The Concept of Mental Health and Well-Being

CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH
by (Name)
The Name of the Class (Course)
Professor (Tutor)
The Name of the School (University)
The City and the State where it is located
The Date
Word Count: 1000
Introduction
This essay will discuss the concept of mental health and well-being, different ways in which clinicians may diagnose abnormal behaviour, and indicators of mental health and mental illness. Also, the essay will discuss the difficulties in assessing mental health across cultures and how the individual concerned cultural background may complicate their diagnosis.
The Concept of Mental Health and Well-being
Mental health is a positive state of psychological well-being. The World Health Organization describes a sense of well-being as a part of health. A person's capacity to relate harmoniously with others and actively participate and contribute to societal activities, either socially or physically, is efficient (Pilgrim 2019). Mental health is a condition of well-being whereby an individual meets their capabilities, can manage everyday stresses of life, set targets and achieve goals, and can positively contribute towards their society (Pilgrim 2019). Mental health is vital in human beings' ability to think, emote, socialize, acquire a livelihood, and enjoy life.
Mental health goes beyond the absence of mental disorders. A holistic view of health includes proper mental health. There are different determinants of mental health, including; social, psychological, and biological factors (Pilgrim 2019). Several situations such as persistent violence, poor working environments, unhealthy lifestyles, physical illnesses, human rights violations, and social-economic pressures risk individuals' mental health. Biological factors such as genetic factors may also make persons vulnerable to mental health problems.
Ways of Diagnosing Abnormal Behaviour
Abnormality is defined as a digression from perfect mental wellness (Jahoda 2013). The idea suggests different interpretations of "normality," and anyone who falls out of this behaviour bracket is considered abnormal. Marie Jahoda gave a theoretical explanation of abnormality in 1958 by outlining six required bases for exemplary mental health, commonly referred to as normality. The first criterion is a positive attitude towards oneself. It is directly associated with one's self-esteem (Jahoda 2013).
The second criteria is self-actualization with relates to individual contentment and belief in oneself. The third criterion is having a positive attitude towards autonomy through being self-reliant. The fourth criteria is the ability to handle stressful situations competently. The fifth criteria involves being able to adapt to changes in one's life. The final criteria focuses on an individual's perception of reality. Jahoda affirmed that for an individual to achieve the ideal mental health, they should experience all the six outlined criteria; failure, to which they will experience challenges (Jahoda 2013).
The American Psychiatric Association established the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders to provide standard grouping criteria for identifying mental health sickness among children and adults (Cooper 2018). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual ...