Mental health and mental health are actually completely different things. And in case of inferiority, on one or the other hand, human behavior will change, and this will most likely be noticeable. For this reason, it is necessary to maintain levels of psychological health and mental health.
Definition of Terms
In order to answer the question of how mental health differs from psychological, you must first understand both of these terms.
Mental health - these are certain features that allow a person to behave appropriately and successfully adapt to the environment. This category usually includes the extent to which the subjective images of reality formed by a person correspond to objective reality, as well as an adequate perception of oneself, the ability to concentrate on something, the ability to remember certain informational data, and the ability to think critically.
The opposite of good mental health are deviations, as well as a variety of disorders and diseases of the human psyche. Moreover, if the psyche is in order, this is not at all a guarantee of mental health.
With a full psyche and complete adequacy, a person can have severe mental illness. Simply put, a person does not want to live. It may be quite the opposite: a wonderful state of mind, combined with mental deviations and inadequacy.
Under the definition of psychological health, not only mental health, but also the state of the person, falls. That is, this is a certain kind of well-being, in which spiritual and personal are combined, everything is good in a person’s life, while his personality is in a state of growth and readiness to move forward.
Psychological well-being describes the personality as a whole, it refers to several areas at once: cognitive, motivational, emotional, as well as volitional areas. In addition, various manifestations of fortitude can be attributed here.
Mental condition criteria
Health is the foundation of all human life, a certain guarantee of success and that everything will be fine. It is one of the prerequisites for achieving goals in life. In many cultures, it is not only the value of one individual, but also a huge public domain.
The psychological foundations of physical, mental and social health are usually considered in two of its aspects. The criteria for assessing mental well-being are most fully disclosed by A. A. Krylov. They are also applicable to the psychological state.
A scientist identifies criteria in accordance with how they manifest themselves (various processes, properties). Krylov believes that a person who is mentally fine can be characterized by the following properties:
- morality (that is, a sense of conscience and honor);
- concentration;
- equilibrium;
- optimistic attitude towards life;
- adequate claims;
- call of Duty;
- lack of resentment;
- self confidence;
- lack of laziness;
- general naturalness;
- a sense of humor;
- independence;
- responsibility;
- patience;
- self-control;
- self-respect;
- goodwill towards others.
Based on these criteria of psychological health and mental health, which Krylov deduced, it is possible to conclude that the normal psyche, as a certain component of well-being in general, includes a combination of such characteristics that help to establish balance and enable a person to perform his functions in society .
A person with a normal psyche is adapted to life in society, and also takes a direct part in it.
Criteria for the psychological state
In science, the theme of normal psychological well-being was developed in detail by I.V. Dubrovina. The difference between mental health and psychological health lies in the fact that the first refers to the individual processes and mechanisms of the human psyche, and the second is directly related to the personality in general, and is also closely associated with the highest manifestations of the human soul, so to speak.
The term provides an opportunity to highlight the problems of psychological and mental health. Dubrovina gives a note that a psychologically normal person is capable of possessing such qualities as self-sufficiency, understanding and self-acceptance. All this gives a person the opportunity to develop himself in the context of the relationship with the outside world and people in various conditions of culture, economy, ecology and society of our reality.
In addition to all of the above, psychologically normal personalities have such qualities as:
- stability of emotions;
- according to his age, maturity of feelings;
- coping with their own negativity and the emotions generated by it;
- the most natural manifestation of one’s emotions and feelings;
- the ability to enjoy your life;
- ability to maintain well-being;
- adequate perception of self;
- the closest approximation of subjective images to reflected real objects;
- the ability to focus on a particular subject;
- ability to memorize information data;
- ability to process data using logic;
- critical thinking;
- creativity;
- self-knowledge;
- managing your own thoughts.
So, what is the difference between mental and psychological health of a person? The first is a specific dynamic set of properties of the individual psyche that are able to maintain harmony between the needs of him and society. They are also a prerequisite for human orientation to the fulfillment of one's life mission.
The psychological norm is usually interpreted as the ability to live of an individual, as the strength of this life itself, which was provided with the most complete development, and also as the ability to adapt and personal growth in a changing, sometimes unfavorable, but completely mundane environment for the majority. All these are prerequisites for normal psychological well-being.
World Health Organization
What else is the difference between mental and psychological health of a person? WHO gives such a definition to the mental: it is a safe state in which the individual is able to realize his own potential, is able to cope with the usual stresses and irritants in life, to make his own contribution to social life, to carry out his work most productively, so that it brings the greatest benefits.
WHO identifies the following criteria:
- Awareness (coupled with a sense of constancy) of continuity, as well as the identity of one’s “I”, both mental and physical.
- A sense of identity and constancy of one’s own experiences in situations of the same type.
- Critical attitude to himself, as well as to his own mental activity and its results.
- Correspondence of adequate mental reactions to the frequency and, together with it, the force of environmental influences, circumstances and various situations in society.
- The ability to control their own behavior, taking into account compliance with various social standards, laws and regulations.
