What is mental health?

“Mental Health refers to a broad array of activities directly or indirectly related to the mental well-being component included in the WHO's definition of health” “ Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” WHO constitution (1947) Mental

Well-being (2400 years of debate) Hedonistic perspective WB is a subjective experience of positive affect WB is an outcome Are you happy? How happy are you? Reductionistic (common denominator) Jeremy Bentham and other utilitarians Eudaimonistic perspective WB means growth and human fulfillment of one’s daimon or true nature WB is not an outcome but a process What contributes to self-realization? What makes your life go well? Multi-dimensional : List of Goods Aristotle Martha C. Nussbaum Welfare economics

Well-being (current debate applied to health and mental health) Subjective Well-being SWB means experiencing: - high level of positive affect, - low level of negative affect and - a high degree with satisfaction with life 2 hedonistic components and one cognitive component Satisfaction or Happiness Daniel Kahneman and Ed Diener Psychological Well-being EWB consists of 6 dimensions: self-acceptance positive relations with others personal growth purpose in life environmental mastery autonomy High levels in these dimensions indicate high PWB Carol D Ryff

“Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes 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” WHO 2011

“Mental Health refers to a broad array of activities directly or indirectly related to the mental well-being component included in the WHO's definition of health” “ Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” WHO constitution (1947) Mental

Well-being (current debate applied to health and mental health) Subjective Well-being SWB means experiencing: - high level of positive affect, - low level of negative affect and - a high degree with satisfaction with life 2 hedonistic components and one cognitive component Satisfaction or Happiness Daniel Kahneman and Ed Diener Psychological Well-being EWB consists of 6 dimensions: self-acceptance positive relations with others personal growth purpose in life environmental mastery autonomy High levels in these dimensions indicate high PWB Carol D Ryff

8 Mental Health High levels of symptoms of mental illness Low levels of symptoms of mental illness High levels of WB Low levels of WB Miserable High levels of burden for the persons in your environment You function in society but you do not feel well Flourishing