Good mental health is a state of well-being where individuals are mentally healthy and able to function properly in daily life.
People with good mental health have the ability to handle stress, learn new skills and build relationships.
There are many ways to promote mental health and well-being. These include promoting positive emotions, self-esteem and social support.
Happiness
Happiness is a state of mind that consists of positive emotions, life satisfaction, and well-being. It is important for good mental health because it helps improve your overall quality of life, including your physical health.
There are many different definitions of happiness, but it typically involves feelings of joy and contentment, as well as life satisfaction. Psychologist and philosophers have studied happiness for over 2,500 years, and they’ve identified some key components of what makes a person happy.
Eudaimonia: This type of happiness is associated with seeking virtue, meaning, and purpose in life. It also includes fulfilling responsibilities, investing in long-term goals, and being concerned with the welfare of other people.
Another family of views is called the emotional state view, which departs from hedonism by identifying happiness with an agent’s overall emotional condition, rather than individual pleasures. It also excludes pleasures that don’t directly involve the emotional state, like eating.
Self-esteem
Self-esteem is a sense of your own value and worth. It affects everything from your relationships to your mental health.
People with healthy, positive self-esteem understand their strengths and potential and are confident to try new things. They also have good coping skills to handle stress and create productive ways to deal with negative situations.
Low self-esteem can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. It can also put you at risk of self-harm and suicide.
A strong sense of self is important for good mental health because it helps you to feel secure and worthy of love, compassion and support. Having healthy self-esteem also allows you to accept and forgive yourself for mistakes.
You can improve your self-esteem by changing the way you think about yourself. You should challenge your thoughts and beliefs that are negative, irrational or untrue.
Relationships
Relationships are a huge part of life and good relationships contribute to healthy mental health. They can help you build your self-esteem, encourage positive habits and provide emotional support.
People engage in many different types of relationships including romantic relationships, friendships, family relationships and acquaintances. Often when we talk about being in a relationship we refer to romantic relationships which are the most common and involve physical intimacy and commitment.
However, you can also have platonic relationships which don't involve sex and can be formed in a variety of situations including school or work. Having many friends and other social connections is important for your mental health as it can reduce anxiety and depression, promote better physical health, strengthen your immune system and increase longevity.
Resilience
Resilience is the ability to get up and keep going when things don't go your way. It's an essential part of good mental health because it can help you cope with stress, ward off conditions like depression and anxiety, and improve your overall well-being.
It's not the ability to avoid challenges or be stoic; resilience is about being able to accept and deal with problems in a positive way, says Dr Mark Winwood, AXA Health's Consultant Psychologist.
Emotionally resilient people have a certain set of attitudes and beliefs that enable them to cope with stress more effectively than others. They are optimistic, able to regulate emotions, and have a social conscience, caring about how they impact others.
Resilient individuals tend to be better able to cope with adversity and have more success in life than those who are less resilient. They also have the ability to see failure as a form of helpful feedback and are more likely to remain committed to achieving their goals.