- The ability to plan your own activities in life, along with the ability to implement these plans.
- The ability to change the way you behave, depending on how circumstances and situations in life change.
By the way, there is even World Mental Health Day, which is usually celebrated on October 10th. This began in 1992.
Difference of terms in WHO
The WHO distinguishes psychological health and mental health of a person mainly due to the fact that mental health is usually attributed to completely separate processes of the psyche, as well as its mechanisms. The psychological, in turn, is usually attributed to the personality itself in general. This makes it possible to separate the psychological aspect of any problem.
The aforementioned Dubrovin introduced the term “psychological health” into the vocabulary of science not so long ago. She believes that psychological well-being is an absolutely necessary condition for a person to function and develop fully in the process of his own life.
The relationship of the psychological state with the physical is currently undeniable.
Psychological characteristics of centenarians
Juett studied psychological types as a form of mental health of people who successfully managed to survive to a very advanced age (80-90 years). The research results showed that all of these people had the following qualities:
- optimism in life;
- calm on an emotional level;
- the ability to feel genuine joy;
- feeling of self-sufficiency;
- high adaptability to difficult life situations.
Portrait of the desired result
Thus, if you compile a highly generalized portrait of the inner world of a healthy person based on the characteristics highlighted above, you can see a creative person, spontaneous, rejoicing in his life, cheerful, open to something new, not ceasing to know himself and his world, not only using the mind, but also using your intuition and sensuality.
Such a person fully accepts his own personality, while realizing the value and absolute uniqueness of the people that surround him. He is also in constant cultivation and helps with these other people.
Such a person first of all takes responsibility for his own life on himself, and from unsuccessful situations he draws useful lessons. His life, of course, is filled with the meaning that he himself found.
About such people it is usually said that "he is in harmony" both with himself and with the world that surrounds him. From this we can single out a keyword to describe the term "psychological health." This word will be "harmony."
Self-agreement
In a psychologically normal person, various aspects are in harmony, which include mental, intellectual, bodily and emotional. The criteria by which one can determine how healthy a particular person is, in fact, appear rather vague.
The very concepts of mental and psychological health of an individual and their norms are mostly determined by customs, traditions, moral principles, cultural and social characteristics of the community.
The ancient Vikings had such warriors, they were called "berserkers." During the battle, they were able to fall into a state of some kind of combat trance. Such a person was simply indispensable on the battlefield, but outside this field the behavior of such a warrior can hardly be called adequate.
A not too sensitive and even cynical pathologist in his profession is able to realize his potential more than fully, while beyond the limits of his working atmosphere he may look somewhat strange in the eyes of other people.
The norm itself is a balance between adaptation to reality and reality itself, it is the task of developing one’s personality and self-affirmation together with a sense of responsibility and some potential energy of the psyche and activity. Norma is also the ability to overcome difficulties on the path of life and to accept the challenge of the outside world.
Mental health standards
The human psyche worsens with age (after about 80 years, sometimes even earlier) and during illness. The well-being of the psyche is not at all something permanent, it is dynamic. The norms of this condition include:
- Mental capacity. This is a good intellectual level, the ability to think productively, the desire for a certain positive outcome, while relying on real facts. This norm also includes self-improvement and imagination.
- The concept of morality. About such people it is customary to say that they have a "soul." They are not at all characterized by moral dullness. At the same time, such people are characterized by objectivity and justice. Their will is firm, but without stubbornness. Errors are acknowledged, but not tormented.
- Adaptability to various social situations. Such people are in contact with different sectors of the population of various ages. They are characterized by ease with respect to higher and lower persons, together with a sense of responsibility. They feel the social distance well, and their behavior is somewhat spontaneous.
- Optimistic personality. This is good natured character and emotional independence. Realistic attitude to life without fear of risk.
- Emotionality, in which there is no excess suspicion or credulity, while there is a freshness of emotional sensations.
- Sexuality. This refers to taking into account the opinions and various wishes of your partner and respect for his personality.
Various conditions
The state of human psychological health has several levels. First comes the creative (high) level. This is a stable adaptability to the environment and the presence of a reserve of strength to overcome stress, plus an active life position.
Next comes adaptive (intermediate level). People who are normally adapted to society fall under it, while at the same time they feel a certain anxiety. They are not adapted to situations that go beyond their understanding.
The last level (low) is called maladaptive. People of this level are characterized by a desire to adapt to circumstances, but at the same time they do not pay attention to their capabilities and desires. Or, on the contrary, they occupy an “attacking” position, wanting to subordinate the world to their desires. Such people, as a rule, need individual lessons and psychological assistance.
There is a favorite expression of psychiatrists that there are no completely healthy people, there are only unexplored. The data of E. Shaposhnikov suggests that only twenty-five or thirty percent of the population has the full complement of normal psychological indicators. Moreover, in certain life situations, even the most "normal" people can react somewhat unusually.
About fifty percent of people balance on the verge of mental norms and various deviations. With all this, approximately five percent are considered mentally abnormal and require qualified help. In different countries, these indicators vary slightly.