What Is Adult Mental Health?
The concepts of mental health, mental disorders and mental illness can be
viewed as a continuum of health conditions. Mental health is a broad term used
to characterize an adult's ability to function within the myriad of life expectations
and is a state of effective cognitive functioning, satisfying interpersonal
relationships, productive activities, and resiliency when faced with change
and adversity. The presence of these attributes equates with health, success
and emotional strength. The absence of sound or positive mental health contributes
to damaged self-esteem, disturbed thinking, impaired learning, ineffective
communication, and diminished emotional growth. It is important for the health
of the individuals living in Travis County, and the entire community, to understand
how good mental health with strong resilience to handle inevitable life stress
can be promoted.
The term "mental health problems" generally refers to symptoms of lesser intensity
or duration than mental disorders or a mental illness. Mental health problems
warrant active efforts in health promotion, prevention, and treatment while
mental disorders are of longer duration and evidence more debilitating symptoms.
Mental disorder or mental illness as defined by the National Alliance for
the Mentally Ill (NAMI, Schizophrenia Fact Sheet) is a disorder of the brain
that disrupts a person's thinking, feeling, mood, and ability to relate to
others. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illness is a
brain disorder that often results in a diminished capacity for coping with
the ordinary demands of life (NAMI, For Faith Communities). The Surgeon General's
Report on Mental Illness reports this health condition is characterized by
abnormalities in cognition, emotion or mood, or the highest integrative aspects
of behavior, such as social interactions or planning of future activities (USDHHS,
1999, p. 5). These mental functions are all mediated by the brain and affected
by psychosocial stressors. At the point when disorders increase in intensity,
severity and duration with limitations in functioning in one or more areas
of daily functioning, the condition may be termed as a severe and persistent
mental illness.
Across the range of mental disorders there are human and economic costs at
the individual and system level. Costs associated with individuals include
diminished functioning, unsatisfactory quality of life, lost productivity,
criminal justice interaction, psychiatric hospitalizations, and premature death.
System impacts include work force reduction, hospitalization, incarceration
and property loss. Assisting persons with mental disorders in accessing appropriate
treatment is essential for the viability of the community. The continuum of
mental health problems to mental illness should be approached as any health
condition: begin with accurate diagnosis, leading to appropriate treatment
and recovery (USDHHS, 1999).
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