What's the difference between mental health and well-being?

Mental health and mental well-being are terms that we often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to different aspects of our overall psychological state, so let’s break it down.

Mental Health

Good mental health is a state of well-being in which we can realise our own potential. We can cope with the normal stresses of life - job, family, taxes, laundry. And we can work productively and successfully, whatever that means for us. Our mental health can be affected by a variety of factors, including genetics, environment, and life experiences, which might bring about mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. When our mental health is in bad shape, our lives are massively affected, and we need professional help to support us in order to get better.

Mental Well-being

Mental well-being, on the other hand, is a broader concept that refers to our overall state of happiness and life satisfaction. It encompasses not only our psychological mental health, but also our emotional and social situation. The science of positive psychology focuses on mental well-being, and identifies what we need in our lives so that we can keep things on the shiny side - positive emotions, engagement and flow, strong relationships, meaning and a sense of a achievement in what we’re doing. Of course, taking care of our well-being is not only important at home, but in all aspects of our lives.

Well-being at Work

Well-being at work is becoming an increasingly important issue. More and more organisations are recognising the importance of taking care of their team’s well-being. Of course, this not only helps the employees lead happier lives, but also helps companies to keep up productivity and reduce stress related sick days. On top of flexible work arrangements, employee assistance programs, and mindfulness training, companies are looking for new ways to promote mental well-being in a fun and approachable way.

Using Art to Improve Mental Well-being

The creative process of making art is a great way to improve an a person’s emotional, mental, and physical well-being. When treating mental health disorders, art therapy can be used to help individuals with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. But we don’t have to be in a bad place in order to reap the benefits of art to improve our mental well-being.

At The Stress Less Pencil we use art as a fun and engaging way to connect people to their emotions, and to each other, in order to strengthen relationships, create engagement and flow, invite more positive emotions into our lives, and identify the things that bring us meaning. All of the factors we need to continue to flourish.

Find out more about how we use art to improve your well-being >>