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mental health promotion

The World Health Organisation works from a positive holistic definition of health:

"a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"
WHO 1948

Mental health is an essential part of every person's well-being, therefore:

"Mental well-being, like physical health, is a resource we need to promote and protect"
Friedli 2003

The mental well-being of individuals is also closely connected with the health of our society:

"How society works at every level influences the way people feel about themselves. And how people feel influences how well society functions"
Public Mental Health Project,
Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health Services 1999.

Mental distress knows no boundaries
It may impact on any person at any time, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, class or any other social status. It can affect anyone who has experienced issues such as:

work stress exam pressure unemployment poverty abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, financial) domestic violence alcohol / drug dependency

fear discrimination: racism, sexism, homophobia, class, age, disability, learning difficulties homelessness exclusion violence loneliness bereavement

Mental Health Promotion
aims to promote a positive understanding of mental health, and to combat the stigma surrounding mental distress. To achieve this, it serves all members of society, working at three levels by promoting resilience factors:

PERSONAL- Strengthening and empowering individuals:
enabling growth, developing self-esteem, and the ability to live life to the full, achieving individual potential through interventions to promote life skills, eg. communicating, negotiating, relationship and parenting skills.

CULTURAL - Strengthening and empowering communities:
increasing social support and social inclusion, improving community safety and neighbourhood environments, developing health and social services which support mental health, and promoting mental health within schools and workplaces eg. through anti-bullying strategies and mental health awareness in health education.

STRUCTURAL - Strengthening and empowering society:
reducing barriers to mental health through initiatives to reduce discrimination and inequalities, and promoting access to education, meaningful employment, housing, services and support for those who are vulnerable.

(Adapted from the Department of Health stategy 'Making it Happen' 2002).

Other ways to promote mental health:

• celebrating difference
• listening to people
• educating people about how they can look after their own mental health and that of others
• increasing self-esteem
• relieving stress
• promoting coping strategies for those who experience mental distress
• raising awareness of 'hidden' issues
• influencing policy
• challenging discrimination and oppression

See our Hall of Fame for more examples of mental health promotion in practice.

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