but the presence of positive behaviours and thought patterns, mental ill-health may also be the presence of symptoms and negative, maladaptive behaviour patterns.
The concept of mental ill-health is also subject to change. The DSM is under near constant review and ideas of mental ill-health has changed vastly over the centuries. Today, ideas of what constitutes mental illness is still different between different countries. Homosexuality was