June 26, 2023
By Kristen Schoolcraft Campos, PMHNP, MSN, MSW
Too often we start a conversation about mental health when someone is displaying signs of distress. Mental health has become the opposite of mental illness; to be mentally healthy one must be free from mental illness. Instead I like to discuss mental wellness. Just this simple change of phrase disrupts this medical model idea of healthy versus unhealthy. This is important because people with mental disorders can be mentally well!
1 of 5 Will Experience a Mental Disorder This Year
Having a mental disorder doesn’t automatically make your brain unhealthy. Over 57 million U.S. adults suffered from a mental disorder in 2021. That does not mean their brains were affected all 365 days of the year. While some mental disorders are persistent, many eb and flow throughout the year. There are flare-ups due to a stressor just like allergies flaring with increased pollen/vog. With treatment we can minimize symptoms, decrease the length of the flares, and prevent future flares. As a Psych NP, for me this means helping patients find coping mechanisms, recognizing triggers, making healthy lifestyle changes, psychotherapy, medication management, vitamin supplementation, sleep hygiene, healthy relationships, self-care, setting boundaries, relaxation techniques and so so much more.
Defining Wellness
The idea of wellness stems back to ancient times, across cultures, and spanning multiple continents. Wellness is a holistic approach which recognizes the importance of physical, mental, emotional, and spirituality in one’s health. Mental wellness is the ability to cope with life stressors, build resilience, and grow towards a more meaningful life. Focusing on mental wellness pushes past treating symptoms of mental illness and aiming for mental health. Towards a positive person-centered approach which empowers people to find their purpose. This can be finding inner peace, recognizing your importance, connecting with others, or seeking the meaning of life. When you are mentally well you have more happiness, life satisfaction, stronger connections, and more personal growth.
People with Mental Disorders Achieve Mental Wellness
One diagnosis does not somehow eliminate your ability to achieve mental wellness. Many of the most remarkable people I know have been diagnosed with mental disorders, but they are mentally well. They have faced enormous obstacles in their lives and have learned how to navigate past them. They have developed resilience. I encourage everyone to move past the medical model of mental health versus mental illness, and start discussing mental wellness. The goal of treatment should be more than managing symptoms and achieving remission. The goal should be wellness. What will be your first step towards mental wellness?
References
Galderisi, S., Heinz., A., Kastrup, M., Beezhold, J., & Sartorius, N. (2015). Toward a new definition of mental health. World Psychiatry, 14(2), 231-233. doi: 10.1002/wps.20231. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4471980/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20World%20Health,her%20community%E2%80%9D%20(1).
Global Wellness Institute. (2020). Mental Wellness. Retrieved from https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/mental-wellness/
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, March). Mental Illness. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
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