Health – The Role of Physical Well-Being and Mental Well-Being

Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a condition characterized by a body condition that provides the means by which an individual can live his or her life well. It is the state when an individual’s total quality of life is improved through the total care of the health. Various definitions have been utilized over the years for different applications.

According to some, “physical well-being” refers to a person’s ability to engage in all ordinary activities of daily life, while “mental well-being” pertains to one’s capacity to cope with day-to-day demands with the minimum of difficulty and without major distress. The most recent definition from the American Psychiatric Association (ADA) states that mental health is “the sum total of the elements associated with mood, brain activity, motivation, cognition, and personality that provide the basis for adaptive functioning.” As you can see, a person’s ability to cope with a wide range of stresses and changes is an important element to good mental health. In addition to the mental aspects of mental health, it also includes the ability to establish and maintain appropriate relationships, develop and use skills, manage stress, manage behavior, understand and interpret information, and participate in activities of daily living (ADL).

There are several components to good health: physical well-being, emotional well-being, and mental health. The three aspects of mental health are vital because they impact a person’s performance in work and home; their physical health; and their emotional health. The mental health professionals say that “any disorder that negatively affects the functioning of these three domains has a negative impact on the quality of life”. Therefore, if any of the three components of good health is affected, the quality of life will suffer. In addition to affecting the quality of life, physical illness or infirmities can affect the three components of good health.