Mental Well-Being Basics

What are common terms and concepts?

Mental Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a “state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”. It is “is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease”.

Mental Disorder

The International Classification of Diseases (ICT) define a mental disorder as “a clinically recognizable set of symptoms or behaviours associated in most cases with distress and with interference with personal functions”.

Physical activity, exercise & sport

WHO defines physical activity “as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that require energy expenditure”. Exercise is physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive and has as an objective the improvement or maintenance of physical fitness. Sport on the other hand, is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others.

Some Facts & Figures

A Special Eurobarometer Survey on Mental Wellbeing showed that ...

64% of the respondents felt full of life all the time or most of the time,
55% had a lot of energy,
65% reported they were happy and
63% felt calm and peaceful.

Mental health & illness: Studies have estimated that 38.2% of the EU population suffers from a mental disorder (Wittchen et. Al, 2011). Mental ill health is responsible for almost 20% of the diseases in Europe.

Unsurprisingly, substantial research has revealed that people who experience unemployment, impoverishment and family disruptions have a significantly greater risk of mental health problems, such as depression, alcohol use disorders and suicide, than their unaffected counterparts (WHO).

This is a major health problem, with one in four people in the world being affected by some problem with their mental health at some point in their lives (WHO 2014a), making mental disorders the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of overall disease burden after cardiovascular disease and cancer in Europe.

Self-Help

If you are struggling, concerned about your mental health or have symptoms of a mental health issue, you can take a medically reviewed anonymous self-assessment test. Please keep in mind that self-assessments are NOT diagnostic tools. Only a licensed mental-health practitioner or doctor can properly diagnose mental health conditions but assessments can be a valuable first step toward getting treatment.

Some good resources and self-assessment tests are available here:

https://www.psycom.net/

https://screening.mhanational.org/

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/

It is important to remember that you are not alone. Modern European lifestyle can pose some serious challenges to our mental health and well-being.

Important Disclaimer!

This website and project do not claim the expertise to deal with mental disorder. If you suspect you are suffering from mental disorder, please reach out to qualified mental health professionals for assistance. Some information on different types of mental health problems is available here.